I obtained a private audience without difficulty, and found his majesty busily engaged in going through some papers relating to the affairs of the Navy.
“So they have not killed you, like poor Menken,” he said with a mixture of sympathy and sadness.
“Colonel Menken killed!” I could not forbear exclaiming.
“Yes. Did you not hear of it? A Japanese spy succeeded in assassinating him, and stealing the despatch, just before Mukden. A lady-in-waiting attached to the Dowager Czaritza happened to be on the train, and brought me the whole story.”
I shook my head gravely.
“I fear your majesty has been misinformed. Colonel Menken committed suicide. I saw him put the pistol to his head and shoot himself. His last words were a message to your majesty.”
The Czar raised his hand to his head with a despairing gesture.
“Will these contradictions never end!” he exclaimed. “Really, sir, I hope you have made a mistake. Whom can I trust!”
I drew myself up.
“I have no desire to press my version on you, sire,” I said coldly. “It is sufficient that the Colonel was robbed, and that he is dead. Perhaps Princess Y—— has also given you an account of my own adventures?”