Yet his influence was of the kind that distance does not diminish. On the contrary, it only idealised him and increased his prestige.
As in his previous absences, there was a lively exchange of telegrams—through the medium of Madame Wyroubova—between Pokrovskoïe and the different residences occupied in turn by the Imperial family during the year 1912.
The absent Rasputin was more powerful than Rasputin in the flesh. His psychic empire was based on an act of faith, for there is no limit to the power of self-delusion possessed by those who mean to believe at all cost. The history of mankind is there to prove it!
But how much suffering and what terrible disasters were to result from the tragic aberration!
CHAPTER VI
LIFE AT TSARSKOÏE-SELO—MY PUPILS
(THE WINTER OF 1913-14)
TO Rasputin was once more attributed the improvement in Alexis Nicolaïevitch’s health a few days after the terrible attack to which I have referred.