The result of that interview was that Nicholas Ganskau disgorged a further hundred thousand roubles for the bribing of an enemy who did not exist!
After the banker had left, Rasputin, full of satisfaction as he held the draft for the amount in his dirty paw, dictated to me another letter addressed to the Minister of the Interior, which read:
"His Majesty the Emperor, having full knowledge of the charge of murder made against Nicholas Ganskau of Tver, orders that the inquiries concerning the case be abandoned and that the person suspected be not further molested."
This was duly signed by the monk and delivered by me at the Ministry an hour later.
Such orders Rasputin frequently gave in the name of His Majesty, who, even if he knew of them, never questioned them.
This, however, did not end the affair, for twelve months afterwards Ganskau, who, scot-free, had taken up his residence in the Avenue Villiers, in Paris, where he was leading a very gay life, received an unexpected visit from Prince Gorianoff, who, making pretence that he had severed his friendship with Rasputin, hinted that as the monk held in his possession the written confession of his crime, it might be worth while to obtain and destroy it.
This suggestion Ganskau at once welcomed, thanking the prince for his kindly intervention.
Then the latter made a remark which in itself showed how expert a blackmailer he was.
"You see, as the girl Elise was a French subject, if the French police ever get hold of the truth it would go very badly with you," he declared.
The banker's face went pale as death.