RASPUTIN AND THE EMPRESS
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 1933.
Adapted by BIANCO E. JONES from the M.G.M. Picture.
We left Rasputia in our last installment, she said onrneally. Just at the beginning of his power over the Empress,
"NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER TEN
Paul laughed shortly.
"He probably got into one of those mystic moods and forgot all about it."
"Of course not," he assured her, with as much sarcasm as he could use to one he loved so well, Prayers of thankfulness and re-seldom attend dinners given for Hef welled up from the hearts and me." souls of a hundred million Russian! men and women; their beloved little Tsarevitch, heir to the throne of all the Russian, again was able to laugh and to play. Only Prince Paul saw the glossy stare in the boy's eyes, naw the change that had como over the once radiant Alexel. Once the child's face had lighted up at Paul's approach; now he shrank from the Prince.
"Or clée found out who was here and ran like a rabbit, Paul said grimly. "I wouldn't blame him.'
room, a look of self-nasurance on his face.
"Well. Wo were getting worried about you," Paul, said,.coming up to him. "Dinner was at eight. We waited until ten. Can I get you something on a tray?" he added sollcitously.
"No; I just ate," Rasputin an- swered casually "Some wonderful borscht. A little friend of mine makes it."
Ho suddenly seemed to become interested in le surroundings.
"Who are all theso people?" he inquired.
"I'm about to present you," Paul said hospitably.
"Never mind. I'll tell you who I want to know," the peasant-monk replied matter-of-factly.
He pointed out Kropatkin, and sneered when Paul informed him that Kropatkin was helping to re store the Duma. He reminded Paul of the French Revolution.
culous! They would cut off the heads of royalty! They were born to the whip! Let them have it!
one. Paul closed the humidor, re- placed it, and seated himself on the edge of the table, his too kick- ing imaginary objects on the floor, his brows furrowed.
"You're a stranger at court....... he began,
Rasputin watched him narrowly na he picked up a rapler from the table and hegan to toy with it.
"...and while you've had a great success with the royal family, you might want a little advice," he con- tinued.
He stood up and with an expert thrust jabbed at the wall. Rasputin turned, attempting to disregard the Pinco's motions. The peasant-a monk bit his cigar savagely and spit out the end. He bristled as he
Haid:
"Advice? What about?"
power bohind the throne!" ho ex- claimed.
Rasputin sneered openly. "You might as well know It now as lator. My advice is for you to gat used to it."
Paul laughed in his face. "When did you start getting thesa delusions of grandeur?" ho asked..
Froth gathered at the corners of Rasputin's mouth and streaked into his black beard. Passionately, ho
anid:
"You think I'm' dirt, don't you? Some Ignorant priest, born in the gutter, that you had to kneel to for
miracle!"
The man's fanaticism was coming to the surface.
"Well, you never ninde a worse mistake," he went on heatedly. "I know my destiny, and I know my power!
4
Rasputin's voice rose in sharp crescendo. He gestured widely.
"Every minute it's growing!
Rasputin, scheming craftily, al- different. She sensed her lover's Give the peasants a voice? Ridi- bent almost double, "...nòbody yes" ] Growing, and as long as the life of
He looked at Ker tenderly and his hand found hers. Natasha return ed the pressure. She wished that Paul's feeling toward the man in whom she had so much faith were lowed no one near the Tsarovitch, hostility toward Rasputin, despite dismissing even the boy's teachers, his attempt to conceal it from her. and devoting his time to instilling
Paul suddenly disengaged his into Alexel a sense of cruelty and hand from hers and leaned forward, hatred. The peasant-monk's pious clasping them on his knee and star- attitude in the presence of the ing straight ahead of him. Court blinded them against the Somehow you've changed, dear. truth. There were parties and since that man came," he said slow- banquets in Rasputin's honour, ly. "Natasha, you scom far away: weeks Paul pondered and from me. It's not like it used to planned means of exposing the man be." who was gaining in power with each passing hour. Rasputin gloat ed with triumph when he received word that he was to be feted at the Palace of Prince Paul Chego- dieff.
For
An orchestra pinyed slow, Inn- guorous music. Six ballet dancers In limay costumes drew the atten- tion of the male guests from their women escorts while dinner was served. And still Rasputin had not
arrived.
on his shoulder and gently urged For answer, the girl put her hand him back against the cushion.
"Paul," she told him simply, "I love you. Nothing can ever come between us. There's no need———.” At that moment the major domo opened the door to the room and, standing stifly at attention, an nounced:
"Gregory Elmovitch Rasputin." Immediately all was allenco as everyone looked up. Conversation stopped abruptly, and the rattle of dice censed at the backgammon boards. Paul, excusing himself to Natasha, rose and stepped toward
Dinner over, the guests devoted their attention to small talk and backgammon. Paul drew Natasha to a low divan. Paul lit their cigarettes and they reclined against the door. the soft cushions: Natasha noticed ! Rasputin atood calmly, his atti- the worried expression on Paul's tude suggesting that there was nothing wrong or extraordinary about his being hours late for a din- ner in his honour. He surveyed the
face
"I hope you're not angry with Father Rasputin for not coming,"
Paul's jaw stiffened as he cut in: "If you'll pardon us, Father Ras- putin and I have something to dis cuss; the situation in the Baltic. This way, Father, please."
Rasputin amlled as he followed Faul toward the gun room. Be hind them a buzz of conversation cd. Many of those present would arose. Paul was obviously irritat-
have given many roubles to have heard the conversation between these two.
Paul assumed a thoughtful look. "Well, a man in your position..." he continued to Jab the raptor against the wall until the steel blade
terday, to-day a hero, You are trusted by Her Majesty--almost that boy hangs on my will, it will worshipped.
go on growing until this fine court of yours rots away! You talk of the Russian people and their rightal Why, you pampered fool! In a year-less than a year I'll be Russia! Do you hear that? Russla will be mine!"
Paul toseed aside the rapler. It fell to the floor with the shrill cry of struck metal. He stood facing Rasputin.
"Such a man might let success go to his head," he said suggestivaly. for bits of cigar leaf still sticking Rasputin fished with his, fingors
clenched, his lips trembled with in his teeth. He spat them out onio the floor. Paul's hands
disgust. With dificulty, be con- trolled himself.
+
Rasputin continued to smile as
"What's the point?" Rasputin de- Paul closed the door behind them,manded. "Say what you mean.” Shrewdly, he measured the noble. Paul hardened visibly. man, prepared for anything that meddle in matters that are none of "Well, if you're wise, you won't might happen in that closed room.
"Sit down?" Paul said pleasant-your concern." he said slowly. ly, indicating a small divan.
"Such as Rasputin prompted.. spitting again,
Rasputin, looking curiously at Paul and trying to divino his thoughts, seated himself gingerly.
"Well?" he asked shortly. "What
was that rock-and-bull story about
the Baltic?"
The men understood each other.. Paul smiled as he presented a mag- nificent humidor.
"Cigar?"
Rasputin grunted as he selected
Paul allowed himself to smile. "The Duma, my friend," he ex- plained.
ly. His eyes ahone with a flaming
Rasputin stroked his beard slow-
fierceness as he replied:
"The Duma concerns me very much."
Ile stood up. Ho throw the cigar the floor. It broke with the force of the throw, and the leaves opened and scattered,
"Some day I'm going to run this country," he said fiercely. “I'm not going to have my toes stepped on by a lot of peasant swine with their ideas of government!"
Paul was really amused at his audacity.
"So that's what you're up to-the
sometimes
"People with your ambitions are unlucky. my pretty (Continued on Page 4.)
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