1933-08-14 — Page 14

RASPUTIN AND THE EMPRESS

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.- MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 1933,

Adapted by BIANCO E JONES from the M.G.M. Picture.

*

We left Rasputin in our test instaliment Just at the beginning of his power over tim Express

NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

wit

she said earnestly.

"He probably got into one of those mystic moods and forgot all about it."

Paul laughed shortly.. "Of course not," he assured her, with as much sarcasm as he could CHAPTER TEN

uno to one he loved

BO well. Prayers of thankfulness and re-seldom attend dinners given for Hef welled up from the hearts and me." souls of a hundred million Russlan men and women; their beloved little Tsarevitch, hair to the throne of all the Russian, again was able to laugh and to play. Only Prince Paul saw the glassy stare in the boy's eyes, saw the change that had come over the once radiant Alexel. Once the child's face had lighted up at Paul's upproach; now he shrank from the Prince.

Rasputin, scheming craftily, al- lowed no one near the Taarevitch, dismissing even the boy's teachers, and devoting his time to instilling into Alexel a sense of cruelty and hatred. The peasant-monk's plous attitude in the presence of the 'Court blinded them against the truth. There were partics and banquets in Rasputin's honour. For weeks Paul pondered and planned means of exposing the man who was gaining in power with each passing hour. Rasputin gloat od with triumph when he received word that he was to be feted at the Palace of Prince Paul Chego- dieff.

An orchestra played 'slow, lan- guorous music. Six ballet dancers in flimsy costumes drew the atten- tion of the male guests from their women escorts while dinner was served. And still Rasputin had not

arrived.

Dinner over, the guests devoted their attention to small talk and backgammon, Paul drow Natasha to a low divan. Paul lit their cigarettes and they reclined against the soft cushions. Natasha noticed the worried expression en Paul's face,

"I hope you're not angry with Father Rasputin for not coming."

"Or else found out who was here and ran like a rabbit,' Paul sald grimly. "I wouldn't blame him."

**

room, a look of self-assurance on his faco.

"Well We were getting worried about you," Paul said, coming up to him. "Dinner was at eight. We waited until ten. Can I got you something on a tray?" he added solicitously,

"No; I just ate," Rasputin an wered casually "Some wonderful borscht. A little friend of mine makes it."

He suddenly seemed to become interested in his surroundings.

"Who are all these people?" ho inquired.

"I'm about to present you," Paul

said hospitably.

"Never mind. I'll toll you who I want to know the peasant-monk replied matter-of-factly.

He looked at her tenderly and lia He pointed out Kropatkin, and hand found hers. Natasha return-ancered when Paul informed him ed the pressure. She wished that that Kropatkia was helping to re- Paul's feeling toward the man in store the Duma. He reminded whom she had so much faith were Paul of the French Revolution. different. She sensed her lover's Give the peasants a voice? Ridi- hostility toward Rasputin, despito culous! They would cut off the his attempt to conceal it from her. heads of royalty! They were born

to the whip! Let them have it!

Paul suddenly disengaged his hand from hers and leaned forward, clasping them on his knee and star

ing straight ahead of him.

"Somehow you've changed, dear, since that man came," he said slow

y. "Natasha, you scom far away from me. It's not like it used to be."

For answer, the girl put her hand on his shoulder and gently urged 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 stiffly at attention, an- nounced:

"Gregory Efimevitch Rasputin." Immediately all was silence as everyone looked up. Conversation atopped abruptly, and the rattle of dice ceased at the backgammon boards. Paul, excusing himself to Natasha, rose and stepped toward the door.

Rasputin stood calmly, his atti- tude suggesting that there was nothing wrong or extraordinary about his being hours Inte for a din- ner in his honour. He surveyed the

one. Faul closed the humidor, re-power behind the throne!" he ox- placed it, and seated himself on claimed. the edge of the tablo, his too kick- ing imaginary objects on the floor, his brows furrowed..

"You're a stranger at court...** he began,

Rasputin watched him narrowly as he picked up a rapler from the table and began to toy with it.

"...and while you've had a great Buccess with the royal family, you might want a little advice," he con- tinued.

Rasputin snoored- openly.

"You might as well know it now na lator. My ndylce is for you to got used to it."

Paul laughed in his face. "When did you start getting these delusions of grandour?" he

He stood up and with an export thrust jabbed at the wall. Rasputin turned, attempting to disregard the Prince's mations. The peasant-a monk bit his cigar savagely and spit out the end. He bristled as he

said:

"Advice? What about?" Paul assumed a thoughtful look. "Well, a man in your position," he continued to jab the rapier against the wall until the steel blade bent almost double, "...nobody yos terday, to-day a hero, You are trusted by Her Majesty almost worshipped.

Paul's Jaw stiffoned as he cut in: Paul tossed aside the rapier. It "If you'll pardon us, Father Ras- fell to the floor with the shrill cry putin and I have something to dis-of struck metal. He stood facing cues; the situation in the Baltic. Rasputin. This way, Father, please."

Rasputin smiled as he followed Paul toward the gun room. Bo- hind them a buzz of conversation aroso. Paul was obviously irritat ed. Many of those present would have given many roubles to have heard the conversation between

these two.

"Such a man might let success go to his head," he said suggestively.

Rasputin fished with his fingers for bits of cigar leaf still sticking in his teeth. He spat them out the floor. -Paul's hands ento clenched, his lips trembled with disgust. With difficulty, he con-- trolled himself.

"What's the point?" Rasputin de- Rasputin continued to smile as Paul closed the door behind them.manded. "Say what you mean." Shrewdly, be measured the noble- man, prepared for anything that might happen in that closed room.

"Sit down?" Paul said pleasant- ly, indicating a small divan.

Rasputin, looking curiously at Paul and trying to divino. his thoughts, seated himself gingerly..

Wel!?" 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- niñcent humidor.

"Cigar?"

Paul hardened visibly. meddle in matters that are none of "Well, if you're wise, you won't your concorn," he said slowly.

"Such us?" Rasputin prompted. spitting again.

Paul allowed himself to smile. "The Duma, my friend," he ex- plained.

Rasputin stroked his board slow- ly. His eyes shone with a flaming fierceness as he replied:

"The Dams concerns me very much."

Rasputin grunted as he selected on

He stood up. He threw the cigar the floor. It broke with tho 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 tocs 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

asked..

Froth gathored at the corners of Rasputin's mouth and streaked into his black beard. Passionately, ho

Baid:

"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 made a worse mistake," he went on heatedly. "I know my destiny, and I know my power!"

Rasputin's volco rose in sharp creacondo. Ho gestured widely.

"Every minute it's growing! Growing, and as long as the life of that boy hangs on my will, it will go on growing until this fine court of yours rots away! You talk of the Russian people and their rights! Why, you pampered fool! In your-less than a year-I'll be Russia! Do you hear that? Russia will be mine!".

D

"People with your ambitions are unlucky, my pretty sometimes

(Continued on Page 4)

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