beginning of a new era of attempts at assassination. Believe me that in
trying to loosen you from the chains that bind you I do it from no motives
of personal interest and of this you and Her Majesty are convinced, but in
the hope and in the expectation of saving you, your throne, and our dear
native land from some very serious and irreparable consequences." (_Rech_,
March 9-22, 1917.)

[Footnote: "An important role was played at court by Dr. Badmaev,
Rasputin's friend. There were many rumors afloat in court and it is
difficult to tell the truth. But this I can say that Nicholas
Alexandrovich was drugged with different drugs from Thibet. In this
Rasputin took part. During the last days they brought the Emperor to a
state of almost total insanity and his will power was completely gone. In
all matters of state he consulted the Empress who led him to the edge of
the precipice." Interview given out by Prince Iusupov, in _Novoe Vremia_,
March 14-27, 1917.]

[Footnote: One of the editors of the _Novoe Vremia_ who has large
acquaintance in the aristocratic circles of the capital told the writer
that for months before the revolution it was commonly talked about in the
homes of military leaders and fashionable circles that for the good of
Russia the Empress must be killed. Last fall (1916) there came to his home
one of his friends, an aide-de-camp of one of the grand dukes, and
confided to him that he was meditating an act of terrorism in order to get
a certain person out of the way. Another topic of conversation was the
revolution after the war.]

[Footnote: "I will say this--at court there reigned a kind of nightmare,
each day fewer and fewer people remained there. If the revolution had not
broken out from the bottom it would have from the top." Interview given out