this second brief audience of mine with the Emperor, General Duchonin said to me: "Try to see Platon personally, don't pay much atttention to the money question, but instead try to sound him on his political views." I was given leave of absence and went to Platon, the Exarch of Georgia, in the City of Tiflis, and carried out this secret mission in detail.
CHAPTER XXI.
Platon Causes Husband's Death and Seduces Widow
On my arrival in Tiflis I looked up Father Slunin, and asked him to announce me to the Exarch Platon. Slunin answered that the Bishop could not receive me before the next day. On the way to my rooms, I imparted to Father Slunin my reason for coming to Tiflis. He tried to reassure me, stating that the Master was ready to return my money before he left Kishiniev. I gave Slunin my petition to Platon, in which I asked for the return of my money. I mentioned Slunin as a witness. However, as soon as Slunin saw his name, he asked that it be omitted, because, as he explained, a clergyman had no right to testify against his Chief. The next day I called for Father Slunin and together we went to Exarch Platon's residence. Slunin left me there in the company of an old monk, whom he told to announce me to Platon. While the monk was interrogating me, Mother Angelina, the well-built Mother Superior of the Staro-Cherkask Convent, appeared on the scene.
Here I must digress to tell her life story, which I had learned as Inspector-General with the Secret Service of the Holy Synod. Her husband, accused of a political offence, was confined in the Viborg Prison in Petrograd. Platon, who was then prison chaplain, fell head-over-ears in love with the prisoner's wife, who had not yet taken the veil. He then began to send letters with incriminating information against her husband, with the intention of causing his execution. He finally succeeded in his attempt. After the husband was executed, Platon seduced the widow, promising to
— 61 —
