Word: rasputine
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1920-1929
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Believing that to the influence of Rasputin all Russia's misfortunes in the early part of the War could be traced, the author-prince tells of the formation of a conspiracy to kill the monk: "Our house on the Moika was chosen as the place where the project was to be carried out. A suite of rooms there was being adapted for my own use and would serve our purpose better than anything else. My associations with Rasputin would afford me an opportunity of persuading him to come and visit...
...This decision caused me much heart searching. The prospect of inviting a man to my house with the intention of killing him horrified me. Whoever the man might be-even Rasputin, the incarnation of crime and vice-I could not contemplate without a shudder the part which I would be called upon to play-that of a host encompassing the death of his guest...
...following plan was agreed upon, according to the Prince: "On the day that Rasputin should choose to come to me, I was to call for him toward midnight, and drive him to the Moika in an open car with Dr. Lazovert as chauffeur. While Rasputin was drinking tea, I was to administer a solution of cyanide of potassium, which would cause his immediate death. His body was to be put into a sack, driven out of town and thrown into the water...
...Rasputin ate greedily of the cake but it did not seem to affect him. He drank poisoned wine, seemingly without effect. "Play something cheerful. I like to hear you sing," said the monk to his worried host, Prince Yussupov. He sang...
...even then Rasputin did not die. Alarmed and amazed, Prince Yussupov called in the other conspirators. Entering the room they saw the monk crawling across the floor "bellowing and snorting like a wounded animal." Several more shots were fired and the body of the monk was tossed over the bridge, as planned...