In the third book of “Gold of the Empire,” events unfold in Saint Petersburg, where Deputy Commandant Biloy exposes a Masonic plot aimed at the imperial family. Count Suzdalyev, who is the main perpetrator behind the attempt on the emperor, has a personal motive—the count’s lover is captivated by the emperor. Biloy joins a Masonic lodge to help prevent the assassination attempt, but as a result he is accused of a serious crime and sent to solitary confinement in the Alexandrian Fort. The novel depicts the Russian Masonic lodge, criminal circles, and intrigues of high society.