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This kind of Hegelian doubletalk does not really explain the double agent, a man who approaches his work naked of any ideals, swearing no human allegiance, subscribing to no cause but his own. It could be said for Aseff, at least, that his motives were understandable: he sold out to both sides purely for profit—and got away with it. Escaping to Germany after exposure, Aseff peacefully lived out his last years with a mistress, known as "Madame N," and died of a kidney ailment in 1918.