Michael Strogoff

t the Ne

fresh d

enc

m To

e cut beyon

e, since

, General, and keep me inf

e done," answered

midnight, at the moment when the fete given at

g the choicest of their repertoires. Innumerable couples of dancers whirled through the magnificent saloons of the palace, which stood at a few paces only from the

e ladies-in-waiting in their most exquisite costumes, set the example to the wives of the military and civil dignitaries of the ancient "city of white stone." When, therefore, the signal for the "polonaise" resounded through the saloons, and the guests of all ranks took part in that measured promenade,

orthy of the magnificence they displayed. The rich ceiling, with its gilding already softened by the touch of time, appeared as if glittering with stars. The

untless towers, domes, and spires which adorn the ancient city. Below the sculptured balconies were visible numerous sentries, pacing silently up and down, their rifles carried horizontally on the shoulder, and the spikes of their helmets glittering like flames in the glare of light issuing from the palace. The steps also of the patrols could be heard beating time on the stones beneath with even more regularity than the feet of the dancers on the floor of th

sed, wore the simple uniform of an officer of chasseurs of the guard. This was not affectation on his part, but the custom of a man who cared little for dress, his contrasting strongly wi

the younger guests or the graver remarks of the exalted dignitaries or members of the diplomatic corps who represented at the Russian court the principal governments of Europe. Two or three of these astute politicians - p

o way cast a shade over the festivities; and, as he was a personage whom almost the populatio

ill remained silent. He had taken the telegram, he had read it carefully, and his visage became even more clouded than before. Involuntarily he sought the hilt of his sword, and t

General Kissoff aside towards a window, "since ye

red that in a short time dispatches wil

d Irkutsk, as those also of the Trans-Balkan territor

y the last telegram we were ab

atinsk, and Tobolsk - are we still in direct com

e are assured at the present moment that the Tartar

n Ogareff, are there

head of the police cannot state whethe

d, Perm, Ekaterenburg, Kasirnov, Tioumen, Ishim, Omsk, Tomsk, and to

ders shall be inst

the strictest si

bowing low, mingled with the crowd, and finally left

ring himself, he went among the various groups in the saloon, his counte

nor even officiously, since tongues were not free; but a few exalted personages had been informed, more or less exactly, of the events which had taken place beyond the frontier. At any rate, that which was only slightly known, that which wa

e gifts of foreknowledge and foresight? Did they possess a supplementary sense, which enabled them to see beyond that limited horizon which bounds all human gaze? Had they obtained a peculiar power of divining the m

Norman, formal, cold, grave, parsimonious of gestures and words, appeared only to speak or gesticulate under the influence of a spring operating at regular intervals. The Gaul, on the contrary, lively and p

r; but a physiognomist, regarding them closely, would have defined their particular chara

instantaneous as that of those conjurors who recognize a card merely by a rapid movement in cutting the pack or by the arrangement

ong in affirming that those of the said Englishman became erect, and turned in all directions while endeavoring to gather in the sounds, in a manner apparent only to the naturalist. It must be observed that this perfection of sight and hearing was of wonderful assistance to these two men in their vocation, for the Englishman acted as correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, and the Frenchman, as correspondent of what newspaper, or of what newspapers, he did not say; and when asked, he replied in a jocular

t nothing terrified or discouraged them from succeeding - that they possessed the imperturbable sang froid and the genuine intrepidity of men of their calling. Enthusiastic jockeys

o be added, to their honor, that neither the one nor the other ever looked over or listened at the walls of private life, and that they only exercised their v

independent mode of viewing events, and, above all, their conse

dissimilarity of their characters, added to a certain amount of jealousy, which generally exists between rivals in the same calling, might have rendered them but little sympathetic. However, they did not avoid each other, but endeavor

e look out; they felt, in fact, t

chase," said Alcide Jolivet to himse

herefore began by cautio

d Alcide Jolivet pleasantly, thinking himself obliged to

lount calmly, employing the word specially devoted to exp

e Jolivet, "I felt compelle

ount in a tone of surprise, inte

nd she likes to be quickly and well informed, does my cousin. I therefore remarked to her

arry Blount, who perhaps, wished to c

it 'radiant,' in the colum

act

Blount, what occurre

I had been there, sir," repli

r that Napoleon had just crossed the Niemen with the vanguard of the French army. Nevertheless the Emperor did not leave the fete, and

ed him that the telegraphic wires had just been cut

are aware

a

knowing it, since my last telegram reached Udinsk

oiarsk," answered Harry Blount

orders have been sent to

m was sent to the Cossacks of the governme

well acquainted with these measures, and you may be s

the Daily Telegraph shall

sees all that is

ears all that i

campaign to foll

ollow it,

d ourselves on ground less safe, perha

e, certai

holding up his companion, just as the latter,

separated, pleased that the one h

usion of valuable china and gold plate. On the central table, reserved for the princes, princesses, and members of the corps diplomatique, glittered an epergne of inestimable price,

e immediately began to stre

ho had just re-entered, quickly ap

er abruptly, as he had

ss Tomsk no l

er this

a cabinet with plain oak furniture, situated in an angle of the New Palace

re, from which rose two cathedrals, three palaces, and an arsenal. Around this inclosure could be seen three distinct towns: Kitai-Gorod, Beloi-Gorod, Zemlianai-Gorod - European, Tartar, and Chinese quarters of gre

of chasseurs of the guard, who, with folded arms and thoughtful brow, was listening dreamily to