michael strogoff-第1章

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Michael　Strogoff

by　Jules　Verne


or

The　Courier　of　the　Czar




Michael　Strogoff

BOOK　I

CHAPTER　I　A　FETE　AT　THE　NEW　PALACE

〃SIRE；　a　fresh　dispatch。〃

〃Whence？〃

〃From　Tomsk？〃

〃Is　the　wire　cut　beyond　that　city？〃

〃Yes；　sire；　since　yesterday。〃

〃Telegraph　hourly　to　Tomsk；　General；　and　keep　me　informed
of　all　that　occurs。〃

〃Sire；　it　shall　be　done；〃　answered　General　Kissoff。

These　words　were　exchanged　about　two　hours　after　midnight；
at　the　moment　when　the　fete　given　at　the　New　Palace　was　at
the　height　of　its　splendor。

During　the　whole　evening　the　bands　of　the　Preobra…jensky　and　Paulowsky
regiments　had　played　without　cessation　polkas；　mazurkas；　schottisches；
and　waltzes　from　among　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　〃old　house
of　stones〃in　former　days　the　scene　of　so　many　terrible　dramas；
the　echoes　of　whose　walls　were　this　night　awakened　by　the　gay　strains
of　the　musicians。

The　grand…chamberlain　of　the　court；　was；　besides；　well　seconded
in　his　arduous　and　delicate　duties。　　The　grand…dukes　and　their
aides…de…camp；　the　chamberlains…in…waiting　and　other　officers　of
the　palace；　presided　personally　in　the　arrangement　of　the　dances。
The　grand　duchesses；　covered　with　diamonds；　the　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；　which　on　occasions　of　this　kind
has　all　the　importance　of　a　national　dance；　the　mingled　costumes；
the　sweeping　robes　adorned　with　lace；　and　uniforms　covered　with　orders；
presented　a　scene　of　dazzling　splendor；　lighted　by　hundreds　of　lusters
multiplied　tenfold　by　the　numerous　mirrors　adorning　the　walls。

The　grand　saloon；　the　finest　of　all　those　contained　in　the　New　Palace；
formed　to　this　procession　of　exalted　personages　and　splendidly
dressed　women　a　frame　worthy　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　embroidered
drapery　of　the　curtains　and　doors；　falling　in　gorgeous　folds；
assumed　rich　and　varied　hues；　broken　by　the　shadows　of　the　heavy
masses　of　damask。

Through　the　panes　of　the　vast　semicircular　bay…windows
the　light；　with　which　the　saloons　were　filled；　shone　forth
with　the　brilliancy　of　a　conflagration；　vividly　illuminating
the　gloom　in　which　for　some　hours　the　palace　had　been　shrouded。
The　attention　of　those　of　the　guests　not　taking
part　in　the　dancing　was　attracted　by　the　contrast。
Resting　in　the　recesses　of　the　windows；　they　could　discern；
standing　out　dimly　in　the　darkness；　the　vague　outlines　of　the
countless　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　the　saloon。
From　time　to　time　the　watchword　was　repeated　from　post　to　post；
and　occasionally　the　notes　of　a　trumpet；　mingling　with
the　strains　of　the　orchestra；　penetrated　into　their　midst。
Still　farther　down；　in　front　of　the　facade；　dark　masses
obscured　the　rays　of　light　which　proceeded　from　the　windows
of　the　New　Palace。　　These　were　boats　descending　the　course
of　a　river；　whose　waters；　faintly　illumined　by　a　few　lamps；
washed　the　lower　portion　of　the　terraces。

The　principal　personage　who　has　been　mentioned；　the　giver　of　the　fete；
and　to　whom　General　Kissoff　had　been　speaking　in　that　tone
of　respect　with　which　sovereigns　alone　are　usually　addressed；
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　with　the
gorgeous　costumes　amid　which　he　moved；　encircled　by　his　escort
of　Georgians；　Cossacks；　and　Circassiansa　brilliant　band；
splendidly　clad　in　the　glittering　uniforms　of　the　Caucasus。

This　personage；　of　lofty　stature；　affable　demeanor；
and　physiognomy　calm；　though　bearing　traces　of　anxiety；
moved　from　group　to　group；　seldom　speaking；　and　appearing　to　pay
but　little　attention　either　to　the　merriment　of　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　politiciansphysiognomists　by　virtue　of　their　profession
failed　not　to　detect　on　the　countenance　of　their　host　symptoms
of　disquietude；　the　source　of　which　eluded　their　penetration；
but　none　ventured　to　interrogate　him　on　the　subject。

It　was　evidently　the　intention　of　the　officer　of　chasseurs　that　his
own　anxieties　should　in　no　way　cast　a　shade　over　the　festivities；
and；　as　he　was　a　personage　whom　almost　the　population　of　a　world
in　itself　was　wont　to　obey；　the　gayety　of　the　ball　was　not　for
a　moment　checked。

Nevertheless；　General　Kissoff　waited　until　the　officer　to　whom
he　had　just　communicated　the　dispatch　forwarded　from　Tomsk　should　give
him　permission　to　withdraw；　but　the　latter　still　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　then
passed　his　hand　for　an　instant　before　his　eyes；　as　though；
dazzled　by　the　brilliancy　of　the　light；　he　wished　to　shade　them；
the　better　to　see　into　the　recesses　of　his　own　mind。

〃We　are；　then；〃　he　continued；　after　having　drawn　General　Kissoff
aside　towards　a　window；　〃since　yesterday　without　intelligence
from　the　Grand　Duke？〃

〃Without　any；　sire；　and　it　is　to　be　feared　that　in　a　short　time
dispatches　will　no　longer　cross　the　Siberian　frontier。〃

〃But　have　not　the　troops　of　the　provinces　of　Amoor　and　Irkutsk；
as　those　also　of　the　Trans…Balkan　territory；　received　orders
to　march　immediately　upon　Irkutsk？〃

〃The　orders　were　transmitted　by　the　last　telegram　we　were　able
to　send　beyond　Lake　Baikal。〃

〃And　the　governments　of　Yeniseisk；　Omsk；　Semipolatinsk；
and　Tobolskare　we　still　in　direct　communication　with　them
as　before　the　insurrection？〃

〃Yes；　sire；　our　dispatches　have　reached　them；　and　we　are　assured
at　the　present　moment　that　the　Tartars　have　not　advanced　beyond
the　Irtish　and　the　Obi。〃

〃And　the　traitor　Ivan　Ogareff；　are　there　no　tidings　of　him？〃

〃None；〃　replied　General　Kissoff。　　〃The　head　of　the　police　cannot
state　whether　or　not　he　has　crossed　the　frontier。〃

〃Let　a　description　of　him　be　immediately　dispatched　to
Nijni…Novgorod；　Perm；　Ekaterenburg；　Kasirnov；　Tioumen；　Ishim；　Omsk；　Tomsk；
and　to　all　the　telegraphic　stations　with　which　communication
is　yet　open。〃

〃Your　majesty's　orders　shall　be　instantly　carried　out。〃

〃You　will　observe　the　strictest　silence　as　to　this。〃

The　General；　having　made　a　sign　of　respectful　assent；　bowing　low；
mingled　with　the　crowd；　and　finally　left　the　apartments　without
his　departure　being　remarked。

The　officer　remained　absorbed　in　thought　for　a　few　moments；　when；
recovering　himself；　he　went　among　the　various　groups　in　the　saloon；
his　countenance　reassuming　that　calm　aspect　which　had　for　an
instant　been　disturbed。

Nevertheless；　the　important　occurrence　which　had　occasioned
these　rapidly　exchanged　words　was　not　so　unknown　as　the　officer
of　the　chasseurs　of　the　guard　and　General　Kissoff　had
possibly　supposed。　　It　was　not　spoken　of　officially；　it　is　true；
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　was　not
matter　of　conversation　even　between　members　of　the　corps　diplomatique；
two　guests；　distinguished　by　no　uniform；　no　decoration；
at　this　reception　in　the　New　Palace；　discussed　in　a　low　voice；
and　with　apparently　very　correct　information。

By　what　means；　by　the　exercise　of　what　acuteness　had　these　two　ordinary
mortals　ascertained　that　which　so　many　persons　of　the　highest　rank
and　importance　scarcely　even　suspected？　　It　is　impossible　to　say。
Had　they　the　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　most　secret　events？　　Was　it　owing
to　the　habit；　now　become　a　second　nature；　of　living　on　information；
that　their　mental　constitution　had　thus　become　really　transformed？
It　was　difficult　to　escape　from　this　conclusion。

Of　these　two　men；　the　one　was　English；　the　other　French；　both　were　tall
and　thin；　but　the　latter　was　sallow　as　are　the　southern　Provencals；
while　the　former　was　ruddy　like　a　Lancashire　gentleman。
The　Anglo…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　petulant；　expressed　himself
with　lips；　eyes；　hands；　all　at　once；　having　twenty　different
ways　of　explaining　his　thoughts；　whereas　his　interlocutor　seemed
to　have　only　one；　immutably　stereotyped　on　his　brain。

The　strong　contrast　they　presented　would　at　once　have　struck　the　most
superficial　observer；　but　a　physiognomist；　regarding　them　closely；
would　have　defined　their　particular　characteristics　by　saying；
that　if　the　Frenchman　was　〃all　eyes；〃　the　Englishman　was　〃all　ears。〃

In　fact；　the　visual　apparatus　of　the　one　had　been　singularly
perfected　by　practice。　　The　sensibility　of　its　retina　must
have　been　as　instantaneous　as　that　of　those　conjurors　who
recognize　a　card　merely　by　a　rapid　movement　in　cutting　the　pack
or　by　the　arrangement　only　of　marks　invisible　to　others。
The　Frenchman　indeed　possessed　in　the　highest　degree　what　may
be　called　〃the　memory　of　the　eye。〃

The　Englishman；　on　the　contrary；　appeared　especially　organized
to　listen　and　to　hear。　　When　his　aural　apparatus　had　been　once
struck　by　the　sound　of　a　voice　he　could　not　forget　it；　and　after　ten
or　even　twenty　years　he　would　have　recognized　it　among　a　thousand。
His　ears；　to　be　sure；　had　not　the　power　of　moving　as　freely
as　those　of　animals　who　are　provided　with　large　auditory　flaps；
but；　since　scientific　men　know　that　human　ears　possess；　in　fact；
a　very　limited　power　of　movement；　we　should　not　be　far　wrong
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　corres