michael strogoff-第32章

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other's　presence；　some　involuntary　movement　would　not　betray　him。
Of　course；　had　he　wished　to　seize　the　imperial　letter；
he　would　simply　have　given　orders　to　search　all　the　prisoners；
but　Michael　might　have　destroyed　the　letter；　having　learnt
its　contents；　and　if　he　were　not　recognized；　if　he　were　to
reach　Irkutsk；　all　Ivan　Ogareff's　plans　would　be　baffled。
It　was　thus　not　only　the　letter　which　the　traitor　must　have；
but　the　bearer　himself。

Nadia　had　heard　all；　and　she　now　knew　who　was　Michael　Strogoff；
and　why　he　had　wished　to　cross；　without　being　recognized；
the　invaded　provinces　of　Siberia。

On　an　order　from　Ivan　Ogareff　the　prisoners　defiled；　one　by　one；
past　Marfa；　who　remained　immovable　as　a　statue；　and　whose　face
expressed　only　perfect　indifference。

Her　son　was　among　the　last。　　When　in　his　turn　he　passed　before
his　mother；　Nadia　shut　her　eyes　that　she　might　not　see　him。
Michael　was　to　all　appearance　unmoved；　but　the　palm　of　his　hand
bled　under　his　nails；　which　were　pressed　into　them。

Ivan　Ogareff　was　baffled　by　mother　and　son。

Sangarre；　close　to　him；　said　one　word；　〃The　knout！〃

〃Yes；〃　cried　Ogareff；　who　could　no　longer　restrain　himself；
〃the　knout　for　this　wretched　old　womanthe　knout　to　the　death！〃

A　Tartar　soldier　bearing　this　terrible　instrument　of　torture
approached　Marfa。　　The　knout　is　composed　of　a　certain　number　of　leathern
thongs；　at　the　end　of　which　are　attached　pieces　of　twisted　iron　wire。
It　is　reckoned　that　a　sentence　to　one　hundred　and　twenty　blows　of　this
whip　is　equivalent　to　a　sentence　of　death。

Marfa　knew　it；　but　she　knew　also　that　no　torture　would　make　her　speak。
She　was　sacrificing　her　life。

Marfa；　seized　by　two　soldiers；　was　forced　on　her　knees
on　the　ground。　　Her　dress　torn　off　left　her　back　bare。
A　saber　was　placed　before　her　breast；　at　a　few　inches'　distance　only。
Directly　she　bent　beneath　her　suffering；　her　breast　would
be　pierced　by　the　sharp　steel。

The　Tartar　drew　himself　up。　　He　waited。　　〃Begin！〃　said　Ogareff。　　The　whip
whistled　in　the　air。

But　before　it　fell　a　powerful　hand　stopped　the　Tartar's　arm。
Michael　was　there。　　He　had　leapt　forward　at　this　horrible　scene。
If　at　the　relay　at　Ichim　he　had　restrained　himself　when　Ogareff's　whip
had　struck　him；　here　before　his　mother；　who　was　about　to　be　struck；
he　could　not　do　so。　　Ivan　Ogareff　had　succeeded。

〃Michael　Strogoff！〃　cried　he。　　Then　advancing；　〃Ah；　the　man　of　Ichim？〃

〃Himself！〃　said　Michael。　　And　raising　the　knout　he　struck　Ogareff
a　sharp　blow　across　the　face。　　〃Blow　for　blow！〃　said　he。

〃Well　repaid！〃　cried　a　voice　concealed　by　the　tumult。

Twenty　soldiers　threw　themselves　on　Michael；　and　in　another　instant
he　would　have　been　slain。

But　Ogareff；　who　on　being　struck　had　uttered　a　cry　of　rage　and　pain；
stopped　them。　　〃This　man　is　reserved　for　the　Emir's　judgment；〃
said　he。　　〃Search　him！〃

The　letter　with　the　imperial　arms　was　found　in　Michael's　bosom；
he　had　not　had　time　to　destroy　it；　it　was　handed　to　Ogareff。

The　voice　which　had　pronounced　the　words；　〃Well　repaid！〃
was　that　of　no　other　than　Alcide　Jolivet。　　〃Par…dieu！〃　said
he　to　Blount；　〃they　are　rough；　these　people。
Acknowledge　that　we　owe　our　traveling　companion　a　good　turn。
Korpanoff　or　Strogoff　is　worthy　of　it。　　Oh；　that　was　fine
retaliation　for　the　little　affair　at　Ichim。〃

〃Yes；　retaliation　truly；〃　replied　Blount；　〃but　Strogoff　is　a　dead　man。
I　suspect　that；　for　his　own　interest　at　all　events；　it　would　have　been
better　had　he　not　possessed　quite　so　lively　a　recollection　of　the　event。〃

〃And　let　his　mother　perish　under　the　knout？〃

〃Do　you　think　that　either　she　or　his　sister　will　be　a　bit　better
off　from　this　outbreak　of　his？〃

〃I　do　not　know　or　think　anything　except　that　I　should　have　done
much　the　same　in　his　position；〃　replied　Alcide。　　〃What　a　scar
the　Colonel　has　received！　　Bah！　one　must　boil　over　sometimes。
We　should　have　had　water　in　our　veins　instead　of　blood　had　it　been
incumbent　on　us　to　be　always　and　everywhere　unmoved　to　wrath。〃

〃A　neat　little　incident　for　our　journals；〃　observed　Blount；
〃if　only　Ivan　Ogareff　would　let　us　know　the　contents　of　that　letter。〃

Ivan　Ogareff；　when　he　had　stanched　the　blood　which　was　trickling
down　his　face；　had　broken　the　seal。　　He　read　and　re…read
the　letter　deliberately；　as　if　he　was　determined　to　discover
everything　it　contained。

Then　having　ordered　that　Michael；　carefully　bound　and　guarded；
should　be　carried　on　to　Tomsk　with　the　other　prisoners；　he　took
command　of　the　troops　at　Zabediero；　and；　amid　the　deafening
noise　of　drums　and　trumpets；　he　marched　towards　the　town
where　the　Emir　awaited　him。


CHAPTER　IV　THE　TRIUMPHAL　ENTRY

TOMSK；　founded　in　1604；　nearly　in　the　heart　of　the　Siberian　provinces；
is　one　of　the　most　important　towns　in　Asiatic　Russia。　　Tobolsk；　situated
above　the　sixtieth　parallel；　Irkutsk；　built　beyond　the　hundredth　meridian
have　seen　Tomsk　increase　at　their　expense。

And　yet　Tomsk；　as　has　been　said；　is　not　the　capital　of　this
important　province。　　It　is　at　Omsk　that　the　Governor…General
of　the　province　and　the　official　world　reside。　　But　Tomsk
is　the　most　considerable　town　of　that　territory。　　The　country
being　rich；　the　town　is　so　likewise；　for　it　is　in　the　center
of　fruitful　mines。　　In　the　luxury　of　its　houses；　its　arrangements；
and　its　equipages；　it　might　rival　the　greatest　European　capitals。
It　is　a　city　of　millionaires；　enriched　by　the　spade　and　pickax；
and　though　it　has　not　the　honor　of　being　the　residence　of　the
Czar's　representative；　it　can　boast　of　including　in　the　first
rank　of　its　notables　the　chief　of　the　merchants　of　the　town；
the　principal　grantees　of　the　imperial　government's　mines。

But　the　millionaires　were　fled　now；　and　except　for　the　crouching　poor；
the　town　stood　empty　to　the　hordes　of　Feofar…Khan。　At　four　o'clock　the
Emir　made　his　entry　into　the　square；　greeted　by　a　flourish　of　trumpets；
the　rolling　sound　of　the　big　drums；　salvoes　of　artillery　and　musketry。

Feofar　mounted　his　favorite　horse；　which　carried　on　its　head
an　aigrette　of　diamonds。　　The　Emir　still　wore　his　uniform。
He　was　accompanied　by　a　numerous　staff；　and　beside　him　walked
the　Khans　of　Khokhand　and　Koundouge　and　the　grand　dignitaries
of　the　Khanats。

At　the　same　moment　appeared　on　the　terrace　the　chief
of　Feofar's　wives；　the　queen；　if　this　title　may　be　given
to　the　sultana　of　the　states　of　Bokhara。　　But；　queen　or　slave；
this　woman　of　Persian　origin　was　wonderfully　beautiful。
Contrary　to　the　Mahometan　custom；　and　no　doubt　by　some
caprice　of　the　Emir；　she　had　her　face　uncovered。　　Her　hair；
divided　into　four　plaits；　fell　over　her　dazzling　white　shoulders；
scarcely　concealed　by　a　veil　of　silk　worked　in　gold；　which　fell
from　the　back　of　a　cap　studded　with　gems　of　the　highest　value。
Under　her　blue…silk　petticoat；　fell　the　〃zirdjameh〃　of
silken　gauze；　and　above　the　sash　lay　the　〃pirahn。〃　　But　from
the　head　to　the　little　feet；　such　was　the　profusion　of　jewels
gold　beads　strung　on　silver　threads；　chaplets　of　turquoises；
〃firouzehs〃　from　the　celebrated　mines　of　Elbourz；
necklaces　of　cornelians；　agates；　emeralds；　opals；　and　sapphires
that　her　dress　seemed　to　be　literally　made　of　precious　stones。
The　thousands　of　diamonds　which　sparkled　on　her　neck；　arms；　hands；
at　her　waist；　and　at　her　feet　might　have　been　valued　at　almost
countless　millions　of　roubles。

The　Emir　and　the　Khans　dismounted；　as　did　the　dignitaries
who　escorted　them。　　All　entered　a　magnificent　tent　erected
on　the　center　of　the　first　terrace。　　Before　the　tent；　as　usual；
the　Koran　was　laid。

Feofar's　lieutenant　did　not　make　them　wait；　and　before　five
o'clock　the　trumpets　announced　his　arrival。　　Ivan　Ogareff
the　Scarred　Cheek；　as　he　was　already　nick…namedwearing　the
uniform　of　a　Tartar　officer；　dismounted　before　the　Emir's　tent。
He　was　accompanied　by　a　party　of　soldiers　from　the　camp
at　Zabediero；　who　ranged　up　at　the　sides　of　the　square；
in　the　middle　of　which　a　place　for　the　sports　was　reserved。
A　large　scar　could　be　distinctly　seen　cut　obliquely　across
the　traitor's　face。

Ogareff　presented　his　principal　officers　to　the　Emir；　who；
without　departing　from　the　coldness　which　composed　the　main
part　of　his　dignity；　received　them　in　a　way　which　satisfied
them　that　they　stood　well　in　the　good　graces　of　their　chief。

At　least　so　thought　Harry　Blount　and　Alcide　Jolivet；　the　two
inseparables；　now　associated　together　in　the　chase　after　news。
After　leaving　Zabediero；　they　had　proceeded　rapidly　to　Tomsk。　　The　plan
they　had　agreed　upon　was　to　leave　the　Tartars　as　soon　as　possible；
and　to　join　a　Russian　regiment；　and；　if　they　could；　to　go
with　them　to　Irkutsk。　　All　that　they　had　seen　of　the　invasion；
its　burnings；　its　pillages；　its　murders；　had　perfectly　sickened　them；
and　they　longed　to　be　among　the　ranks　of　the　Siberian　army。
Jolivet　had　told　his　companion　that　he　could　not　leave　Tomsk　without
making　a　sketch　of　the　triumphal　entry　of　the　Tartar　troops；
if　it　was　only　to　satisfy　his　cousin's　curiosity；　but　the　same
evening　they　both　intended　to　take　the　road　to　Irkutsk；　and　being
well　mounted　hoped　to　distance　the　Emir's　scouts。

Alcide　and　Blount　mingled　therefore　in　the　crowd；　so　as　to　lose　no
detail　of　a　festival　which　ought　to　supply　them　with　a　hundred　good
lines　for　an　article。　　They　admired　the　magnificence　of　Feofar…Khan；
his　wives；　his　officers；　his　guards；　and　all　the　Eastern　pomp；
of　which　the　ceremonies　of　Europe　can　give　not　the　least　idea。
But　they　turned　away　with　disgust　when　Ivan　Ogareff　presented
himself　before　the　Emir；　and　waited　with　some　impatience　for
the　amusements　to　begin。

〃You　see；　my　dear　Blount；〃　said　Alcide；　〃we　have　come　too　soon；
like　honest　citizens　who　like　to　get　their　money's　worth。
All　this　is　before　the　curtain　rises；　it　would　have　been　better
to　arrive　only　for　the　ballet。〃

〃What　ballet？〃　asked　Blount。

〃The　compulsory　ballet；　to　be　sure。　　But　see；　the　curtain　is　going
to　rise。〃　　Alcide　Jolivet　spoke　as　if　he　had　been　at　the　Opera；
and　taking　his　glass　from　its　case；　he　prepared；　with　the　air
of　a　connoisseur；　〃to　examine　the　first　act　of　Feofar's　company。〃

A　painful　ceremony　was　to　precede　the　sports。　　In　fact；
the　triumph　of　the　vanquisher　could　not　be　complete　without
the　public　humiliation　of　the　vanquished。　　This　was　why　several
hundreds　of　prisoners　were　brought　under　the　soldiers'　whips。
They　were　destined　to　march　past　Feofar…Khan　and　his　allies
before　being　crammed　with　their　companions　into　the　prisons
in　the　town。

In　the　first　ranks　of　these　prisoners　figured　Michael　Strogoff。
As　Ogareff　had　ordered；　he　was　specially　guarded　by　a　file　of　soldiers。
His　mother　and　Nadia　were　there　also。

The　old　Siberian；　although　energetic　enough　when　her　own　safety
was　in　question；　was　frightfully　pale。　　She　expected　some
terrible　scene。　　It　was　not　without　reason　that　her　son　had　been
brought　before　the　Emir。　　She　therefore　trembled　for　him。
Ivan　Ogareff　was　not　a　man　to　forgive　having　been　struck
in　public　by　the　knout；　and　his　vengeance　would　be　merciless。
Some　frightful　punishment　familiar　to　the　barbarians　of
Central　Asia　would；　no　doubt；　be　inflicted　on　Michael。　　Ogareff　had
protected　him　against　the　soldiers　because　he　well　knew　what