michael strogoff-第7章
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the Daily Telegraph to take a twofold view； physical and moral；
and to form a complete estimate of this ancient capital of Russia。
At the Wladimir station fresh travelers joined the train。
Among others； a young girl entered the compartment occupied by
Michael Strogoff。 A vacant place was found opposite the courier。
The young girl took it； after placing by her side a modest traveling…bag
of red leather； which seemed to constitute all her luggage。
Then seating herself with downcast eyes； not even glancing
at the fellow…travelers whom chance had given her； she prepared
for a journey which was still to last several hours。
Michael Strogoff could not help looking attentively at his
newly…arrived fellow…traveler。 As she was so placed as to travel
with her back to the engine； he even offered her his seat；
which he might prefer to her own； but she thanked him with a
slight bend of her graceful neck。
The young girl appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen years of age。
Her head； truly charming； was of the purest Sclavonic type
slightly severe； and likely in a few summers to unfold into beauty
rather than mere prettiness。 From beneath a sort of kerchief
which she wore on her head escaped in profusion light golden hair。
Her eyes were brown； soft； and expressive of much sweetness of temper。
The nose was straight； and attached to her pale and somewhat thin
cheeks by delicately mobile nostrils。 The lips were finely cut；
but it seemed as if they had long since forgotten how to smile。
The young traveler was tall and upright； as far as could be judged
of her figure from the very simple and ample pelisse that covered her。
Although she was still a very young girl in the literal sense of the term；
the development of her high forehead and clearly…cut features
gave the idea that she was the possessor of great moral energy
a point which did not escape Michael Strogoff。 Evidently this
young girl had already suffered in the past； and the future
doubtless did not present itself to her in glowing colors； but she
had surely known how to struggle still with the trials of life。
Her energy was evidently both prompt and persistent； and her
calmness unalterable； even under circumstances in which a man would
be likely to give way or lose his self…command。
Such was the impression which she produced at first sight。
Michael Strogoff； being himself of an energetic temperament；
was naturally struck by the character of her physiognomy； and；
while taking care not to cause her annoyance by a too persistent gaze；
he observed his neighbor with no small interest。 The costume
of the young traveler was both extremely simple and appropriate。
She was not richthat could be easily seen； but not the slightest
mark of negligence was to be discerned in her dress。
All her luggage was contained in the leather bag which；
for want of room； she held on her lap。
She wore a long； dark pelisse； gracefully adjusted at the neck
by a blue tie。 Under this pelisse； a short skirt； also dark；
fell over a robe which reached the ankles。 Half…boots of leather；
thickly soled； as if chosen in anticipation of a long journey；
covered her small feet。
Michael Strogoff fancied that he recognized； by certain details；
the fashion of the costume of Livonia； and thought his neighbor
a native of the Baltic provinces。
But whither was this young girl going； alone； at an age when the fostering
care of a father； or the protection of a brother； is considered a matter
of necessity？ Had she now come； after an already long journey； from the
provinces of Western Russia？ Was she merely going to Nijni…Novgorod；
or was the end of her travels beyond the eastern frontiers of the empire？
Would some relation； some friend； await her arrival by the train？
Or was it not more probable； on the contrary； that she would find
herself as much isolated in the town as she was in this compartment？
It was probable。
In fact； the effect of habits contracted in solitude was clearly
manifested in the bearing of the young girl。 The manner in which
she entered the carriage and prepared herself for the journey；
the slight disturbance she caused among those around her；
the care she took not to incommode or give trouble to anyone；
all showed that she was accustomed to be alone； and to depend
on herself only。
Michael Strogoff observed her with interest； but； himself reserved；
he sought no opportunity of accosting her。 Once only； when her neighbor
the merchant who had jumbled together so imprudently in his remarks
tallow and shawlsbeing asleep； and threatening her with his great head；
which was swaying from one shoulder to the other； Michael Strogoff
awoke him somewhat roughly； and made him understand that he must
hold himself upright。
The merchant； rude enough by nature； grumbled some words against 〃people
who interfere with what does not concern them；〃 but Michael Strogoff cast
on him a glance so stern that the sleeper leant on the opposite side；
and relieved the young traveler from his unpleasant vicinity。
The latter looked at the young man for an instant； and mute and modest
thanks were in that look。
But a circumstance occurred which gave Strogoff a just idea
of the character of the maiden。 Twelve versts before
arriving at Nijni…Novgorod； at a sharp curve of the iron way；
the train experienced a very violent shock。 Then； for a minute；
it ran onto the slope of an embankment。
Travelers more or less shaken about； cries； confusion； general disorder
in the carriagessuch was the effect at first produced。
It was to be feared that some serious accident had happened。
Consequently； even before the train had stopped； the doors were opened；
and the panic…stricken passengers thought only of getting out
of the carriages。
Michael Strogoff thought instantly of the young girl； but； while the
passengers in her compartment were precipitating themselves outside；
screaming and struggling； she had remained quietly in her place；
her face scarcely changed by a slight pallor。
She waitedMichael Strogoff waited also。
Both remained quiet。
〃A determined nature！〃 thought Michael Strogoff。
However； all danger had quickly disappeared。 A breakage of
the coupling of the luggage…van had first caused the shock to；
and then the stoppage of； the train； which in another instant
would have been thrown from the top of the embankment into a bog。
There was an hour's delay。 At last； the road being cleared；
the train proceeded； and at half…past eight in the evening
arrived at the station of Nijni…Novgorod。
Before anyone could get out of the carriages； the inspectors of police
presented themselves at the doors and examined the passengers。
Michael Strogoff showed his podorojna； made out in the name
of Nicholas Korpanoff。 He had consequently no difficulty。
As to the other travelers in the compartment； all bound
for Nijni…Novgorod； their appearance； happily for them；
was in nowise suspicious。
The young girl in her turn； exhibited； not a passport； since passports
are no longer required in Russia； but a permit indorsed with a
private seal； and which seemed to be of a special character。
The inspector read the permit with attention。 Then； having attentively
examined the person whose description it contained：
〃You are from Riga？〃 he said。
〃Yes；〃 replied the young girl。
〃You are going to Irkutsk？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃By what route？〃
〃By Perm。〃
〃Good！〃 replied the inspector。 〃Take care to have your permit vised；
at the police station of Nijni…Novgorod。〃
The young girl bent her head in token of assent。
Hearing these questions and replies； Michael Strogoff
experienced a mingled sentiment both of surprise and pity。
What！ this young girl； alone； journeying to that far…off Siberia；
and at a time when； to its ordinary dangers； were added all the
perils of an invaded country and one in a state of insurrection！
How would she reach it？ What would become of her？
The inspection ended； the doors of the carriages were then opened； but；
before Michael Strogoff could move towards her； the young Livonian；
who had been the first to descend； had disappeared in the crowd
which thronged the platforms of the railway station。
CHAPTER V THE TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS
NIJNI…NOVGOROD； Lower Novgorod； situate at the junction of the Volga
and the Oka； is the chief town in the district of the same name。
It was here that Michael Strogoff was obliged to leave the railway；
which at the time did not go beyond that town。 Thus； as he advanced；
his traveling would become first less speedy and then less safe。
Nijni…Novgorod； the fixed population of which is only from thirty
to thirty…five thousand inhabitants； contained at that time
more than three hundred thousand； that is to say； the population
was increased tenfold。 This addition was in consequence of the
celebrated fair； which was held within the walls for three weeks。
Formerly Makariew had the benefit of this concourse of traders；
but since 1817 the fair had been removed to Nijni…Novgorod。
Even at the late hour at which Michael Strogoff left the platform；
there was still a large number of people in the two towns；
separated by the stream of the Volga； which compose
Nijni…Novgorod。 The highest of these is built on a steep rock。
and defended by a fort called in Russia 〃kreml。〃
Michael Strogoff expected some trouble in finding a hotel；
or even an inn； to suit him。 As he had not to start immediately；
for he was going to take a steamer； he was compelled to look
out for some lodging； but； before doing so； he wished to know
exactly the hour at which the steamboat would start。
He went to the office of the company whose boats plied between
Nijni…Novgorod and Perm。 There； to his great annoyance；
he found that no boat started for Perm till the following
day at twelve o'clock。 Seventeen hours to wait！
It was very vexatious to a man so pressed for time。
However； he never senselessly murmured。 Besides； the fact was
that no other conveyance could take him so quickly either to Perm
or Kasan。 It would be better； then； to wait for the steamer；
which would enable him to regain lost time。
Here； then； was Michael Strogoff； strolling through the town
and quietly looking out for some inn in which to pass the night。
However； he troubled himself little on this score； and； but that
hunger pressed him； he would probably have wandered on till
morning in the streets of Nijni…Novgorod。 He was looking
for supper rather than a bed。 But he found both at the sign
of the City of Constantinople。 There； the landlord offered him
a fairly comfortable room； with little furniture； it is true；
but not without an image of the Virgin； and a few saints framed
in yellow gauze。
A goose filled with sour stuffing swimming in thick cream；
barley bread； some curds； powdered sugar mixed with cinnamon；
and a jug of kwass； the ordinary Russian beer； were placed
before him； and sufficed to satisfy his hunger。 He did justice
to the meal； which was more than could be said of his neighbor
at table； who； having； in his character of 〃old believer〃
of the sect of Raskalniks； made the vow of abstinence；
rejected the potatoes in front of him； and carefully refrained
from putting sugar in his
