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It is he！〃
〃It is my son；〃 answered Marfa； 〃it is Michael Strogoff；
and you see that I do not make a step towards him！
Imitate me； my daughter。〃
Michael had just experienced the most violent emotion which a man
can feel。 His mother and Nadia were there！
The two prisoners who were always together in his heart；
God had brought them together in this common misfortune。
Did Nadia know who he was？ Yes； for he had seen Marfa's gesture；
holding her back as she was about to rush towards him。
Marfa； then； had understood all； and kept his secret。
During that night； Michael was twenty times on the point
of looking for and joining his mother； but he knew that he must
resist the longing he felt to take her in his arms； and once
more press the hand of his young companion。 The least imprudence
might be fatal。 He had besides sworn not to see his mother。
Once at Tomsk； since he could not escape this very night；
he would set off without having even embraced the two beings
in whom all the happiness of his life was centered； and whom
he should leave exposed to so many perils。
Michael hoped that this fresh meeting at the Zabediero camp would
have no disastrous consequences either to his mother or to himself。
But he did not know that part of this scene； although it passed
so rapidly； had been observed by Sangarre； Ogareff's spy。
The Tsigane was there； a few paces off； on the bank； as usual；
watching the old Siberian woman。 She had not caught sight
of Michael； for he disappeared before she had time to look around；
but the mother's gesture as she kept back Nadia had not escaped her；
and the look in Marfa's eyes told her all。
It was now beyond doubt that Marfa Strogoff's son； the Czar's courier；
was at this moment in Zabediero； among Ivan Ogareff's prisoners。
Sangarre did not know him； but she knew that he was there。
She did not then attempt to discover him； for it would have been
impossible in the dark and the immense crowd。
As for again watching Nadia and Marfa Strogoff； that was equally useless。
It was evident that the two women would keep on their guard； and it
would be impossible to overhear anything of a nature to compromise
the courier of the Czar。 The Tsigane's first thought was to tell
Ivan Ogareff。 She therefore immediately left the encampment。
A quarter of an hour after； she reached Zabediero； and was shown
into the house occupied by the Emir's lieutenant。 Ogareff received
the Tsigane directly。
〃What have you to tell me； Sangarre？〃 he asked。
〃Marfa Strogoff's son is in the encampment。〃
〃A prisoner？〃
〃A prisoner。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed Ogareff； 〃I shall know〃
〃You will know nothing； Ivan；〃 replied Tsigane； 〃for you do not
even know him by sight。〃
〃But you know him； you have seen him； Sangarre？〃
〃I have not seen him； but his mother betrayed herself by a gesture；
which told me everything。〃
〃Are you not mistaken？〃
〃I am not mistaken。〃
〃You know the importance which I attach to the apprehension
of this courier；〃 said Ivan Ogareff。 〃If the letter which he has
brought from Moscow reaches Irkutsk； if it is given to the Grand Duke；
the Grand Duke will be on his guard； and I shall not be able
to get at him。 I must have that letter at any price。
Now you come to tell me that the bearer of this letter is in my power。
I repeat； Sangarre； are you not mistaken？〃
Ogareff spoke with great animation。 His emotion showed the extreme
importance he attached to the possession of this letter。 Sangarre was not
at all put out by the urgency with which Ogareff repeated his question。
〃I am not mistaken； Ivan；〃 she said。
〃But； Sangarre； there are thousands of prisoners； and you say
that you do not know Michael Strogoff。〃
〃No；〃 answered the Tsigane； with a look of savage joy； 〃I do not know him；
but his mother knows him。 Ivan； we must make his mother speak。〃
〃To…morrow she shall speak！〃 cried Ogareff。 So saying；
he extended his hand to the Tsigane； who kissed it； for there
is nothing servile in this act of respect； it being usual among
the Northern races。
Sangarre returned to the camp。 She found out Nadia and
Marfa Strogoff； and passed the night in watching them。
Although worn out with fatigue； the old woman and the girl
did not sleep。 Their great anxiety kept them awake。
Michael was living； but a prisoner。 Did Ogareff know him；
or would he not soon find him out？ Nadia was occupied by
the one thought that he whom she had thought dead still lived。
But Marfa saw further into the future： and； although she did
not care what became of herself； she had every reason to fear
for her son。
Sangarre； under cover of the night； had crept near the two women；
and remained there several hours listening。 She heard nothing。
From an instinctive feeling of prudence not a word was exchanged between
Nadia and Marfa Strogoff。 The next day； the 16th of August； about ten
in the morning； trumpet…calls resounded throughout the encampment。
The Tartar soldiers were almost immediately under arms。
Ivan Ogareff arrived； surrounded by a large staff of Tartar officers。
His face was more clouded than usual； and his knitted brow gave signs
of latent wrath which was waiting for an occasion to break forth。
Michael Strogoff； hidden in a group of prisoners； saw this man pass。
He had a presentiment that some catastrophe was imminent：
for Ivan Ogareff knew now that Marfa was the mother of Michael Strogoff。
Ogareff dismounted； and his escort cleared a large circle round him。
Just then Sangarre approached him； and said； 〃I have no news。〃
Ivan Ogareff's only reply was to give an order to one of his officers。
Then the ranks of prisoners were brutally hurried up by the soldiers。
The unfortunate people； driven on with whips； or pushed on with lances；
arranged themselves round the camp。 A strong guard of soldiers drawn
up behind； rendered escape impossible。
Silence then ensued； and； on a sign from Ivan Ogareff； Sangarre advanced
towards the group； in the midst of which stood Marfa。
The old Siberian saw her； and knew what was going to happen。
A scornful smile passed over her face。 Then leaning towards Nadia；
she said in a low tone； 〃You know me no longer； my daughter。
Whatever may happen； and however hard this trial may be； not a word；
not a sign。 It concerns him； and not me。〃
At that moment Sangarre； having regarded her for an instant；
put her hand on her shoulder。
〃What do you want with me？〃 said Marfa。
〃Come！〃 replied Sangarre； and pushing the old Siberian before her；
she took her to Ivan Ogareff； in the middle of the cleared ground。
Michael cast down his eyes that their angry flashings might not appear。
Marfa； standing before Ivan Ogareff； drew herself up； crossed her arms
on her breast； and waited。
〃You are Marfa Strogoff？〃 asked Ogareff。
〃Yes；〃 replied the old Siberian calmly。
〃Do you retract what you said to me when； three days ago；
I interrogated you at Omsk？〃
〃No！〃
〃Then you do not know that your son； Michael Strogoff；
courier of the Czar； has passed through Omsk？〃
〃I do not know it。〃
〃And the man in whom you thought you recognized your son；
was not he your son？〃
〃He was not my son。〃
〃And since then you have not seen him amongst the prisoners？〃
〃No。〃
〃If he were pointed out； would you recognize him？〃
〃No。〃
On this reply； which showed such determined resolution；
a murmur was heard amongst the crowd。
Ogareff could not restrain a threatening gesture。
〃Listen；〃 said he to Marfa； 〃your son is here； and you shall
immediately point him out to me。〃
〃No。〃
〃All these men； taken at Omsk and Kolyvan； will defile before you；
and if you do not show me Michael Strogoff； you shall receive
as many blows of the knout as men shall have passed before you。〃
Ivan Ogareff saw that； whatever might be his threats；
whatever might be the tortures to which he submitted her；
the indomitable Siberian would not speak。 To discover the courier
of the Czar； he counted； then； not on her； but on Michael himself。
He did not believe it possible that； when mother and son were in each
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！〃
〃