按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of inhabitants。 In it thirty different languages are spoken。
The Sclavonian race predominates； no doubt； but there are
besides Russians； Poles； Lithuanians； Courlanders。 Add to these；
Finns； Laplanders； Esthonians； several other northern tribes with
unpronounceable names； the Permiaks； the Germans； the Greeks； the Tartars；
the Caucasian tribes； the Mongol； Kalmuck； Samoid； Kamtschatkan；
and Aleutian hordes； and one may understand that the unity of so vast
a state must be difficult to maintain； and that it could only be
the work of time； aided by the wisdom of many successive rulers。
Be that as it may； Ivan Ogareff had hitherto managed to escape
all search； and very probably he might have rejoined the Tartar army。
But at every station where the train stopped； inspectors came
forward who scrutinized the travelers and subjected them all to a
minute examination； as by order of the superintendent of police；
these officials were seeking Ivan Ogareff。 The government； in fact；
believed it to be certain that the traitor had not yet been able to quit
European Russia。 If there appeared cause to suspect any traveler；
he was carried off to explain himself at the police station；
and in the meantime the train went on its way； no person troubling
himself about the unfortunate one left behind。
With the Russian police； which is very arbitrary； it is absolutely
useless to argue。 Military rank is conferred on its employees；
and they act in military fashion。 How can anyone； moreover；
help obeying； unhesitatingly； orders which emanate from a monarch
who has the right to employ this formula at the head of his ukase：
〃We； by the grace of God； Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias
of Moscow； Kiev； Wladimir； and Novgorod； Czar of Kasan and Astrakhan； Czar
of Poland； Czar of Siberia； Czar of the Tauric Chersonese； Seignior
of Pskov； Prince of Smolensk； Lithuania； Volkynia； Podolia；
and Finland； Prince of Esthonia； Livonia； Courland； and of Semigallia；
of Bialystok； Karelia； Sougria； Perm； Viatka； Bulgaria； and many
other countries； Lord and Sovereign Prince of the territory
of Nijni…Novgorod； Tchemigoff； Riazan； Polotsk； Rostov；
Jaroslavl； Bielozersk； Oudoria； Obdoria； Kondinia； Vitepsk；
and of Mstislaf； Governor of the Hyperborean Regions； Lord of
the countries of Iveria； Kartalinia； Grou…zinia； Kabardinia；
and Armenia； Hereditary Lord and Suzerain of the Scherkess princes；
of those of the mountains； and of others； heir of Norway； Duke of
Schleswig…Holstein； Stormarn； Dittmarsen； and Oldenburg。〃 A powerful
lord； in truth； is he whose arms are an eagle with two heads；
holding a scepter and a globe； surrounded by the escutcheons
of Novgorod； Wladimir； Kiev； Kasan； Astrakhan； and of Siberia；
and environed by the collar of the order of St。 Andrew； surmounted by
a royal crown！
As to Michael Strogoff； his papers were in order； and he was；
consequently； free from all police supervision。
At the station of Wladimir the train stopped for several minutes；
which appeared sufficient to enable the correspondent of
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