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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 tea。
His supper finished； Michael Strogoff； instead of going up to his bedroom；
again strolled out into the town。 But； although the long twilight
yet lingered； the crowd was already dispersing； the streets were gradually
becoming empty； and at length everyone retired to his dwelling。
Why did not Michael Strogoff go quietly to bed； as would have seemed
more reasonable after a long railway journey？ Was he thinking
of the young Livonian girl who had been his traveling companion？
Having nothing better to do； he WAS thinking of her。 Did he fear that；
lost in this busy city； she might be exposed to insult？ He feared so；
and with good reason。 Did he hope to meet her； and； if need were；
to afford her protection？ No。 To meet would be difficult。
As to protectionwhat right had he
〃Alone；〃 he said to himself； 〃alone； in the midst of these
wandering tribes！ And yet the present dangers are nothing
compared to those she must undergo。 Siberia！ Irkutsk！ I am
about to dare all risks for Russia； for the Czar； while she
is about to do soFor whom？ For what？ She is authorized
to cross the frontier！ The country beyond is in revolt！
The steppes are full of Tartar bands！〃
Michael Strogoff stopped for an instant； and reflected。
〃Without doubt；〃 thought he； 〃she must have determined on
undertaking her journey before the invasion。 Perhaps she is
even now ignorant of what is happening。 But no； that cannot be；
the merchants discussed before her the disturbances in Siberia
and she did not seem surprised。 She did not even ask an explanation。
She must have known it then； and knowing it； is still resolute。
Poor girl！ Her motive for the journey must be urgent indeed！
But though she may be braveand she certainly is soher strength
must fail her； and； to say nothing of dangers and obstacles；
she will be unable to endure the fatigue of such a journey。
Never can she reach Irkutsk！〃
Indulging in such reflections； Michael Strogoff wandered
on as chance led him； being well acquainted with the town；
he knew that he could easily retrace his steps。
Having strolled on for about an hour； he seated himself
on a bench against the wall of a large wooden cottage；
which stood； with many others； on a vast open space。
He had scarcely been there five minutes when a hand was laid
heavily on his shoulder。
〃What are you doing here？〃 roughly demanded a tall and powerful man；
who had approached unperceived。
〃I am resting；〃 replied Michael Strogoff。
〃Do you mean to stay all night on the bench？〃
〃Yes； if I feel inclined to do so；〃 answered Michael Strogoff； in a tone
somewhat too sharp for the simple merchant he wished to personate。
〃Come forward； then； so I can see you；〃 said the man。
Michael Strogoff； remembering that； above all； prudence was requisite；
instinctively drew back。 〃It is not necessary；〃 he replied；
and calmly stepped back ten paces。
The man seemed； as Michael observed him well； to have the look
of a Bohemian； such as are met at fairs； and with whom contact；
either physical or moral； is unpleasant。 Then； as he looked
more attentively through the dusk； he perceived； near the cottage；
a large caravan； the usual traveling dwelling of the Zingaris or gypsies；
who swarm in Russia wherever a few copecks can be obtained。
As the gypsy took two or three steps forward； and was about to interrogate
Michael Strogoff more closely； the door of the cottage opened。
He could just see a woman； who spoke quickly in a language which
Michael Strogoff knew to be a mixture of Mongol and Siberian。
〃Another spy！ Let him alone； and come to supper。
The papluka is waiting for you。〃
Michael Strogoff could not help smiling at the epithet bestowed on him；
dreading spies as he did above all else。
In the same dialect； although his accent was very different；
the Bohemian replied in words which signify； 〃You are
right； Sangarre！ Besides； we start to…morrow。〃
〃To…morrow？〃 repeated the woman in surprise。
〃Yes； Sangarre；〃 replied the Bohemian； 〃to…morrow； and the