第1章

“SIRE，afreshdispatch。“

“Whence？“

“FromTomsk？“

“Isthewirecutbeyondthatcity？“

“Yes，sire，sinceyesterday。“

“TelegraphhourlytoTomsk，General，andkeepmeinformedofallthatoccurs。“

“Sire，itshallbedone，“answeredGeneralKissoff。

Thesewordswereexchangedabouttwohoursaftermidnight，atthemomentwhenthefetegivenattheNewPalacewasattheheightofitssplendor。

DuringthewholeeveningthebandsofthePreobra-jenskyandPaulowskyregimentshadplayedwithoutcessationpolkas，mazurkas，schottisches，andwaltzesfromamongthechoicestoftheirrepertoires。

Innumerablecouplesofdancerswhirledthroughthemagnificentsaloonsofthepalace，whichstoodatafewpacesonlyfromthe“oldhouseofstones“——informerdaysthesceneofsomanyterribledramas，theechoesofwhosewallswerethisnightawakenedbythegaystrainsofthemusicians。

Thegrand-chamberlainofthecourt，was，besides，wellsecondedinhisarduousanddelicateduties。Thegrand-dukesandtheiraides-de-camp，thechamberlains-in-waitingandotherofficersofthepalace，presidedpersonallyinthearrangementofthedances。

Thegrandduchesses，coveredwithdiamonds，theladies-in-waitingintheirmostexquisitecostumes，settheexampletothewivesofthemilitaryandcivildignitariesoftheancient“cityofwhitestone。“When，therefore，thesignalforthe“polonaise“

resoundedthroughthesaloons，andtheguestsofallrankstookpartinthatmeasuredpromenade，whichonoccasionsofthiskindhasalltheimportanceofanationaldance，themingledcostumes，thesweepingrobesadornedwithlace，anduniformscoveredwithorders，presentedasceneofdazzlingsplendor，lightedbyhundredsoflustersmultipliedtenfoldbythenumerousmirrorsadorningthewalls。

Thegrandsaloon，thefinestofallthosecontainedintheNewPalace，formedtothisprocessionofexaltedpersonagesandsplendidlydressedwomenaframeworthyofthemagnificencetheydisplayed。

Therichceiling，withitsgildingalreadysoftenedbythetouchoftime，appearedasifglitteringwithstars。Theembroidereddraperyofthecurtainsanddoors，fallingingorgeousfolds，assumedrichandvariedhues，brokenbytheshadowsoftheheavymassesofdamask。

Throughthepanesofthevastsemicircularbay-windowsthelight，withwhichthesaloonswerefilled，shoneforthwiththebrilliancyofaconflagration，vividlyilluminatingthegloominwhichforsomehoursthepalacehadbeenshrouded。

Theattentionofthoseoftheguestsnottakingpartinthedancingwasattractedbythecontrast。

Restingintherecessesofthewindows，theycoulddiscern，standingoutdimlyinthedarkness，thevagueoutlinesofthecountlesstowers，domes，andspireswhichadorntheancientcity。

Belowthesculpturedbalconieswerevisiblenumeroussentries，pacingsilentlyupanddown，theirriflescarriedhorizontallyontheshoulder，andthespikesoftheirhelmetsglitteringlikeflamesintheglareoflightissuingfromthepalace。

Thestepsalsoofthepatrolscouldbeheardbeatingtimeonthestonesbeneathwithevenmoreregularitythanthefeetofthedancersonthefloorofthesaloon。

Fromtimetotimethewatchwordwasrepeatedfromposttopost，andoccasionallythenotesofatrumpet，minglingwiththestrainsoftheorchestra，penetratedintotheirmidst。

Stillfartherdown，infrontofthefacade，darkmassesobscuredtheraysoflightwhichproceededfromthewindowsoftheNewPalace。Thesewereboatsdescendingthecourseofariver，whosewaters，faintlyilluminedbyafewlamps，washedthelowerportionoftheterraces。

Theprincipalpersonagewhohasbeenmentioned，thegiverofthefete，andtowhomGeneralKissoffhadbeenspeakinginthattoneofrespectwithwhichsovereignsaloneareusuallyaddressed，worethesimpleuniformofanofficerofchasseursoftheguard。

Thiswasnotaffectationonhispart，butthecustomofamanwhocaredlittlefordress，hiscontrastingstronglywiththegorgeouscostumesamidwhichhemoved，encircledbyhisescortofGeorgians，Cossacks，andCircassians——abrilliantband，splendidlycladintheglitteringuniformsoftheCaucasus。

Thispersonage，ofloftystature，affabledemeanor，andphysiognomycalm，thoughbearingtracesofanxiety，movedfromgrouptogroup，seldomspeaking，andappearingtopaybutlittleattentioneithertothemerrimentoftheyoungerguestsorthegraverremarksoftheexalteddignitariesormembersofthediplomaticcorpswhorepresentedattheRussiancourttheprincipalgovernmentsofEurope。Twoorthreeoftheseastutepoliticians——physiognomistsbyvirtueoftheirprofession——

failednottodetectonthecountenanceoftheirhostsymptomsofdisquietude，thesourceofwhicheludedtheirpenetration；

butnoneventuredtointerrogatehimonthesubject。

Itwasevidentlytheintentionoftheofficerofchasseursthathisownanxietiesshouldinnowaycastashadeoverthefestivities；

and，ashewasapersonagewhomalmostthepopulationofaworldinitselfwaswonttoobey，thegayetyoftheballwasnotforamomentchecked。

Nevertheless，GeneralKissoffwaiteduntiltheofficertowhomhehadjustcommunicatedthedispatchforwardedfromTomskshouldgivehimpermissiontowithdraw；butthelatterstillremainedsilent。

Hehadtakenthetelegram，hehadreaditcarefully，andhisvisagebecameevenmorecloudedthanbefore。

Involuntarilyhesoughtthehiltofhissword，andthenpassedhishandforaninstantbeforehiseyes，asthough，dazzledbythebrilliancyofthelight，hewishedtoshadethem，thebettertoseeintotherecessesofhisownmind。

“Weare，then，“hecontinued，afterhavingdrawnGeneralKissoffasidetowardsawindow，“sinceyesterdaywithoutintelligencefromtheGrandDuke？“

“Withoutany，sire；anditistobefearedthatinashorttimedispatcheswillnolongercrosstheSiberianfrontier。“

“ButhavenotthetroopsoftheprovincesofAmoorandIrkutsk，asthosealsooftheTrans-Balkanterritory，receivedorderstomarchimmediatelyuponIrkutsk？“

“TheordersweretransmittedbythelasttelegramwewereabletosendbeyondLakeBaikal。“

“AndthegovernmentsofYeniseisk，Omsk，Semipolatinsk，andTobolsk——arewestillindirectcommunicationwiththemasbeforetheinsurrection？“

“Yes，sire；ourdispatcheshavereachedthem，andweareassuredatthepresentmomentthattheTartarshavenotadvancedbeyondtheIrtishandtheObi。“

“AndthetraitorIvanOgareff，aretherenotidingsofhim？“

“None，“repliedGeneralKissoff。“Theheadofthepolicecannotstatewhetherornothehascrossedthefrontier。“

“LetadescriptionofhimbeimmediatelydispatchedtoNijni-Novgorod，Perm，Ekaterenburg，Kasirnov，Tioumen，Ishim，Omsk，Tomsk，andtoallthetelegraphicstationswithwhichcommunicationisyetopen。“

“Yourmajesty’sordersshallbeinstantlycarriedout。“

“Youwillobservethestrictestsilenceastothis。“

TheGeneral，havingmadeasignofrespectfulassent，bowinglow，mingledwiththecrowd，andfinallylefttheapartmentswithouthisdeparturebeingremarked。

Theofficerremainedabsorbedinthoughtforafewmoments，when，recoveringhimself，hewentamongthevariousgroupsinthesaloon，hiscountenancereassumingthatcalmaspectwhichhadforaninstantbeendisturbed。

Nevertheless，theimportantoccurrencewhichhadoccasionedtheserapidlyexchangedwordswasnotsounknownastheofficerofthechasseursoftheguardandGeneralKissoffhadpossiblysupposed。Itwasnotspokenofofficially，itistrue，norevenofficiously，sincetongueswerenotfree；butafewexaltedpersonageshadbeeninformed，moreorlessexactly，oftheeventswhichhadtakenplacebeyondthefrontier。

Atanyrate，thatwhichwasonlyslightlyknown，thatwhichwasnotmatterofconversationevenbetweenmembersofthecorpsdiplomatique，twoguests，distinguishedbynouniform，nodecoration，atthisreceptionintheNewPalace，discussedinalowvoice，andwithapparentlyverycorrectinformation。

Bywhatmeans，bytheexerciseofwhatacutenesshadthesetwoordinarymortalsascertainedthatwhichsomanypersonsofthehighestrankandimportancescarcelyevensuspected？Itisimpossibletosay。

Hadtheythegiftsofforeknowledgeandforesight？Didtheypossessasupplementarysense，whichenabledthemtoseebeyondthatlimitedhorizonwhichboundsallhumangaze？Hadtheyobtainedapeculiarpowerofdiviningthemostsecretevents？Wasitowingtothehabit，nowbecomeasecondnature，oflivingoninformation，thattheirmentalconstitutionhadthusbecomereallytransformed？

Itwasdifficulttoescapefromthisconclusion。

Ofthesetwomen，theonewasEnglish，theotherFrench；bothweretallandthin，butthelatterwassallowasarethesouthernProvencals，whiletheformerwasruddylikeaLancashiregentleman。

TheAnglo-Norman，formal，cold，grave，parsimoniousofgesturesandwords，appearedonlytospeakorgesticulateundertheinfluenceofaspringoperatingatregularintervals。

TheGaul，onthecontrary，livelyandpetulant，expressedhimselfwithlips，eyes，hands，allatonce，havingtwentydifferentwaysofexplaininghisthoughts，whereashisinterlocutorseemedtohaveonlyone，immutablystereotypedonhisbrain。

Thestrongcontrasttheypresentedwouldatoncehavestruckthemostsuperficialobserver；butaphysiognomist，regardingthemclosely，wouldhavedefinedtheirparticularcharacteristicsbysaying，thatiftheFrenchmanwas“alleyes，“theEnglishmanwas“allears。“

Infact，thevisualapparatusoftheonehadbeensingularlyperfectedbypractice。Thesensibilityofitsretinamusthavebeenasinstantaneousasthatofthoseconjurorswhorecognizeacardmerelybyarapidmovementincuttingthepackorbythearrangementonlyofmarksinvisibletoothers。

TheFrenchmanindeedpossessedinthehighestdegreewhatmaybecalled“thememoryoftheeye。“

TheEnglishman，onthecontrary，appearedespeciallyorganizedtolistenandtohear。Whenhisauralapparatushadbeenoncestruckbythesoundofavoicehecouldnotforgetit，andaftertenoreventwentyyearshewouldhaverecognizeditamongathousand。

Hisears，tobesure，hadnotthepowerofmovingasfreelyasthoseofanimalswhoareprovidedwithlargeauditoryflaps；

but，sincescientificmenknowthathumanearspossess，infact，averylimitedpowerofmovement，weshouldnotbefarwronginaffirmingthatthoseofthesaidEnglishmanbecameerect，andturnedinalldirectionswhileendeavoringtogatherinthesounds，inamannerapparentonlytothenaturalist。

Itmustbeobservedthatthisperfectionofsightandhearingwasofwonderfulassistancetothesetwomenintheirvocation，fortheEnglishmanactedascorrespondentoftheDailyTelegraph，andtheFrenchman，ascorrespondentofwhatnewspaper，orofwhatnewspapers，hedidnotsay；andwhenasked，herepliedinajocularmannerthathecorrespondedwith“hiscousinMadeleine。“ThisFrenchman，however，neathhiscarelesssurface，waswonderfullyshrewdandsagacious。

Evenwhilespeakingatrandom，perhapsthebettertohidehisdesiretolearn，heneverforgothimself。Hisloquacityevenhelpedhimtoconcealhisthoughts，andhewasperhapsevenmorediscreetthanhisconfrereoftheDailyTelegraph。BothwerepresentatthisfetegivenattheNewPalaceonthenightofthe15thofJulyintheircharacterofreporters。

Itisneedlesstosaythatthesetwomenweredevotedtotheirmissionintheworld——thattheydelightedtothrowthemselvesinthetrackofthemostunexpectedintelligence——thatnothingterrifiedordiscouragedthemfromsucceeding——thattheypossessedtheimperturbablesangfroidandthegenuineintrepidityofmenoftheircalling。

Enthusiasticjockeysinthissteeplechase，thishuntafterinformation，theyleapedhedges，crossedrivers，sprangoverfences，withtheardorofpure-bloodedracers，whowillrun“agoodfirst“ordie！

Theirjournalsdidnotrestrictthemwithregardtomoney——

thesurest，themostrapid，themostperfectelementofinformationknowntothisday。Itmustalsobeadded，totheirhonor，thatneithertheonenortheothereverlookedoverorlistenedatthewallsofprivatelife，andthattheyonlyexercisedtheirvocationwhenpoliticalorsocialinterestswereatstake。

Inaword，theymadewhathasbeenforsomeyearscalled“thegreatpoliticalandmilitaryreports。“

Itwillbeseen，infollowingthem，thattheyhadgenerallyanindependentmodeofviewingevents，and，aboveall，theirconsequences，eachhavinghisownwayofobservingandappreciating。

TheFrenchcorrespondentwasnamedAlcideJolivet。HarryBlountwasthenameoftheEnglishman。TheyhadjustmetforthefirsttimeatthisfeteintheNewPalace，ofwhichtheyhadbeenorderedtogiveanaccountintheirpapers。Thedissimilarityoftheircharacters，addedtoacertainamountofjealousy，whichgenerallyexistsbetweenrivalsinthesamecalling，mighthaverenderedthembutlittlesympathetic。However，theydidnotavoideachother，butendeavoredrathertoexchangewitheachotherthechatoftheday。

Theyweresportsmen，afterall，huntingonthesameground。

Thatwhichonemissedmightbeadvantageouslysecuredbytheother，anditwastotheirinteresttomeetandconverse。

Thiseveningtheywerebothonthelookout；theyfelt，infact，thattherewassomethingintheair。

“Evenshoulditbeonlyawildgoosechase，“saidAlcideJolivettohimself，“itmaybeworthpowderandshot。“