The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-06-07
CHAPTER XVIII

u@SS39$Ra door. A courier from the
tSVtCf&6pJ czar arrived at Irkutsk
If the officers had re-
Elected for an instant on the improba-
bility of that fact, they would have GER
tainly considered it impossible.
The grand duke had quickly moved
toward his aidde-camp
"That courierw said he.
A man entered. He had tne air of
one worn out by fatigue. He wore the
costume of a Siberian peasant, much
worn, even torn, and on which one
could see bullet holes. A Russian bon
net covered his head. A scar, badly
healed crossed his face. The man had
evidently followed long and trying
route. His shoes and stockings, in q
bad state, even proved thai he had
made part Of his journey on foot
'His hlghness the grand duke?' said
be on entering.
The grand duke went up to him.
care you q courier from the GARY
be asked him.
S'Yes, your highness."
@You come FROM
Moscow" ~. ~
''You left Moscow IHsSs4
''The 18th of July"
"You are called Ts.3
michael Strogoff."
1t was Ivan Ogareff. He had taken
the name and position of the man
whom he believed to be powerless.
Neither the grand duke nor any other
In V,t~,. III, IT
not even needed to disguise his fea-
lures. AS he had the means of proving
his pretended identity, no one could
doubt him. He came, then, sustained
by will of iron, to hasten by treason
and assassination the conclusion of the
drama of the invasion.
After the answer of Ivan Ogareff the
grand duke made a sign. and all his
officers retired.
The fictitious Michael Strogoff and he
remained alone in the room.
The grand duke looked at Ivan Oga-
ref for some seconds and with the
greatest attention. Then he asked him
"You were on the 18th of July at
Moscow ?"
Eyes, your highness, and on the night
from the 18th to the 18th l saw his
majesty the car at the New palace"
"You have letter from the czar?"
''Here it is.
And Ivan Ogareff handed to the
grand duke the imperial letter. reduced
to dimensions almost microscopic.
WAS that letter given to you in that
slater asked the grand duke.
mo, your highness, but l was COM
PEELED to tear open the envelope in or
der to better conceal 1t from the Tartar
soldiers
''Have you, then, been prisoner Of
the Tartars?"
Eyes. your highness, during few
days" answered Ivan Ogareff. ut is
on that account that, having set out
from Moscow on the 18th of July,
only arrived at Irkutsk on the I'd Of
October after journey Of sixty-nlne
days"
The grand duke took the letter. He
unfolded it and recognized the sigma
ture of the car, preceded by the sacra-
mental formula, written with his own
hand. Hence there was no possible
doubt concerning the authenticity of
that letter nor indeed concerning the
Identity Of the courier If his fierce
look at first inspired mistrust the
grand duke did not allow it to be seen.
and soon the mistrust disappeared al
together.
The grand duke remained some mo-
ments without speaking. He was read
ing slowly the letter in order to thor
oughly gather the sense Of 1t.
Taking up again the speech. he ask
ed:
Michael Strogoff. do you know the
contents Of this letter."
Eyes, your highness. l might have
been compelled to destroy it to prevent
1t from falling into the hands of the
Tartars, and If that should happen
wished to bring it's contents TO your
highness.''
do you know that this letter enjoins
us to die at Irkutsk rather than sur
render the city?'
81 know It,"
''Do you also know that 1t points out
the movements of the troops who have
COmDlueu ~ CHECK Tue INVASION
Eyes, your hlghness. But those move
ments have not succeeded"
"What do you meanT
II wish to tell you that Ichim, Omsk.
Tomsk, not to speak of other important
towns Of the two Siberias. have been
one after another occupied by the sol
diers of Feofar-Khan."
"But has there been q battle? Have
our Cossacks ever met the TartarsY
Several times. your highness."
"And they were repulsedw
'They were not in sufficient strength"
Where have the encounters taken
place OF which you speak"
AT Kalyvan at Tomsk."
Up to this time Ivan Ogareff had only
told the truth. but with the object of
nghting the defenders Of Irkutsk by
exaggerating the advantages obtained
oy the troops Of the emir. he added:
And a third time before Krasnoi-
arsk."