Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-03-16

"And you would number them at
-Four hundred thousand men,
A new exaggeration of Ivan Ogarefr
in reckoning the numbers of the Tar
tar army and tending always to the
same end
And must not expect any succor
from the provinces of the west?' ask
ed the grand duke.
None, your highness-at least before
the end of winter"
Very well. Listen to this, Michael
Strogoff: Should no relief come to me,
neither from the west nor the east, and
were there 100000 Tartars. / would
not give up Irkutskr'
The wicked eye of Ivan Ogareff light.
ly blinked. The traitor seemed to say
that the brother of the czar was reck-
oning without treason.
The grand duke, of nervous temper
ament, had great difficulty in preserv
ing his calmness on learning this dis
astrouS news. He walked up and dowL
the room under the eyes of Ivan Oga.
ref, who covered him as a prey re-
served for his vengeance. He stopped
at the windows. He looked out upon
/ the Tartar fires. He was trying t6
! find out the noise, the greater part OF
/ which was caused by the grating of the
ice on the river
| ! A quarter of an hour passed without
his putting another question. Then,
again taking up the letter, he read
! passage of it and said:
/ "Yau know Michael Cfrouof fhof
! there is question in this letter of
traitor against whom l have to be on
! my guard?'
Eyes, your highness."
''He is to attempt to enter Irkutsk
disguised to win my confidence; then,
! at the proper time, to deliver up the
town to the Tartars.''
81 know all that, your highness, and
l also know that Ivan Ogareff has
sworn personal vengeance on the broth
er Of the car"
"Why?'
"They say that that officer had been
condemned by the grand duke to a
most humiliating degradation"
Eyes, l remember But he deserved
1t, that wretch, who was afterward to
serve against his country and to lead
there an invasion Of barbariansp'
''His majesty the czar," answered
Ivan Ogareff. ''relied especially on the
fact that you were aware of the Grim
inal projects of Ivan Ogaref against
your person"
Eyes; the letter Informed me of it,
"And his majesty told it to me him.
self, while warning me to mstrust that
traitor above all during my journey
across Siberia"
Have you ever met him"
eyes, your highness, after the battle
of Krasnoiarsk. Could he have sus-
pected that l was the bearer Of a let
ter addressed to your highness and in
which all his projects were divulged
l should not now be standing before
you"
Eyes, you would have been lost" an
swered the grand duke. And how did
you escapes"
"By throwing myself into the Irish
"And how did you enter Irkutsk"
During sortie that was made this
very night to repel Tartar detach-
ment Joined in with the defenders of
the town. l was able to make myself
known, and they at once conducted me
before your highness."
"Well done, Michael Strogoff," an
swered the grand duke. You have
shown courage and zeal during this
difficult mission. l shall not forget
you. Have you any favor to ask OF
mew
None if it be not that of fighting by
the side Of your highness," answered
Ivan Ogareff.
''Let it be So Michael Strogoff. From
this day l attach you to my person.
and you shall be lodged in this palace
"And if in conformity with the inten.
ton which is attributed to him Ivan
Ogareff should present himself before
your highness under false name
1--WE would unmask him, thanks to
you who know him, and by my order
he should die under the knout. Co."
Ivan Ogareff gave the military salute
to the grand duke, not forgetting that
he was captain in the corps of the cou
riers of the cZar, and he withdrew
Ivan Ogareff had just now played with
success his base role. The grand dukes
confidence had been accorded him full
and entire. He could abuse it wher
and where he thought proper. He
would even live in that palace. He
would know all the secrets Of the de
Tense. He held, therefore, the situation
in his hand. No one In Irkutsk knew
: him. No one could tear of his mask
He resolved. therefore, to begin the
work without more delay.
Ivan Ogareff, having every facility
Of seeing, observing and acting, spen
the next day in visiting the fortified
tons. Everywhere he was received
with cordial congratulations by th'