michael strogoff-第9章

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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　danger　had　quickly　disappeared。　　A　breakage　of
the　co