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the conversation with this eminently French phrase。
〃I have telegraphed already； 'splendid！'〃 replied Harry Blount calmly；
employing the word specially devoted to expressing admiration by all
subjects of the United Kingdom。
〃Nevertheless；〃 added Alcide Jolivet； 〃I felt compelled to remark
to my cousin〃
〃Your cousin？〃 repeated Harry Blount in a tone of surprise；
interrupting his brother of the pen。
〃Yes；〃 returned Alcide Jolivet； 〃my cousin Madeleine。 It is with her
that I correspond； and she likes to be quickly and well informed；
does my cousin。 I therefore remarked to her that； during this fete；
a sort of cloud had appeared to overshadow the sovereign's brow。〃
〃To me； it seemed radiant；〃 replied Harry Blount； who perhaps；
wished to conceal his real opinion on this topic。
〃And； naturally； you made it 'radiant；' in the columns of
the Daily Telegraph。〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃Do you remember； Mr。 Blount； what occurred at Zakret in 1812？〃
〃I remember it as well as if I had been there； sir；〃
replied the English correspondent。
〃Then；〃 continued Alcide Jolivet； 〃you know that； in the middle of a
fete given in his honor； it was announced to the Emperor Alexander
that Napoleon had just crossed the Niemen with the vanguard of
the French army。 Nevertheless the Emperor did not leave the fete；
and notwithstanding the extreme gravity of intelligence which might cost
him his empire； he did not allow himself to show more uneasiness。〃
〃Than our host exhibited when General Kissoff informed him
that the telegraphic wires had just been cut between the frontier
and the government of Irkutsk。〃
〃Ah！ you are aware of that？〃
〃I am！〃
〃As regards myself； it would be difficult to avoid knowing it；
since my last telegram reached Udinsk；〃 observed Alcide Jolivet；
with some satisfaction。
〃And mine only as far as Krasnoiarsk；〃 answered Harry Blount；
in a no less satisfied tone。
〃Then you know also that orders have been sent to the
troops of Nikolaevsk？〃
〃I do； sir； and at the same time a telegram was sent to the Cossacks
of the government of Tobolsk to concentrate their forces。〃
〃Nothing can be more true； Mr。 Blount； I was equally well acquainted
with these measures； and you may be sure that my dear cousin shall
know of them to…morrow。〃
〃Exactly as the readers of the Daily Telegraph shall know
it also； M。 Jolivet。〃
〃Well； when one sees all that is going on。 。 。 。〃
〃And when one hears all that is said。 。 。 。〃
〃An interesting campaign to follow； Mr。 Blount。〃
〃I shall follow it； M。 Jolivet！〃
〃Then it is possible that we shall find ourselves on ground
less safe； perhaps； than the floor of this ball…room。〃
〃Less safe； certainly； but〃
〃But much less slippery；〃 added Alcide Jolivet； holding up his companion；
just as the latter； drawing back； was about to lose his equilibrium。
Thereupon the two correspondents separated； pleased that the one
had not stolen a march on the other。
At that moment the doors of the rooms adjoining the great reception
saloon were thrown open； disclosing to view several immense tables
beautifully laid out； and groaning under a profusion of valuable
china and gold plate。 On the central table； reserved for
the princes； princesses； and members of the corps diplomatique；
glittered an epergne of inestimable price； brought from London；
and around this chef…d'oeuvre of chased gold reflected under
the light of the lusters a thousand pieces of most beautiful
service from the manufactories of Sevres。
The guests of the New Palace immediately began to stream
towards the supper…rooms。
At that moment。 General Kissoff； who had just re…entered； quickly
approached the officer of chasseurs。
〃Well？〃 asked the latter abruptly； as he had done the former time。
〃Telegrams pass Tomsk no longer； sire。〃
〃A courier this moment！〃
The officer left the hall and entered a large antechamber adjoining。
It was a cabinet with plain oak furniture； situated in an angle of
the New Palace。 Several pictures； amongst others some by Horace Vernet；
hung on the wall。
The officer hastily opened a window； as if he felt the want
of air； and stepped out on a balcony to breathe the pure
atmosphere of a lovely July night。 Beneath his eyes；
bathed in moonlight； lay a fortified inclosure； from which
rose two cathedrals； three palaces； and an arsenal。
Around this inclosure could be seen three distinct towns：
Kitai…Gorod； Beloi…Gorod； Zemlianai…GorodEuropean； Tartar；
and Chinese quarters of great extent； commanded by towers；
belfries； minarets； and the cupolas of three hundred churches；
with green domes； surmounted by the silver cross。
A little winding river； here and there reflected the rays
of the moon。
This river was the Moskowa； the town Moscow； the fortified inclosure
the Kremlin； and the officer of chasseurs of the guard； who； with folded
arms and thoughtful brow； was listening dreamily to the sounds floating
from the New Palace over the old Muscovite city； was the Czar。
CHAPTER II RUSSIANS AND TARTARS
THE Czar had not so suddenly left the ball…room of the New Palace；
when the fete he was giving to the civil and military authorities
and principal people of Moscow was at the height of its brilliancy；
without ample cause； for he had just received information that serious
events were taking place beyond the frontiers of the Ural。 It had become
evident that a formidable rebellion threatened to wrest the Siberian
provinces from the Russian crown。
Asiatic Russia； or Siberia； covers a superficial area of 1；790；208
square miles； and contains nearly two millions of inhabitants。
Extending from the Ural Mountains； which separate it
from Russia in Europe； to the shores of the Pacific Ocean；
it is bounded on the south by Turkestan and the Chinese Empire；
on the north by the Arctic Ocean； from the Sea of Kara
to Behring's Straits。 It is divided into several governments
or provinces； those of Tobolsk； Yeniseisk； Irkutsk； Omsk；
and Yakutsk； contains two districts； Okhotsk and Kamtschatka；
and possesses two countries； now under the Muscovite dominion
that of the Kirghiz and that of the Tshouktshes。 This immense
extent of steppes； which includes more than one hundred and
ten degrees from west to east； is a land to which criminals
and political offenders are banished。
Two governor…generals represent the supreme authority of the Czar
over this vast country。 The higher one resides at Irkutsk；
the far capital of Eastern Siberia。 The River Tchouna separates
the two Siberias。
No rail yet furrows these wide plains； some of which are in reality
extremely fertile。 No iron ways lead from those precious mines
which make the Siberian soil far richer below than above its surface。
The traveler journeys in summer in a kibick or telga； in winter；
in a sledge。
An electric telegraph； with a single wire more than eight thousand
versts in length； alone affords communication between the western
and eastern frontiers of Siberia。 On issuing from the Ural； it passes
through Ekaterenburg； Kasirnov； Tioumen； Ishim； Omsk； Elamsk； Kolyvan；
Tomsk； Krasnoiarsk； Nijni…Udinsk； Irkutsk； Verkne…Nertschink； Strelink；
Albazine； Blag