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I could see that the arrival of an officer from Orenbourg had awakened some curiosity, and that they had prepared to receive me with pomp. Pougatcheff recognized me at once, and his assumed gravity disappeared. "Ah! it is your lordship! how are you? What brings you here?" I replied that I was traveling about my private business, when his people arrested me. "What business?" asked he.
Each one boasted of his prowess, gave his opinions, and freely contradicted Pougatcheff. In this strange council of war, they resolved to march upon Orenbourg, a bold move, but justified by previous successes. The departure was fixed for the next day. Each one drank another bumper, and rising, took leave of Pougatcheff. I wished to follow them, but the brigand said: "Wait, I want to speak to you."
This was our way of making war; this is what the civil service employes of Orenbourg called prudence and foresight. One day when we had routed and driven before us quite a large troop, I overtook a straggling Cossack; my Turkish sabre was uplifted to strike him when he doffed his cap and cried out: "Good day, Peter, how fares your health?" I recognized our Corporal. I was delighted to see him.
"What business brought you from Orenbourg?" A bold idea suggested itself to my mind. It seemed to me that Providence, leading me a second time before this robber, gave me the means of accomplishing my work. I decided to seize the chance, and without reflecting on the step, I replied: "I am on the way to the fortress of Belogorsk to liberate an oppressed orphan there." Pougatcheff's eyes flashed.
"Listen, Captain Mironoff," said I to the Commandant, "our duty is to defend the fortress to our last breath; that is understood, but the safety of the women must be thought of; send them to a more distant fortress, to Orenbourg, if the route be still open." Mironoff turned to his wife.
If only she could find a worthy husband. If not, there she is, eternally a maid." I glanced at Marie; she blushed, tears were dropping into her soup. I pitied her, and hastened to change the conversation. "I have heard that the Bashkirs intend to attack your fortress?" "Who said so," replied Ivan Mironoff. "I heard it at Orenbourg."
"That's all very well; but why will you marry? As an officer and a comrade, I tell you marriage is folly! Now listen to me. The road to Simbirsk has been swept clean by our soldiers; you can therefore send the Captain's daughter to your parents tomorrow, and remain yourself in my detachment. No need to return to Orenbourg; you might fall again into the hands of the rebels."
At last, the letter finished, he put it and my certificate under the same envelope, took off his spectacles, called me and said: "This letter is addressed to Andrew Karlovitch, my old friend and comrade. You are going to Orenbourg to serve under orders." All my brilliant dreams vanished. In place of the gay life of Saint Petersburg, ennui awaited me in a wild and distant province of the empire.
Approaching Orenbourg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaved heads and faces disfigured by the pincers of the public executioner. At that time red-hot irons were applied to tear out the nostrils of the condemned. They were working at the fortifications of the place under the supervision of the garrison pensioners.
Perceiving me in the crowd, he signed to me to approach. "Listen," said he, "go at once to Orenbourg, and say from me, to the Governor and all the Generals, that I shall be there in a week. Counsel them to receive me with submission and filial love, otherwise they shall not escape the direst torture. A pleasant journey to you."
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