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Updated: May 22, 2025
Then, pointing to the letter which he held in his hand, "Here is a letter which I charge thee, Michael Strogoff, to deliver into the hands of the Grand Duke, and to no other but him." "I will deliver it, sire." "The Grand Duke is at Irkutsk." "I will go to Irkutsk." "Thou wilt have to traverse a rebellious country, invaded by Tartars, whose interest it will be to intercept this letter."
There terminated at that time, the iron road which, uniting Moscow and St. Petersburg, has since been continued to the Russian frontier. It was a journey of under three hundred miles, and the train would accomplish it in ten hours. Once arrived at Nijni-Novgorod, Strogoff would either take the land route or the steamer on the Volga, so as to reach the Ural Mountains as soon as possible.
"I am mad," she said to her interrogators. "My eyes have deceived me! This young man is not my child. He had not his voice. Let us think no more of it; if we do I shall end by finding him everywhere." Less than ten minutes afterwards a Tartar officer appeared in the posting-house. "Marfa Strogoff?" he asked.
Nearly all the passengers were then asleep on the deck, and the silence was disturbed only by the noise of the paddles striking the water at regular intervals. Anxiety kept Michael Strogoff awake. He walked up and down, but always in the stern of the steamer. Once, however, he happened to pass the engine-room. He then found himself in the part reserved for second and third-class passengers.
"Swear to me that nothing will make thee acknowledge who thou art, nor whither thou art going." "I swear it." "Michael Strogoff," continued the Czar, giving the letter to the young courier, "take this letter; on it depends the safety of all Siberia, and perhaps the life of my brother the Grand Duke." "This letter shall be delivered to his Highness the Grand Duke."
Michael Strogoff would not be long in making everything right with the police and being free in his movements. Whilst waiting, he looked about him, and what did he see? There, fallen, rather than seated, on a bench, was a girl, prey to a silent despair, although her face could scarcely be seen, the profile alone being visible against the wall. Michael Strogoff could not be mistaken.
And suddenly he left the public room, whilst for the last time the words re-echoed, "My son! my son!" Michael Strogoff, by a desperate effort, had gone. He did not see his old mother, who had fallen back almost inanimate upon a bench. But when the postmaster hastened to assist her, the aged woman raised herself. Suddenly a thought occurred to her. She denied by her son! It was not possible.
The courier, having saluted his sovereign, immediately left the imperial cabinet, and, in a few minutes, the New Palace. "You made a good choice there, General," said the Czar. "I think so, sire," replied General Kissoff; "and your majesty may be sure that Michael Strogoff will do all that a man can do." "He is indeed a man," said the Czar.
"There is not the slightest fear that it will fly away, my dear Blount!" exclaimed Alcide; "it has taken such good root in the ground, that if it were left here until next spring it would begin to bud." "Come then, gentlemen," said Michael Strogoff, "and we will bring up the tarantass."
Accordingly, on the morning of the 16th of July, having doffed his uniform, with a knapsack on his back, dressed in the simple Russian costume tightly-fitting tunic, the traditional belt of the Moujik, wide trousers, gartered at the knees, and high boots Michael Strogoff arrived at the station in time for the first train.
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