Michael Strogoff | Page 4

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-Gorod--European, 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