下载辰思小说免费APP
Silencethenensued，and，onasignfromIvanOgareff，Sangarreadvancedtowardsthegroup，inthemidstofwhichstoodMarfa。
TheoldSiberiansawher，andknewwhatwasgoingtohappen。
Ascornfulsmilepassedoverherface。ThenleaningtowardsNadia，shesaidinalowtone，“Youknowmenolonger，mydaughter。
Whatevermayhappen，andhoweverhardthistrialmaybe，notaword，notasign。Itconcernshim，andnotme。“
AtthatmomentSangarre，havingregardedherforaninstant，putherhandonhershoulder。
“Whatdoyouwantwithme？“saidMarfa。
“Come！“repliedSangarre，andpushingtheoldSiberianbeforeher，shetookhertoIvanOgareff，inthemiddleoftheclearedground。
Michaelcastdownhiseyesthattheirangryflashingsmightnotappear。
Marfa，standingbeforeIvanOgareff，drewherselfup，crossedherarmsonherbreast，andwaited。
“YouareMarfaStrogoff？“askedOgareff。
“Yes，“repliedtheoldSiberiancalmly。
“Doyouretractwhatyousaidtomewhen，threedaysago，IinterrogatedyouatOmsk？“
“No！“
“Thenyoudonotknowthatyourson，MichaelStrogoff，courieroftheCzar，haspassedthroughOmsk？“
“Idonotknowit。“
“Andthemaninwhomyouthoughtyourecognizedyourson，wasnotheyourson？“
“Hewasnotmyson。“
“Andsincethenyouhavenotseenhimamongsttheprisoners？“
“No。“
“Ifhewerepointedout，wouldyourecognizehim？“
“No。“
Onthisreply，whichshowedsuchdeterminedresolution，amurmurwasheardamongstthecrowd。
Ogareffcouldnotrestrainathreateninggesture。
“Listen，“saidhetoMarfa，“yoursonishere，andyoushallimmediatelypointhimouttome。“
“No。“
“Allthesemen，takenatOmskandKolyvan，willdefilebeforeyou；
andifyoudonotshowmeMichaelStrogoff，youshallreceiveasmanyblowsoftheknoutasmenshallhavepassedbeforeyou。“
IvanOgareffsawthat，whatevermightbehisthreats，whatevermightbethetorturestowhichhesubmittedher，theindomitableSiberianwouldnotspeak。TodiscoverthecourieroftheCzar，hecounted，then，notonher，butonMichaelhimself。
Hedidnotbelieveitpossiblethat，whenmotherandsonwereineachother’spresence，someinvoluntarymovementwouldnotbetrayhim。
Ofcourse，hadhewishedtoseizetheimperialletter，hewouldsimplyhavegivenorderstosearchalltheprisoners；
butMichaelmighthavedestroyedtheletter，havinglearntitscontents；andifhewerenotrecognized，ifheweretoreachIrkutsk，allIvanOgareff’splanswouldbebaffled。
Itwasthusnotonlytheletterwhichthetraitormusthave，butthebearerhimself。
Nadiahadheardall，andshenowknewwhowasMichaelStrogoff，andwhyhehadwishedtocross，withoutbeingrecognized，theinvadedprovincesofSiberia。
OnanorderfromIvanOgarefftheprisonersdefiled，onebyone，pastMarfa，whoremainedimmovableasastatue，andwhosefaceexpressedonlyperfectindifference。
Hersonwasamongthelast。Wheninhisturnhepassedbeforehismother，Nadiashuthereyesthatshemightnotseehim。
M
后续内容为VIP可读请开通VIP，或购买此章节
