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“Youknowalsothatitinformsmeofthemovementsofthetroopswhichhavecombinedtostoptheinvasion？“
“Yes，yourHighness，butthemovementshavefailed。“
“Whatdoyoumean？“
“ImeanthatIchim，Omsk，Tomsk，tospeakonlyofthemoreimportanttownsofthetwoSiberias，havebeensuccessivelyoccupiedbythesoldiersofFeofar-Khan。“
“Buttherehasbeenfighting？HavenotourCossacksmettheTartars？“
“Severaltimes，yourHighness。“
“Andtheywererepulsed？“
“Theywerenotinsufficientforcetoopposetheenemy。“
“Wheredidtheencounterstakeplace？“
“AtKolyvan，atTomsk。“Untilnow，Ogareffhadonlyspokenthetruth，but，inthehopeoftroublingthedefendersofIrkutskbyexaggeratingthedefeats，headded，“AndathirdtimebeforeKrasnoiarsk。“
“Andwhatofthislastengagement？“askedtheGrandDuke，throughwhosecompressedlipsthewordscouldscarcelypass。
“Itwasmorethananengagement，yourHighness，“answeredOgareff；
“itwasabattle。“
“Abattle？“
“TwentythousandRussians，fromthefrontierprovincesandthegovernmentofTobolsk，engagedwithahundredandfiftythousandTartars，and，notwithstandingtheircourage，wereoverwhelmed。“
“Youlie！“exclaimedtheGrandDuke，endeavoringinvaintocurbhispassion。
“Ispeakthetruth，yourHighness，“repliedIvanOgareffcoldly。
“IwaspresentatthebattleofKrasnoiarsk，anditwasthereI
wasmadeprisoner！“
TheGrandDukegrewcalmer，andbyasignificantgesturehegaveOgarefftounderstandthathedidnotdoubthisveracity。
“WhatdaydidthisbattleofKrasnoiarsktakeplace？“heasked。
“Onthe2dofSeptember。“
“AndnowalltheTartartroopsareconcentratedhere？“
“All。“
“Andyouestimatethem？“
“Ataboutfourhundredthousandmen。“
AnotherexaggerationofOgareff’sintheestimateoftheTartararmy，withthesameobjectasbefore。
“AndImustnotexpectanyhelpfromtheWestprovinces？“
askedtheGrandDuke。
“None，yourHighness，atanyratebeforetheendofthewinter。“
“Well，hearthis，MichaelStrogoff。ThoughImustexpectnohelpeitherfromtheEastorfromtheWest，evenwerethesebarbarianssixhundredthousandstrong，IwillnevergiveupIrkutsk！“
Ogareff’sevileyeslightlycontracted。ThetraitorthoughttohimselfthatthebrotheroftheCzardidnotreckontheresultoftreason。
TheGrandDuke，whowasofanervoustemperament，hadgreatdifficultyinkeepingcalmwhilsthearingthisdisastrousnews。
Hewalkedtoandfrointheroom，underthegazeofOgareff，whoeyedhimasavictimreservedforvengeance。Hestoppedatthewindows，helookedforthatthefiresintheTartarcamp，helistenedtothenoiseoftheice-blocksdriftingdowntheAngara。
Aquarterofanhourpassedwithouthisputtinganymorequestions。
Thentakinguptheletter，here-readapassageandsaid，“YouknowthatinthisletterIamwarnedofatraitor，ofwhomImustbeware？“
“Yes，yourHighness。“
“HewilltrytoenterIrkutskindisguise；gainmyconfidence，andbetraythetowntotheTartars。“
“Iknowallthat，yourHighness，andIknowalsothatIvanOgareffhassworntorevengehimselfpersonallyontheCzar’sbrother。“
“Why？“
“ItissaidthattheofficerinquestionwascondemnedbytheGrandDuketoahumiliatingdegradation。“
“Yes，Iremember。Butitisaproofthatthevillain，whocouldafterwardsserveagainsthiscountryandheadaninvasionofbarbarians，deservedit。“
“HisMajestytheCzar，“saidOgareff，“wasparticularlyanxiousthatyoushouldbewarnedofthecriminalprojectsofIvanOgareffagainstyourperson。“
“Yes；ofthattheletterinformsme。“
“AndHisMajestyhimselfspoketomeofit，tellingmeIwasaboveallthings
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