You have made me understand everything. But the light which you
have thrown on the mysteries of my heart, I cannot return on yours.
Since my son has not told you his secret, I must keep it.
Forgive me, Nadia; I can never repay what you have done for me."
"Mother, I ask you nothing," replied Nadia.
All was thus explained to the old Siberian, all, even the conduct
of her son with regard to herself in the inn at Omsk. There was
no doubt that the young girl's companion was Michael Strogoff,
and that a secret mission in the invaded country obliged him
to conceal his quality of the Czar's courier.
"Ah, my brave boy!" thought Marfa. "No, I will not betray you,
and tortures shall not wrest from me the avowal that it was you
whom I saw at Omsk."
Marfa could with a word have paid Nadia for all her devotion to her.
She could have told her that her companion, Nicholas Korpanoff,
or rather Michael Strogoff, had not perished in the waters of the Irtych,
since it was some days after that incident that she had met him,
that she had spoken to him.
But she restrained herself, she was silent, and contented herself
with saying, "Hope, my child! Misfortune will not overwhelm you.
You will see your father again; I feel it; and perhaps he who gave
you the name of sister is not dead. God cannot have allowed your
brave companion to perish. Hope, my child, hope! Do as I do.
The mourning which I wear is not yet for my son."
CHAPTER III BLOW FOR BLOW
SUCH were now the relative situations of Marfa Strogoff
and Nadia.
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