"
"Yes," replied the Grand Duke with an emotion which he did not seek
to hide, "these exiles are Russians, and it is their right to fight
for their country!"
"I believe I may assure your Highness," said the governor-general,
"you will have no better soldiers."
"But they must have a chief," said the Grand Duke, "who will he be?"
"They wish to recommend to your Highness," said the head of police,
"one of their number, who has distinguished himself on several occasions."
"Is he a Russian?"
"Yes, a Russian from the Baltic provinces."
"His name?"
"Is Wassili Fedor."
This exile was Nadia's father. Wassili Fedor, as we have already said,
followed his profession of a medical man in Irkutsk. He was
clever and charitable, and also possessed the greatest courage
and most sincere patriotism. All the time which he did not
devote to the sick he employed in organizing the defense.
It was he who had united his companions in exile in the common cause.
The exiles, till then mingled with the population, had behaved
in such a way as to draw on themselves the attention of the
Grand Duke. In several sorties, they had paid with their blood their
debt to holy Russia--holy as they believe, and adored by her children!
Wassili Fedor had behaved heroically; his name had been mentioned
several times, but he never asked either thanks or favors,
and when the exiles of Irkutsk thought of forming themselves into
a special corps, he was ignorant of their intention of choosing
him for their captain.
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