When Ogareff had in his cruel irony held the Imperial letter before
the eyes which he believed were destroyed, Michael had been able to read,
and had read the letter which disclosed the odious plans of the traitor.
This was the reason of the wonderful resolution he exhibited during
the second part of his journey. This was the reason of his unalterable
longing to reach Irkutsk, so as to perform his mission by word of mouth.
He knew that the town would be betrayed! He knew that the life
of the Grand Duke was threatened! The safety of the Czar's brother
and of Siberia was in his hands.
This story was told in a few words to the Grand Duke, and Michael
repeated also--and with what emotion!--the part Nadia had taken
in these events.
"Who is this girl?" asked the Grand Duke.
"The daughter of the exile, Wassili Fedor," replied Michael.
"The daughter of Captain Fedor," said the Grand Duke, "has ceased to be
the daughter of an exile. There are no longer exiles in Irkutsk."
Nadia, less strong in joy than she had been in grief, fell on
her knees before the Grand Duke, who raised her with one hand,
while he extended the other to Michael.
An hour after, Nadia was in her father's arms.
Michael Strogoff, Nadia, and Wassili Fedor were united.
This was the height of happiness to them all.
The Tartars had been repulsed in their double attack on the town.
Wassili Fedor, with his little band, had driven back the first
assailants who presented themselves at the Bolchaia Gate,
expecting to find it open and which, by an instinctive feeling,
often arising from sound judgment, he had determined to remain
at and defend.
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