“Whatisthematter，Nadia？“heasked。
“Ourtwotravelingcompanions，Michael。“
“TheFrenchmanandtheEnglishmanwhomwemetinthedefilesoftheUral？“
“Yes。“
Michaelstarted，forthestrictincognitowhichhewishedtokeepranariskofbeingbetrayed。Indeed，itwasnolongerasNicholasKorpanoffthatJolivetandBlountwouldnowseehim，butasthetrueMichaelStrogoff，CourieroftheCzar。ThetwocorrespondentshadalreadymethimtwicesincetheirseparationattheIchimpost-house——thefirsttimeattheZabedierocamp，whenhelaidopenIvanOgareff’sfacewiththeknout；thesecondtimeatTomsk，whenhewascondemnedbytheEmir。Theythereforeknewwhohewasandwhatdependedonhim。