ThemanwhorepeatedtheEmir’swords——atallspareTartar——
washewhocarriedoutthesentencesofFeofar-Khanagainstoffenders。
HehadtakenhisplacebehindMichael，holdinginhishandabroadcurvedsaber，oneofthoseDamascenebladeswhichareforgedbythecelebratedarmorersofKarschiorHissar。
Behindhimguardswerecarryingatripodsupportingachafing-dishfilledwithlivecoals。Nosmokearosefromthis，butalightvaporsurroundedit，duetotheincinerationofacertainaromaticandresinoussubstancewhichhehadthrownonthesurface。
ThePersiansweresucceededbyanotherpartyofdancers，whomMichaelrecognized。Thejournalistsalsoappearedtorecognizethem，forBlountsaidtohiscompanion，“ThesearetheTsiganesofNijni-Novgorod。“
“Nodoubtofit，“criedAlcide。“Theireyes，Iimagine，bringmoremoneytothesespiesthantheirlegs。“
InputtingthemdownasagentsintheEmir’sservice，AlcideJolivetwas，byallaccounts，notmistaken。
InthefirstrankoftheTsiganes，Sangarreappeared，superbinherstrangeandpicturesquecostume，whichsetoffstillfurtherherremarkablebeauty。
Sangarredidnotdance，butshestoodasastatueinthemidstoftheperformers，whosestyleofdancingwasacombinationofthatofallthosecountriesthroughwhichtheirracehadpassed——Turkey，Bohemia，Egypt，Italy，andSpain。Theywereenlivenedbythesoundofcymbals，whichclashedontheirarms，andbythehollowsoundsofthe“daires“——asortoftambourineplayedwiththefingers。
Sangarre，holdingoneofthosedaires，whichsheplayedbetweenherhands，encouragedthistroupeofveritablecorybantes。
AyoungTsigane，ofaboutfifteenyearsofage，thenadvanced。
Heheldinhishanda“doutare，“stringsofwhichhemadetovibratebyasimplemovementofthenails。Hesung。
Duringthesingingofeachcouplet，ofverypeculiarrhythm，adancertookherpositionbyhimandremainedthereimmovable，listeningtohim，buteachtimethattheburdencamefromthelipsoftheyoungsinger，sheresumedherdance，dinninginhisearswithherdaire，anddeafeninghimwiththeclashingofhercymbals。
Then，afterthelastchorus，theremaindersurroundedtheTsiganeinthewindingsoftheirdance。
AtthatmomentashowerofgoldfellfromthehandsoftheEmirandhistrain，andfromthehandsofhisofficersofallranks；tothenoisewhichthepiecesmadeastheystruckthecymbalsofthedancers，beingaddedthelastmurmursofthedoutaresandtambourines。
“Lavishasrobbers，“saidAlcideintheearofhiscompanion。
Andinfactitwastheresultofplunderwhichwasfalling；
for，withtheTartartomansandsequins，rainedalsoRussianducatsandroubles。
Thensilencefollowedforaninstant，andthevoiceoftheexecutioner，wholaidhishandonMichael’sshoulder，oncemorepronouncedthewords，whichthisrepetitionrenderedmoreandmoresinister:
“Lookwhileyoumay“
ButthistimeAlcideobservedthattheexecutionernolongerheldthesaberbareinhishand。
Meanwhilethesunhadsunkbehindthehorizon。Asemi-obscuritybegantoenveloptheplain。Themassofcedarsandpinesbecameblackerandblacker，andthewatersoftheTom，totallyobscuredinthedistance，mingledwiththeapproachingshadows。
Butatthatinstantseveralhundredsofslaves，bearinglightedtorches，enteredthesquare。LedbySangarre，TsiganesandPersiansreappearedbeforetheEmir’sthrone，andshowedoff，bythecontrast，theirdancesofstylessodifferent。
TheinstrumentsoftheTartarorchestrasoundedforthinharmonystillmoresavage，accompaniedbythegutturalcriesofthesingers。
Thekites，whichhadfallentotheground，oncemorewingedtheirwayintothesky，eachbearingaparti-coloredlantern，andunderafresherbreezetheirharpsvibratedwithintensersoundinthemidstoftheaerialillumination。
ThenasquadronofTartars，intheirbrilliantuniforms，mingledinthedances，whosewildfurywasincreasingrapidly，andthenbeganaperformancewhichproducedaverystrangeeffect。
Soldierscameontheground，armedwithbaresabersandlongpistols，and，astheyexecuteddances，theymadetheairre-echowiththesuddendetonationsoftheirfirearms，whichimmediatelysetgoingtherumblingofthetambourines，andgrumblingsofthedaires，andthegnashingofdoutares。
Theirarms，coveredwithacoloredpowderofsomemetallicingredient，aftertheChinesefashion，threwlongjets——red，green，andblue——
sothatthegroupsofdancersseemedtobeinthemidstoffireworks。
Insomerespects，thisperformancerecalledthemilitarydanceoftheancients，inthemidstofnakedswords；butthisTartardancewasrenderedyetmorefantasticbythecoloredfire，whichwound，serpent-like，abovethedancers，whosedressesseemedtobeembroideredwithfieryhems。Itwaslikeakaleidoscopeofsparks，whoseinfinitecombinationsvariedateachmovementofthedancers。
ThoughitmaybethoughtthataParisianreporterwouldbeperfectlyhardenedtoanysceniceffect，whichourmodernideashavecarriedsofar，yetAlcideJolivetcouldnotrestrainaslightmovementofthehead，whichathome，betweentheBoulevardMontmartreandLaMadeleinewouldhavesaid——“Veryfair，veryfair。“
Then，suddenly，atasignal，allthelightsofthefantasiawereextinguished，thedancesceased，andtheperformersdisappeared。
Theceremonywasover，andthetorchesalonelighteduptheplateau，whichafewinstantsbeforehadbeensobrilliantlyilluminated。
OnasignfromtheEmir，Michaelwasledintothemiddleofthesquare。
“Blount，“saidAlcidetohiscompanion，“areyougoingtoseetheendofallthis？“
“No，thatIamnot，“repliedBlount。
“ThereadersoftheDailyTelegraphare，Ihope，notveryeagerforthedetailsofanexecutionalamodeTartare？“
“Nomorethanyourcousin！“
“Poorfellow！“addedAlcide，ashewatchedMichael。“Thatvaliantsoldiershouldhavefallenonthefieldofbattle！“
“Canwedonothingtosavehim？“saidBlount。
“Nothing！“
ThereportersrecalledMichael’sgenerousconducttowardsthem；
theyknewnowthroughwhattrialshemusthavepassed，everobedienttohisduty；andinthemidstoftheseTartars，towhompityisunknown，theycoulddonothingforhim。
Havinglittledesiretobepresentatthetorturereservedfortheunfortunateman，theyreturnedtothetown。
Anhourlater，theywereontheroadtoIrkutsk，foritwasamongtheRussiansthattheyintendedtofollowwhatAlcidecalled，byanticipation，“thecampaignofrevenge。“
Meantime，Michaelwasstandingready，hiseyesreturningtheEmir’shaughtyglance，whilehiscountenanceassumedanexpressionofintensescornwheneverhecasthislooksonIvanOgareff。Hewaspreparedtodie，yetnotasinglesignofweaknessescapedhim。
Thespectators，waitingaroundthesquare，aswellasFeofar-Khan’sbody-guard，towhomthisexecutionwasonlyoneoftheattractions，wereeagerlyexpectingit。Then，theircuriositysatisfied，theywouldrushofftoenjoythepleasuresofintoxication。
TheEmirmadeasign。Michaelwasthrustforwardbyhisguardstothefootoftheterrace，andFeofarsaidtohim，“Youcametoseeourgoingsoutandcomingsin，Russianspy。
Youhaveseenforthelasttime。Inaninstantyoureyeswillbeforevershuttotheday。“
Michael’sfatewastobenotdeath，butblindness；
lossofsight，moreterribleperhapsthanlossoflife。
Theunhappymanwascondemnedtobeblinded。
However，onhearingtheEmir’ssentenceMichael’sheartdidnotgrowfaint。Heremainedunmoved，hiseyeswideopen，asthoughhewishedtoconcentratehiswholelifeintoonelastlook。
Toentreatpityfromthesesavagemenwouldbeuseless，besides，itwouldbeunworthyofhim。Hedidnoteventhinkofit。
Histhoughtswerecondensedonhismission，whichhadapparentlysocompletelyfailed；onhismother，onNadia，whomheshouldnevermoresee！Butheletnosignappearoftheemotionhefelt。
Then，afeelingofvengeancetobeaccomplishedcameoverhim。
“Ivan，“saidhe，inasternvoice，“IvantheTraitor，thelastmenaceofmyeyesshallbeforyou！“
IvanOgareffshruggedhisshoulders。
ButMichaelwasnottobelookingatIvanwhenhiseyeswereputout。
MarfaStrogoffstoodbeforehim。
“Mymother！“criedhe。“Yes！yes！mylastglanceshallbeforyou，andnotforthiswretch！Staythere，beforeme！
NowIseeoncemoreyourwell-belovedface！Nowshallmyeyescloseastheyrestuponit……！“
Theoldwoman，withoututteringaword，advanced。
“Takethatwomanaway！“saidIvan。
Twosoldierswereabouttoseizeher，butshesteppedbackandremainedstandingafewpacesfromMichael。
Theexecutionerappeared。Thistime，heheldhissaberbareinhishand，andthissaberhehadjustdrawnfromthechafing-dish，wherehehadbroughtittoawhiteheat。
MichaelwasgoingtobeblindedintheTartarfashion，withahotbladepassedbeforehiseyes！
Michaeldidnotattempttoresist。Nothingexistedbeforehiseyesbuthismother，whomhiseyesseemedtodevour。
Allhislifewasinthatlastlook。
MarfaStrogoff，hereyesopenwide，herarmsextendedtowardswherehestood，wasgazingathim。TheincandescentbladepassedbeforeMichael’seyes。
Adespairingcrywasheard。Hisagedmotherfellsenselesstotheground。MichaelStrogoffwasblind。
Hisordersexecuted，theEmirretiredwithhistrain。
ThereremainedinthesquareonlyIvanOgareffandthetorchbearers。
Didthewretchintendtoinsulthisvictimyetfurther，andyettogivehimapartingblow？
IvanOgareffslowlyapproachedMichael，who，feelinghimcoming，drewhimselfup。IvandrewfromhispockettheImperialletter，heopenedit，andwithsupremeironyhehelditupbeforethesightlesseyesoftheCzar’scourier，saying，“Read，now，MichaelStrogoff，read，andgoandrepeatatIrkutskwhatyouhaveread。
ThetrueCourieroftheCzarisIvanOgareff。“
Thissaid，thetraitorthrusttheletterintohisbreast。
Then，withoutlookingroundheleftthesquare，followedbythetorch-bearers。
Michaelwasleftalone，atafewpacesfromhismother，lyinglifeless，perhapsdead。Heheardinthedistancecriesandsongs，thevariednoisesofawilddebauch。Tomsk，illuminated，glitteredandgleamed。
Michaellistened。Thesquarewassilentanddeserted。Hewent，gropinghisway，towardstheplacewherehismotherhadfallen。
Hefoundherwithhishand，hebentoverher，heputhisfaceclosetohers，helistenedforthebeatingofherheart。
Thenhemurmuredafewwords。
DidMarfastilllive，anddidshehearherson’swords？
Whethershedidsoornot，shemadenottheslightestmovement。
Michaelkissedherforeheadandherwhitelocks。Hethenraisedhimself，and，gropingwithhisfoot，tryingtostretchouthishandtoguidehimself，hewalkedbydegreestotheedgeofthesquare。
SuddenlyNadiaappeared。Shewalkedstraighttohercompanion。
AknifeinherhandcutthecordswhichboundMichael’sarms。
Theblindmanknewnotwhohadfreedhim，forNadiahadnotspokenaword。
Butthisdone:“Brother！“saidshe。
“Nadia！“murmuredMichael，“Nadia！“
“Come，brother，“repliedNadia，“usemyeyeswhilstyourssleep。
IwillleadyoutoIrkutsk。“