“SIRE，afreshdispatch。“
“Whence？“
“FromTomsk？“
“Isthewirecutbeyondthatcity？“
“Yes，sire，sinceyesterday。“
“TelegraphhourlytoTomsk，General，andkeepmeinformedofallthatoccurs。“
“Sire，itshallbedone，“answeredGeneralKissoff。
Thesewordswereexchangedabouttwohoursaftermidnight，atthemomentwhenthefetegivenattheNewPalacewasattheheightofitssplendor。
DuringthewholeeveningthebandsofthePreobra-jenskyandPaulowskyregimentshadplayedwithoutcessationpolkas，mazurkas，schottisches，andwaltzesfromamongthechoicestoftheirrepertoires。
Innumerablecouplesofdancerswhirledthroughthemagnificentsaloonsofthepalace，whichstoodatafewpacesonlyfromthe“oldhouseofstones“——informerdaysthesceneofsomanyterribledramas，theechoesofwhosewallswerethisnightawakenedbythegaystrainsofthemusicians。
Thegrand-chamberlainofthecourt，was，besides，wellsecondedinhisarduousanddelicateduties。Thegrand-dukesandtheiraides-de-camp，thechamberlains-in-waitingandotherofficersofthepalace，presidedpersonallyinthearrangementofthedances。
Thegrandduchesses，coveredwithdiamonds，theladies-in-waitingintheirmostexquisitecostumes，settheexampletothewivesofthemilitaryandcivildignitariesoftheancient“cityofwhitestone。“When，therefore，thesignalforthe“polonaise“
resoundedthroughthesaloons，andtheguestsofallrankstookpartinthatmeasuredpromenade，whichonoccasionsofthiskindhasalltheimportanceofanationaldance，themingledcostumes，thesweepingrobesadornedwithlace，anduniformscoveredwithorders，presentedasceneofdazzlingsplendor，lightedbyhundredsoflustersmultipliedtenfoldbythenumerousmirrorsadorningthewalls。
Thegrandsaloon，thefinestofallthosecontainedintheNewPalace，formedtothisprocessionofexaltedpersonagesandsplendidlydressedwomenaframeworthyofthemagnificencetheydisplayed。
Therichceiling，withitsgildingalreadysoftenedbythetouchoftime，appearedasifglitteringwithstars。Theembroidereddraperyofthecurtainsanddoors，fallingingorgeousfolds，assumedrichandvariedhues，brokenbytheshadowsoftheheavymassesofdamask。
Throughthepanesofthevastsemicircularbay-windowsthelight，withwhichthesaloonswerefilled，shoneforthwiththebrilliancyofaconflagration，vividlyilluminatingthegloominwhichforsomehoursthepalacehadbeenshrouded。
Theattentionofthoseoftheguestsnottakingpartinthedancingwasattractedbythecontrast。
Restingintherecessesofthewindows，theycoulddiscern，standingoutdimlyinthedarkness，thevagueoutlinesofthecountlesstowers，domes，andspireswhichadorntheancientcity。
Belowthesculpturedbalconieswerevisiblenumeroussentries，pacingsilentlyupanddown，theirriflescarriedhorizontallyontheshoulder，andthespikesoftheirhelmetsglitteringlikeflamesintheglareoflightissuingfromthepalace。
Thestepsalsoofthepatrolscouldbeheardbeatingtimeonthestonesbeneathwithevenmoreregularitythanthefeetofthedancersonthefloorofthesaloon。
Fromtimetotimethewatchwordwasrepeatedfromposttopost，andoccasionallythenotesofatrumpet，minglingwiththestrainsoftheorchestra，penetratedintotheirmidst。
Stillfartherdown，infrontofthefacade，darkmassesobscuredtheraysoflightwhichproceededfromthewindowsoftheNewPalace。Thesewereboatsdescendingthecourseofariver，whosewaters，faintlyilluminedbyafewlamps，washedthelowerportionoftheterraces。
Theprincipalpersonagewhohasbeenmentioned，thegiverofthefete，andtowhomGeneralKissoffhadbeenspeakinginthattoneofrespectwithwhichsovereignsaloneareusuallyaddressed，worethesimpleuniformofanofficerofchasseursoftheguard。
Thiswasnotaffectationonhispart，butthecustomofamanwhocaredlittlefordress，hiscontrastingstronglywiththegorgeouscostumesamidwhichhemoved，encircledbyhisescortofGeorgians，Cossacks，andCircassians——abrilliantband，splendidlycladintheglitteringuniformsoftheCaucasus。
Thispersonage，ofloftystature，affabledemeanor，andphysiognomycalm，thoughbearingtracesofanxiety，movedfromgrouptogroup，seldomspeaking，andappearingtopaybutlittleattentioneithertothemerrimentoftheyoungerguestsorthegraverremarksoftheexalteddignitariesormembersofthediplomaticcorpswhorepresentedattheRussiancourttheprincipalgovernmentsofEurope。Twoorthreeoftheseastutepoliticians——physiognomistsbyvirtueoftheirprofession——
failednottodetectonthecountenanceoftheirhostsymptomsofdisquietude，thesourceofwhicheludedtheirpenetration；
butnoneventuredtointerrogatehimonthesubject。
Itwasevidentlytheintentionoftheofficerofchasseursthathisownanxietiesshouldinnowaycastashadeoverthefestivities；
and，ashewasapersonagewhomalmostthepopulationofaworldinitselfwaswonttoobey，thegayetyoftheballwasnotforamomentchecked。
Nevertheless，GeneralKissoffwaiteduntiltheofficertowhomhehadjustcommunicatedthedispatchforwardedfromTomskshouldgivehimpermissiontowithdraw；butthelatterstillremainedsilent。
Hehadtakenthetelegram，hehadreaditcarefully，andhisvisagebecameevenmorecloudedthanbefore。
Involuntarilyhesoughtthehiltofhissword，andthenpassedhishandforaninstantbeforehiseyes，asthough，dazzledbythebrilliancyofthelight，hewishedtoshadethem，thebettertoseeintotherecessesofhisownmind。
“Weare，then，“hecontinued，afterhavingdrawnGeneralKissoffasidetowardsawindow，“sinceyesterdaywithoutintelligencefromtheGrandDuke？“
“Withoutany，sire；anditistobefearedthatinashorttimedispatcheswillnolongercrosstheSiberianfrontier。“
“ButhavenotthetroopsoftheprovincesofAmoorandIrkutsk，asthosealsooftheTrans-Balkanterritory，receivedorderstomarchimmediatelyuponIrkutsk？“
“TheordersweretransmittedbythelasttelegramwewereabletosendbeyondLakeBaikal。“
“AndthegovernmentsofYeniseisk，Omsk，Semipolatinsk，andTobolsk——arewestillindirectcommunicationwiththemasbeforetheinsurrection？“
“Yes，sire；ourdispatcheshavereachedthem，andweareassuredatthepresentmomentthattheTartarshavenotadvancedbeyondtheIrtishandtheObi。“
“AndthetraitorIvanOgareff，aretherenotidingsofhim？“
“None，“repliedGeneralKissoff。“Theheadofthepolicecannotstatewhetherornothehascrossedthefrontier。“
“LetadescriptionofhimbeimmediatelydispatchedtoNijni-Novgorod，Perm，Ekaterenburg，Kasirnov，Tioumen，Ishim，Omsk，Tomsk，andtoallthetelegraphicstationswithwhichcommunicationisyetopen。“
“Yourmajesty’sordersshallbeinstantlycarriedout。“
“Youwillobservethestrictestsilenceastothis。“
TheGeneral，havingmadeasignofrespectfulassent，bowinglow，mingledwiththecrowd，andfinallylefttheapartmentswithouthisdeparturebeingremarked。
Theofficerremainedabsorbedinthoughtforafewmoments，when，recoveringhimself，hewentamongthevariousgroupsinthesaloon，hiscountenancereassumingthatcalmaspectwhichhadforaninstantbeendisturbed。
Nevertheless，theimportantoccurrencewhichhadoccasionedtheserapidlyexchangedwordswasnotsounknownastheofficerofthechasseursoftheguardandGeneralKissoffhadpossiblysupposed。Itwasnotspokenofofficially，itistrue，norevenofficiously，sincetongueswerenotfree；butafewexaltedpersonageshadbeeninformed，moreorlessexactly，oftheeventswhichhadtakenplacebeyondthefrontier。
Atanyrate，thatwhichwasonlyslightlyknown，thatwhichwasnotmatterofconversationevenbetweenmembersofthecorpsdiplomatique，twoguests，distinguishedbynouniform，nodecoration，atthisreceptionintheNewPalace，discussedinalowvoice，andwithapparentlyverycorrectinformation。
Bywhatmeans，bytheexerciseofwhatacutenesshadthesetwoordinarymortalsascertainedthatwhichsomanypersonsofthehighestrankandimportancescarcelyevensuspected？Itisimpossibletosay。
Hadtheythegiftsofforeknowledgeandforesight？Didtheypossessasupplementarysense，whichenabledthemtoseebeyondthatlimitedhorizonwhichboundsallhumangaze？Hadtheyobtainedapeculiarpowerofdiviningthemostsecretevents？Wasitowingtothehabit，nowbecomeasecondnature，oflivingoninformation，thattheirmentalconstitutionhadthusbecomereallytransformed？
Itwasdifficulttoescapefromthisconclusion。
Ofthesetwomen，theonewasEnglish，theotherFrench；bothweretallandthin，butthelatterwassallowasarethesouthernProvencals，whiletheformerwasruddylikeaLancashiregentleman。
TheAnglo-Norman，formal，cold，grave，parsimoniousofgesturesandwords，appearedonlytospeakorgesticulateundertheinfluenceofaspringoperatingatregularintervals。
TheGaul，onthecontrary，livelyandpetulant，expressedhimselfwithlips，eyes，hands，allatonce，havingtwentydifferentwaysofexplaininghisthoughts，whereashisinterlocutorseemedtohaveonlyone，immutablystereotypedonhisbrain。
Thestrongcontrasttheypresentedwouldatoncehavestruckthemostsuperficialobserver；butaphysiognomist，regardingthemclosely，wouldhavedefinedtheirparticularcharacteristicsbysaying，thatiftheFrenchmanwas“alleyes，“theEnglishmanwas“allears。“
Infact，thevisualapparatusoftheonehadbeensingularlyperfectedbypractice。Thesensibilityofitsretinamusthavebeenasinstantaneousasthatofthoseconjurorswhorecognizeacardmerelybyarapidmovementincuttingthepackorbythearrangementonlyofmarksinvisibletoothers。
TheFrenchmanindeedpossessedinthehighestdegreewhatmaybecalled“thememoryoftheeye。“
TheEnglishman，onthecontrary，appearedespeciallyorganizedtolistenandtohear。Whenhisauralapparatushadbeenoncestruckbythesoundofavoicehecouldnotforgetit，andaftertenoreventwentyyearshewouldhaverecognizeditamongathousand。
Hisears，tobesure，hadnotthepowerofmovingasfreelyasthoseofanimalswhoareprovidedwithlargeauditoryflaps；
but，sincescientificmenknowthathumanearspossess，infact，averylimitedpowerofmovement，weshouldnotbefarwronginaffirmingthatthoseofthesaidEnglishmanbecameerect，andturnedinalldirectionswhileendeavoringtogatherinthesounds，inamannerapparentonlytothenaturalist。
Itmustbeobservedthatthisperfectionofsightandhearingwasofwonderfulassistancetothesetwomenintheirvocation，fortheEnglishmanactedascorrespondentoftheDailyTelegraph，andtheFrenchman，ascorrespondentofwhatnewspaper，orofwhatnewspapers，hedidnotsay；andwhenasked，herepliedinajocularmannerthathecorrespondedwith“hiscousinMadeleine。“ThisFrenchman，however，neathhiscarelesssurface，waswonderfullyshrewdandsagacious。
Evenwhilespeakingatrandom，perhapsthebettertohidehisdesiretolearn，heneverforgothimself。Hisloquacityevenhelpedhimtoconcealhisthoughts，andhewasperhapsevenmorediscreetthanhisconfrereoftheDailyTelegraph。BothwerepresentatthisfetegivenattheNewPalaceonthenightofthe15thofJulyintheircharacterofreporters。
Itisneedlesstosaythatthesetwomenweredevotedtotheirmissionintheworld——thattheydelightedtothrowthemselvesinthetrackofthemostunexpectedintelligence——thatnothingterrifiedordiscouragedthemfromsucceeding——thattheypossessedtheimperturbablesangfroidandthegenuineintrepidityofmenoftheircalling。
Enthusiasticjockeysinthissteeplechase，thishuntafterinformation，theyleapedhedges，crossedrivers，sprangoverfences，withtheardorofpure-bloodedracers，whowillrun“agoodfirst“ordie！
Theirjournalsdidnotrestrictthemwithregardtomoney——
thesurest，themostrapid，themostperfectelementofinformationknowntothisday。Itmustalsobeadded，totheirhonor，thatneithertheonenortheothereverlookedoverorlistenedatthewallsofprivatelife，andthattheyonlyexercisedtheirvocationwhenpoliticalorsocialinterestswereatstake。
Inaword，theymadewhathasbeenforsomeyearscalled“thegreatpoliticalandmilitaryreports。“
Itwillbeseen，infollowingthem，thattheyhadgenerallyanindependentmodeofviewingevents，and，aboveall，theirconsequences，eachhavinghisownwayofobservingandappreciating。
TheFrenchcorrespondentwasnamedAlcideJolivet。HarryBlountwasthenameoftheEnglishman。TheyhadjustmetforthefirsttimeatthisfeteintheNewPalace，ofwhichtheyhadbeenorderedtogiveanaccountintheirpapers。Thedissimilarityoftheircharacters，addedtoacertainamountofjealousy，whichgenerallyexistsbetweenrivalsinthesamecalling，mighthaverenderedthembutlittlesympathetic。However，theydidnotavoideachother，butendeavoredrathertoexchangewitheachotherthechatoftheday。
Theyweresportsmen，afterall，huntingonthesameground。
Thatwhichonemissedmightbeadvantageouslysecuredbytheother，anditwastotheirinteresttomeetandconverse。
Thiseveningtheywerebothonthelookout；theyfelt，infact，thattherewassomethingintheair。
“Evenshoulditbeonlyawildgoosechase，“saidAlcideJolivettohimself，“itmaybeworthpowderandshot。“