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Approaching Orenbourg,a crowd of convicts, with shaved heads and faces disfigured by the pincers of the public executioner At that time red-hot irons were applied to tear out the nostrils of the conde at the fortifications of the place under the supervision of the garrison pensioners Some carried away in wheel-barrows the rubbish that filled the ditch, others threw up the earth, whilethe walls The sentry stopped us at the gate and asked for our passports When the sergeant heard that ere froorsk he took arden I found hi the apple trees, which autumnal winds had already despoiled of their leaves; assisted by an old gardener, he covered theood hulad to see me, and questioned me about the terrible events I had witnessed The old , cut off the dead branches

"Poor Mironoff!" said he, when I had finished my story; "it is a pity; he was a brave officer; and Mada hter?"

"She is in the fortress, at the house of the Greek priest"

"Aye! aye! aye!" exclaimed the General "That's bad, very bad; for it is iands"

I observed that the fortress of Belogorsk was not far off, and that probably his Excellency would send a detachment of troops to deliver the poor inhabitants

The General shook his head, doubtfully "We shall see! we shall see! there is plenty of ti you, to take tea with ive us soatcheff and his aro and rest"

I went to my allotted quarters, where I found Saveliitch already installed I awaited impatiently the hour indicated, and the reader may believe that I did not fail to be present at this council, which was to influence my whole life I found at the General's a custom- house officer, the Director, as well as I can re a robe of black watered silk He questioned me about the fate of the Captain Mironoff, whom he called his chum, and often interrupted me by sententious remarks, which, if they did not prove hience and shrewdness During this tiuests arrived When all had taken their places, and to each had been offered a cup of tea, the General carefully stated the questions to be considered