I was making inquiries regarding the prisoners he had recently brought up, whereupon he said:
“They were a batch of politicals from Tomsk. Poor devils, they’ve been sent to Parotovsk—and there’s smallpox there. I suppose General Tschernaieff has sent them there on purpose that they shall become infected and die. Politicals are often sent into an infected settlement.”
“To Parotovsk!” I gasped, for it suddenly occurred to me that the woman of whom I was in search might be of that party!
And then I breathlessly inquired if Madame de Rosen, Political Number 14956, had been with them.
“She and her daughter were ill, and were allowed a sled,” I added.
“There were two ladies, Excellency, mother and daughter. One was about forty, and the other about eighteen. They came from Petersburg, and were, I believe, well connected and moved in the best society.”
“You do not know their names?” I asked anxiously.
“Unfortunately, no,” was his reply. “Only the numbers. I believe the lady’s number was that which you mentioned. She was registered, however, as a dangerous person.”
“No doubt the same!” I cried. “How is she?”
“When they left Olekminsk she was very weak and ill,” he replied. “Indeed, I recollect remarking to my lieutenant that I feared she would never reach Yakutsk.”