The man with the hearty voice spoke Russian, but with a French accent; and another speaker answered him more reservedly. “What,” said the first, “are you on board this boat, too, my dear fellow; you whom I met at the imperial fête in Moscow, and just caught a glimpse of at Nijni-Novgorod?” “Yes, it’s I,” answered the second drily. “Really, I didn’t expect to be so closely followed.” “I am not following you sir; I am preceding you.” “Precede! precede! Let us march abreast, keeping step, like two soldiers on parade, and for the time, at least, let us agree, if you will, that one shall not pass the other.” “On the contrary, I shall pass you.” “We shall see that, when we are at the seat of war; but till then, why, let us be traveling companions. Later, we shall have both time and occasion to be rivals.” “Enemies.” “Enemies, if you like. There is a precision in your words, my dear fellow, particularly agreeable to me. One may always know what one has to look for, with you.” “What is the harm?” “No harm at all. So, in my turn, I will ask your permission to state our respective situations.” “State away.” “You are going to Perm--like me?” “Like you.” “And probably you will go from Perm to Ekaterenburg, since that is the best and safest route by which to cross the Ural Mountains?” “Probably.” “Once past the frontier, we shall be in Siberia, that is to say in the midst of the invasion.” “We shall be there.” “Well! then, and only then, will be the time to say, Each for himself, and God for--” “For me.” “For you, all by yourself! Very well! But since we have a week of neutral days before us, and since it is very certain that news will not shower down upon us on the way, let us be friends until we become rivals again.” “Enemies.” “Yes; that’s right, enemies. But till then, let us act together, and not try and ruin each other. All the same, I promise you to keep to myself all that I can see--” “And I, all that I can hear.” “Is that agreed?” “It is agreed.” “Your hand?” “Here it is.” And the hand of the first speaker, that is to say, five wide-open fingers, vigorously shook the two fingers coolly extended by the other. “By the bye,” said the first, “I was able this morning to telegraph the very words of the order to my cousin at seventeen minutes past ten.” “And I sent it to the _Daily Telegraph_ at thirteen minutes past ten.” “Bravo, Mr. Blount!” “Very good, M. Jolivet.” “I will try and match that!” “It will be difficult.” “I can try, however.”