“Yes，general，“repliedtheGrandDuke，“andIdojusticetotheirpatriotism。ThankstoGod，theyhavenotyetbeensubjectedtothehorrorsofepidemicandfamine，andIhavereasontohopethattheywillescapethem；
butIcannotadmiretheircourageontherampartsenough。
Youhearmywords，SirMerchant，andIbegyoutorepeatsuchtothem。“
“IthankyourHighnessinthenameofthetown，“answeredthemerchantchief。“MayIaskyouwhatisthemostdistantdatewhenwemayexpecttherelievingarmy？“
“Sixdaysatmost，sir，“repliedtheGrandDuke。“Abraveandclevermessengermanagedthismorningtogetintothetown，andhetoldmethatfiftythousandRussiansunderGeneralKisselef，areadvancingbyforcedmarches。Twodaysago，theywereonthebanksoftheLena，atKirensk，andnow，neitherfrostnorsnowwillkeepthemback。