As to the other travelers in the compartment, all bound for Nijni-Novgorod, their appearance, happily for them, was in nowise suspicious.
The young girl in her turn, exhibited, not a passport, since passports are no longer required in Russia, but a permit indorsed with a private seal, and which seemed to be of a special character.

The inspector read the permit with attention.

Then, having attentively examined the person whose description it contained: "You are from Riga ?" he said.
"Yes," replied the young girl.
"You are going to Irkutsk ?" "Yes." "By what route ?" "By Perm." "Good!" replied the inspector.

"Take care to have your permit vised, at the police station of Nijni-Novgorod." The young girl bent her head in token of assent.
Hearing these questions and replies, Michael Strogoff experienced a mingled sentiment both of surprise and pity.

What! this young girl, alone, journeying to that far-off Siberia, and at a time when, to its ordinary dangers, were added all the perils of an invaded country and one in a state of insurrection! How would she reach it?
What would become of her?
The inspection ended, the doors of the carriages were then opened, but, before Michael Strogoff could move towards her, the young Livonian, who had been the first to descend, had disappeared in the crowd which thronged the platforms of the railway station.
CHAPTER V THE TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS NIJNI-NOVGOROD, Lower Novgorod, situate at the junction of the Volga and the Oka, is the chief town in the district of the same name.