CHAPTER VI BROTHER AND SISTER.
HOWEVER disastrous these measures might be to private interests, they were, under the circumstances, perfectly justifiable.
"All Russian subjects are forbidden to leave the province;" if Ivan Ogareff was still in the province, this would at any rate prevent him, unless with the greatest difficulty, from rejoining Feofar-Khan, and becoming a very formidable lieutenant to the Tartar chief.
"All foreigners of Asiatic origin are ordered to leave the province in four-and-twenty hours;" this would send off in a body all the traders from Central Asia, as well as the bands of Bohemians, gipsies, etc., having more or less sympathy with the Tartars.

So many heads, so many spies--undoubtedly affairs required their expulsion.
It is easy to understand the effect produced by these two thunder-claps bursting over a town like Nijni-Novgorod, so densely crowded with visitors, and with a commerce so greatly surpassing that of all other places in Russia.

The natives whom business called beyond the Siberian frontier could not leave the province for a time at least.

The tenor of the first article of the order was express; it admitted of no exception.
All private interests must yield to the public weal.

As to the second article of the proclamation, the order of expulsion which it contained admitted of no evasion either.