The Commandant decided to examine the Corporal that same day, but he
had escaped, no doubt, by the aid of his brother Cossacks. Another
event increased the Captain's uneasiness. A Bashkir was seized bearing
seditious letters. Upon this occasion, the Commandant decided to
call at once a council, and in order to do so, wished to send away
his wife under some specious pretext. But as Mironoff was the
simplest and most truthful of men, he could think of no other device
than that already employed.

"You see, Basilia," said he, coughing several times, "Father Garasim
has, it is said, been to the city--"

"Silence! silence!" interrupted his wife; "you are going to call
another council and talk in my absence of Imiliane Pougatcheff, but
this time you can not deceive me."

The Captain stared; "Eh! well! my dear," said he, "since you know all,
stay; we may as well speak before you."

"You cannot play the fox," said his wife; "send for the officers."

We assembled again. The Commandant read, before his wife,
Pougatcheff's proclamation, written by some half-educated Cossack.
The brigand declared to us his intention of marching directly upon our
fortress, inviting the Cossacks and soldiers to join him, and advising
the chiefs not to resist, threatening, in that case, extremest torture.
The proclamation was written in vulgar but energetic terms, and must
have produced an impression upon simple-minded people.