The clouds thinned and broke, the snow ceased falling, and the valley became distinct.  While I admired its beauty, we reached the summit of a hill and I saw before me a cluster of glittering domes and turrets, rising from a wide bend in the Angara.  At first I could discern only churches, but very soon I began to distinguish the streets, avenues, blocks, and houses of a city.  We entered Irkutsk through its eastern gate, and drove rapidly along a wide street, the busiest I had yet seen in Asiatic Russia.

Just as the sun burst in full splendor through the departing clouds, I alighted in the capital of Oriental Siberia, half around the world from my own home.

[Illustration:  TAIL PIECE—­THE WORLD]

CHAPTER XXXIV.

As we entered the city a Cossack delivered a letter announcing that I was to be handed over to the police, who had a lodging ready for me.  On learning of my presence at Kiachta the Governor General kindly requested an officer of his staff to share his rooms with me.  Captain Paul, with whom I was quartered, occupied pleasant apartments overlooking the gastinni-dvor.  He was leading a bachelor life in a suite of six rooms, and had plenty of space at my disposal.  That I might lose no time, the Chief of Police stationed the Cossack with a letter telling me where to drive.

I removed the dust and costume of travel as soon as possible, and prepared to pay my respects to the Governor General.  My presentation was postponed to the following day, and as the Russian etiquette forbade my calling on other officials before I had seen the chief, there was little to be done in the matter of visiting.

The next morning I called upon General Korsackoff, delivered my letters of introduction, and was most cordially welcomed to Irkutsk.  The Governor General of Eastern Siberia controls a territory larger than all European Russia, and much of it is not yet out of its developing stage.  He has a heavy responsibility upon his shoulders in leading his subjects in the way best for their interests and those of the crown.  Much has been done under the energetic administration of General Korsackoff and his predecessor, and there is room to accomplish much more.  The general has ably withstood the cares and hardships of his Siberian life.  He is forty-five years of age, active and vigorous, and capable of doing much before his way of life is fallen into the sere and yellow leaf.  Like Madame De Stael, he possesses the power of putting visitors entirely at their ease.  To my single countrywomen I will whisper that General Korsackoff is of about medium height, has a fair complexion, blue eyes, and Saxon hair, and a face which the most crabbed misanthrope could not refuse to call handsome.  He is unmarried, and if rumor tells the truth, not under engagement.

[Illustration:  GOV.  GEN’L KORSACKOFF.]