Book Six: 1808-10 - Chapter V

by Leo Tolstoy

　　While waiting for the announcement of his appointment to thecommittee Prince Andrew looked up his former acquaintances,particularly those he knew to be in power and whose aid he might need.In Petersburg he now experienced the same feeling he had had on theeve of a battle, when troubled by anxious curiosity and irresistiblyattracted to the ruling circles where the future, on which the fate ofmillions depended, was being shaped. From the irritation of theolder men, the curiosity of the uninitiated. the reserve of theinitiated, the hurry and preoccupation of everyone, and theinnumerable committees and commissions of whose existence he learnedevery day, he felt that now, in 1809, here in Petersburg a vastcivil conflict was in preparation, the commander in chief of which wasa mysterious person he did not know, but who was supposed to be aman of genius- Speranski. And this movement of reconstruction of whichPrince Andrew had a vague idea, and Speranski its chief promoter,began to interest him so keenly that the question of the armyregulations quickly receded to a secondary place in his consciousness.

　　Prince Andrew was most favorably placed to secure good receptionin the highest and most diverse Petersburg circles of the day. Thereforming party cordially welcomed and courted him, the first placebecause he was reputed to be clever and very well read, and secondlybecause by liberating his serfs he had obtained the reputation ofbeing a liberal. The party of the old and dissatisfied, who censuredthe innovations, turned to him expecting his sympathy in theirdisapproval of the reforms, simply because he was the son of hisfather. The feminine society world welcomed him gladly, because he wasrich, distinguished, a good match, and almost a newcomer, with ahalo of romance on account of his supposed death and the tragic lossof his wife. Besides this the general opinion of all who had known himpreviously was that he had greatly improved during these last fiveyears, having softened and grown more manly, lost his formeraffectation, pride, and contemptuous irony, and acquired theserenity that comes with years. People talked about him, wereinterested in him, and wanted to meet him.

　　The day after his interview with Count Arakcheev, Prince Andrewspent the evening at Count Kochubey's. He told the count of hisinterview with Sila Andreevich (Kochubey spoke of Arakcheev by thatnickname with the same vague irony Prince Andrew had noticed in theMinister of War's anteroom).

　　"Mon cher, even in this case you can't do without MichaelMikhaylovich Speranski. He manages everything. I'll speak to him. Hehas promised to come this evening."

　　"What has Speranski to do with the army regulations?" asked PrinceAndrew.

　　Kochubey shook his head smilingly, as if surprised at Bolkonski'ssimplicity.

　　"We were talking to him about you a few days ago," Kochubeycontinued, "and about your freed plowmen."

　　"Oh, is it you, Prince, who have freed your serfs?" said an oldman of Catherine's day, turning contemptuously toward Bolkonski.

　　"It was a small estate that brought in no profit," replied PrinceAndrew, trying to extenuate his action so as not to irritate the oldman uselessly.

　　"Afraid of being late..." said the old man, looking at Kochubey.

　　"There's one thing I don't understand," he continued. "Who will plowthe land if they are set free? It is easy to write laws, but difficultto rule.... Just the same as now- I ask you, Count- who will beheads of the departments when everybody has to pass examinations?"

　　"Those who pass the examinations, I suppose," replied Kochubey,crossing his legs and glancing round.

　　"Well, I have Pryanichnikov serving under me, a splendid man, apriceless man, but he's sixty. Is he to go up for examination?"

　　"Yes, that's a difficulty, as education is not at all general,but..."

　　Count Kochubey did not finish. He rose, took Prince Andrew by thearm, and went to meet a tall, bald, fair man of about forty with alarge open forehead and a long face of unusual and peculiar whiteness,who was just entering. The newcomer wore a blue swallow-tail coat witha cross suspended from his neck and a star on his left breast. Itwas Speranski. Prince Andrew recognized him at once, and felt athrob within him, as happens at critical moments of life. Whether itwas from respect, envy, or anticipation, he did not know.Speranski's whole figure was of a peculiar type that made him easilyrecognizable. In the society in which Prince Andrew lived he had neverseen anyone who together with awkward and clumsy gestures possessedsuch calmness and self-assurance; he had never seen so resolute yetgentle an expression as that in those half-closed, rather humideyes, or so firm a smile that expressed nothing; nor had he heard sucha refined, smooth, soft voice; above all he had never seen suchdelicate whiteness of face or hands- hands which were broad, butvery plump, soft, and white. Such whiteness and softness Prince Andrewhad only seen on the faces of soldiers who had been long inhospital. This was Speranski, Secretary of State, reporter to theEmperor and his companion at Erfurt, where he had more than once metand talked with Napoleon.

　　Speranski did not shift his eyes from one face to another aspeople involuntarily do on entering a large company and was in nohurry to speak. He spoke slowly, with assurance that he would belistened to, and he looked only at the person with whom he wasconversing.

　　Prince Andrew followed Speranski's every word and movement withparticular attention. As happens to some people, especially to men whojudge those near to them severely, he always on meeting anyone new-especially anyone whom, like Speranski, he knew by reputation-expected to discover in him the perfection of human qualities.

　　Speranski told Kochubey he was sorry he had been unable to comesooner as he had been detained at the palace. He did not say thatthe Emperor had kept him, and Prince Andrew noticed this affectationof modesty. When Kochubey introduced Prince Andrew, Speranski slowlyturned his eyes to Bolkonski with his customary smile and looked athim in silence.

　　"I am very glad to make your acquaintance. I had heard of you, aseveryone has," he said after a pause.

　　Kochubey said a few words about the reception Arakcheev had givenBolkonski. Speranski smiled more markedly.

　　"The chairman of the Committee on Army Regulations is my good friendMonsieur Magnitski," he said, fully articulating every word andsyllable, "and if you like I can put you in touch with him." He pausedat the full stop. "I hope you will find him sympathetic and ready toco-operate in promoting all that is reasonable."

　　A circle soon formed round Speranski, and the old man who had talkedabout his subordinate Pryanichnikov addressed a question to him.

　　Prince Andrew without joining in the conversation watched everymovement of Speranski's: this man, not long since an insignificantdivinity student, who now, Bolkonski thought, held in his hands- thoseplump white hands- the fate of Russia. Prince Andrew was struck by theextraordinarily disdainful composure with which Speranski answered theold man. He appeared to address condescending words to him from animmeasurable height. When the old man began to speak too loud,Speranski smiled and said he could not judge of the advantage ordisadvantage of what pleased the sovereign.

　　Having talked for a little while in the general circle, Speranskirose and coming up to Prince Andrew took him along to the other end ofthe room. It was clear that he thought it necessary to interesthimself in Bolkonski.

　　"I had no chance to talk with you, Prince, during the animatedconversation in which that venerable gentleman involved me," he saidwith a mildly contemptuous smile, as if intimating by that smilethat he and Prince Andrew understood the insignificance of thepeople with whom he had just been talking. This flattered PrinceAndrew. "I have known of you for a long time: first from your actionwith regard to your serfs, a first example, of which it is verydesirable that there should be more imitators; and secondly becauseyou are one of those gentlemen of the chamber who have notconsidered themselves offended by the new decree concerning theranks allotted to courtiers, which is causing so much gossip andtittle-tattle."

　　"No," said Prince Andrew, "my father did not wish me to takeadvantage of the privilege. I began the service from the lower grade."

　　"Your father, a man of the last century, evidently stands aboveour contemporaries who so condemn this measure which merelyreestablishes natural justice."

　　"I think, however, that these condemnations have some ground,"returned Prince Andrew, trying to resist Speranski's influence, ofwhich he began to be conscious. He did not like to agree with him ineverything and felt a wish to contradict. Though he usually spokeeasily and well, he felt a difficulty in expressing himself nowwhile talking with Speranski. He was too much absorbed in observingthe famous man's personality.

　　"Grounds of personal ambition maybe," Speranski put in quietly.

　　"And of state interest to some extent," said Prince Andrew.

　　"What do you mean?" asked Speranski quietly, lowering his eyes.

　　"I am an admirer of Montesquieu," replied Prince Andrew, "and hisidea that le principe des monarchies est l'honneur me paraitincontestable. Certains droits et privileges de la noblesse meparaissent etre des moyens de soutenir ce sentiment."*

　　*"The principle of monarchies is honor seems to me incontestable.Certain rights and privileges for the aristocracy appear to me a meansof maintaining that sentiment."

　　The smile vanished from Speranski's white face, which was muchimproved by the change. Probably Prince Andrew's thought interestedhim.

　　"Si vous envisagez la question sous ce point de vue,"* he began,pronouncing French with evident difficulty, and speaking even slowerthan in Russian but quite calmly.

　　*"If you regard the question from that point of view."

　　Speranski went on to say that honor, l'honeur, cannot be upheld byprivileges harmful to the service; that honor, l'honneur, is eithera negative concept of not doing what is blameworthy or it is asource of emulation in pursuit of commendation and rewards, whichrecognize it. His arguments were concise, simple, and clear.

　　"An institution upholding honor, the source of emulation, is onesimilar to the Legion d'honneur of the great Emperor Napoleon, notharmful but helpful to the success of the service, but not a classor court privilege."

　　"I do not dispute that, but it cannot be denied that courtprivileges have attained the same end," returned Prince Andrew. "Everycourtier considers himself bound to maintain his position worthily."

　　"Yet you do not care to avail yourself of the privilege, Prince,"said Speranski, indicating by a smile that he wished to finish amiablyan argument which was embarrassing for his companion. "If you willdo me the honor of calling on me on Wednesday," he added, "I will,after talking with Magnitski, let you know what may interest you,and shall also have the pleasure of a more detailed chat with you."

　　Closing his eyes, he bowed a la francaise, without taking leave, andtrying to attract as little attention as possible, he left the room.