War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy [279]
Prince Andrei followed every word and movement of Speransky with special attention. As happens with people, especially those who judge their neighbors severely, Prince Andrei, on meeting a new person, especially one whom, like Speransky, he knew by reputation, always expected to find in him the full perfection of human virtues.
Speransky told Kochubey that he was sorry he could not come earlier, but he had been detained in the palace. He did not say he had been detained by the sovereign. And this affectation of modesty Prince Andrei noticed. When Kochubey named Prince Andrei for him, Speransky slowly transferred his eyes to him with the same smile and silently began to look at him.
“I am very glad to make your acquaintance, I have heard about you, as everyone has,” he said.
Kochubey said a few words about the reception Arakcheev had given Bolkonsky. Speransky’s smile widened.
“The director of the commission on military regulations is a good friend of mine—Mr. Magnitsky,” he said, articulating each syllable and each word, “and if you wish, I could bring you together with him.” (He paused at the period.) “I hope you will find sympathy in him and a desire to further everything sensible.”
A circle formed itself at once around Speransky, and the old man who had spoken of his subordinate Pryanichnikov also turned to Speransky with a question.
Prince Andrei, without entering into the conversation, observed all the movements of Speransky, this man, recently an insignificant seminarian,8 who now held the destiny of Russia in his hands—those white, plump hands—as Bolkonsky thought. Prince Andrei was struck by the extraordinary, scornful calm with which Speransky answered the old man. He seemed to address his condescending words to him from an immeasurable height. When the old man began talking too loud, Speransky smiled and said he could not judge the advantage or disadvantage of what pleased the sovereign.
Having talked for some time in the general circle, Speransky got up and, going over to Prince Andrei, called him away to the other end of the room. It was clear that he considered it necessary to concern himself with Bolkonsky.
“I had no time to talk with you, Prince, amidst the animated conversation I was drawn into by that venerable elder,” he said with a mildly scornful smile, as if acknowledging by that smile that he and Prince Andrei understood the insignificance of the people with whom he had just been talking. This manner flattered Prince Andrei. “I’ve known you for a long time: first, from your dealing with your peasants, our first example, of which it would be desirable to have more followers; and second, because you are one of those gentlemen of the chamber who did not consider themselves offended by the new edict on court ranks, which has caused so much talk and discussion.”
“Yes,” said Prince Andrei, “my father didn’t want me to take advantage of that right; I started service in the lower ranks.”
“Your father, a man of the old days, obviously stands higher than our contemporaries who condemn this measure so much, though it merely restores natural justice.”
“I think, however, that there are also grounds for these condemnations,” said Prince Andrei, trying to fight against Speransky’s influence, which he was beginning to feel. He disliked agreeing with him in everything: he wanted to contradict. Prince Andrei, who usually spoke easily and well, had difficulty expressing himself now in talking with Speransky. He was too taken up with observing the person of the famous man.
“Grounds of personal ambition, perhaps,” Speransky quietly put in his word.
“Also partly of the state,” said Prince Andrei.
“How do you mean?…” said Speransky, quietly lowering his eyes.
“I am an admirer of Montesquieu,” said Prince Andrei. “And his thought that ‘le principe des monarchies est l’honneur’ me paraît incontestable. Certains droits et privilèges de la noblesse me paraissent être des moyens de soutenir ce sentiment.”*339
The smile vanished from Speranksy’s white