第240章

第240章princeandreyarrivedinpetersburgintheaugustof1809.itwastheperiodwhentheyoungsperanskywasatthezenithofhisfameandhisreformswerebeingcarriedoutwiththeutmostvigour.inthatverymonththetsarwasthrownoutofhiscarriage，hurthisfoot，andwaslaidupforthreeweeksatpeterhof，seeingsperanskyeverydayandnooneelse.atthatperiodtherewereinpreparationthetwofamousdecreesthatsoconvulsedsociety，abolishingthebestowalofgradesbycourtfavourandestablishingexaminationsforobtainingtheranksofcollegiateassessorsandstatecouncillors.butbesidesthesereforms，awholepoliticalconstitutionwasunderdiscussiondestinedtotransformthewholelegal，administrativeandfinancialsystemofgovernmentfromtheprivycounciltothedistricttribunals.atthistimethevague，liberalidealswithwhichtheemperoralexanderhadascendedthethroneweretakingshapeandbeingcarriedintopractice.thoseidealshehadstriventorealisewiththeaidoftchartorizhsky，novosiltsov，kotchubey，andstroganov，whomheusedhimselftocallinfunhis“comitédusalutpublique.”nowallwerereplacedbysperanskyonthecivilsideandaraktcheevonthemilitary.

soonafterhisarrival，princeandrey，asakammerherr，presentedhimselfatcourtandatalevée.thetsar，meetinghimontwooccasions，didnotdeigntobestowasingleworduponhim.princeandreyhadfanciedevenbeforethenthathewasantipathetictothetsar；thatthetsardislikedhisfaceandhiswholepersonality.inthecold，repellentglancewithwhichthetsarlookedathim，princeandreyfoundfurtherconfirmationofthissupposition.courtiersexplainedthetsar’sslighttoprinceandreybysayingthathismajestywasdispleasedatbolkonsky’shavingretiredfromactiveservicesince1805.

“iknowmyselfthatonehasnocontroloverone’slikesanddislikes，”thoughtprinceandrey，“andsoitisofnousetothinkofpresentingmynoteonarmyreforminpersontothetsar，butthethingwillspeakforitself.”hesentwordabouthisnotetoanoldfield-marshal，afriendofhisfather’s.thefield-marshalfixedanhourtoseehim，receivedhimcordially，andpromisedtolayitbeforethetsar.afewdayslater，princeandreyreceivednoticethathewastocallupontheministerofwar，countaraktcheev.

atnineo’clockinthemorningonthedayappointed，princeandreyenteredcountaraktcheev’sreception-room.

princeandreydidnotknowaraktcheevpersonallyandhadneverseenhim，butallthatheknewabouthimhadinspiredhimwithlittlerespectfortheman.

“heistheministerofwar，apersonthetsartrusts，andnooneneedhaveanyconcernwithhispersonalqualities；hehasbeencommissionedtolookatmynote，consequentlyheistheonlypersonwhocangetitadopted，”thoughtprinceandrey，ashewaitedamongmanypersonsofimportanceandunimportanceincountaraktcheev’santeroom.