“Why this,” began Pierre, not sitting down but pacing the room, sometimes stopping short, gesticulating, and lisping: “the position in Petersburg is this: the Emperor does not look into anything. He has abandoned himself altogether to this mysticism” (Pierre could not tolerate mysticism in anyone now). “He seeks only for peace, and only these people sans foi ni loi 136 can give it him⁠—people who recklessly hack at and strangle everything⁠—Magnítski, Arakchéev, and tutti quanti .⁠ ⁠… You will agree that if you did not look after your estates yourself but only wanted a quiet life, the harsher your steward was the more readily your object might be attained,” he said to Nikoláy.

“Well, what does that lead up to?” said Nikoláy.