I have read your project,” interrupted Arakchéev, uttering only the first words amiably and then—again without looking at Prince Andréy—relapsing gradually into a tone of grumbling contempt. “You are proposing new military laws? There are many laws but no one to carry out the old ones. Nowadays everybody designs laws, it is easier writing than doing.”
“I came at His Majesty the Emperor’s wish to learn from your excellency how you propose to deal with the memorandum I have presented,” said Prince Andréy politely.
“I have endorsed a resolution on your memorandum and sent it to the committee. I do not approve of it,” said Arakchéev, rising and taking a paper from his writing table. “Here!” and he handed it to Prince Andréy.
Across the paper was scrawled in pencil, without capital letters, misspelled, and without punctuation: > “Unsoundly constructed because resembles an imitation of