now while talking with Speránski. He was too much absorbed in observing the famous man’s personality.
“Grounds of personal ambition maybe,” Speránski put in quietly.
“And of state interest to some extent,” said Prince Andréy.
“What do you mean?” asked Speránski quietly, lowering his eyes.
“I am an admirer of Montesquieu,” replied Prince Andréy, “and his idea 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. ”
The smile vanished from Speránski’s white face, which was much improved by the change. Probably Prince Andréy’s thought interested him.
“ Si vous envisagez la question sous ce point de vue ,” he began, pronouncing French with evident difficulty, and speaking even slower than in Russian but quite calmly.
Speránski went on to say that honor, l’honneur , cannot be upheld by