This was Speranski, Secretary of State, reporter to the Emperor and his companion at Erfurt, where he had more than once met and talked with Napoleon.

Speranski did not shift his eyes from one face to another as people involuntarily do on entering a large company and was in no hurry to speak.

He spoke slowly, with assurance that he would be listened to, and he looked only at the person with whom he was conversing.

Prince Andrew followed Speranski's every word and movement with particular attention.

As happens to some people, especially to men who judge those near to them severely, he always on meeting anyone new--especially anyone whom, like Speranski, he knew by reputation--expected to discover in him the perfection of human qualities.