Did Count Kleinmicher refuse the right to continue the conversation again?
Yes, of course there is, but Nicholas I also has the power to force him to say that he is ugly. Unless Count Kleinmicher does not want to continue living in Russia, he must answer this question!
Count Kleinmicher pretended to think for a long time, as if he was recalling his impression of Count Rostovtsev. In fact, he was thinking about what kind of answer could make Nicholas I think that he was telling the truth, but also
Don't offend Count Rostovtsev.
After a long while, he replied: "Sorry, Your Majesty, forgive me for remembering it for so long, because I really don't have a deep impression of that count. In my impression, he always sat there without saying a word, as if he was worried about something.
He's not interested in anything. Apart from working and reading, he doesn't have any personal relationships. Anyway, I've never seen him take the initiative to attend a dance or salon."
Count Kleinmicher glanced at Nicholas I and found that his majesty listened very carefully, so he could only bite the bullet and continue: "It seems that even if he is invited to the party, he is always alone.
He was the first one to leave, and he was not close to anyone, just like...like the most familiar stranger around him!"
"The most familiar stranger?"
After Nicholas I repeated it, he smiled and said: "This summary is quite insightful. He is indeed like this! However, Peter, what I want to know is your personal impression of him. Is there nothing else besides these?"
"Others?" Count Kleinmihel pretended to recall. "It feels like he has a deep inner city. He seems to be deliberately not getting close to outsiders. Others seem to be quite smart and deal with things very skillfully..."
"
Nicholas I nodded while listening, not knowing whether he agreed with Count Kleinmicher's opinion or what he meant. After Count Kleinmicher finished speaking, he suddenly asked: "Okay, Peter
, then what do you think of this case and the way Count Rostovtsev handled it?"
Count Kleinmicher whined again in his heart. How dare he have any opinions? If you don’t look at all the people involved in this ghost case, Count Uvarov, Grand Duke Constantine, by the way...
Count Rostovtsev is a big shot who can make Russian officialdom tremble with his stamp of feet. He can't afford to offend anyone. How dare he have an opinion!
It's a pity that he still has to answer this question. He can only answer: "Personally, I don't like the way Count Rostovtsev handled it. That despicable behavior was let go. It will never be a good thing in the long run. If
If possible, I really want to deal with them fairly and punish these bastards severely!"
As he spoke, he raised his head and observed Nicholas I's expression. Seeing that the Supreme Being listened attentively and did not mean to be unhappy, he felt a little relieved.
"But I also know that this case involves too much. If it is handled impartially, I'm afraid it will cause an uproar and have a bad impact. This is not a good thing. So I am also very conflicted. I want to punish them, but I am a little bit...
Afraid of hands and feet..."
When Nicholas I heard this, he suddenly sighed and echoed: "Yes. Who says no? You are not the only one who is timid!"
Count Kleinmicher did not dare to speak. He knew that what he had just said was probably more to the taste of Nicholas I, and might even have resonated with the emperor. But he also knew that there was nothing to be proud of.
Yes, you must not make random guesses about the emperor's thoughts. Their changes will definitely catch you off guard. Anyway, he can't keep up most of the time. Now he just hopes that this topic will be stopped here, then he will thank God.
Nicholas I walked back and forth in the study several times. It was obvious that the resonance caused by Count Kleinmicher was still very strong. He rarely felt so melancholy. After a long time, he slowly sat back to his desk.
Behind him, he said in a deep voice:
"I still can't swallow this breath. If the case is closed like this, as you said, it may connive to some people and make them more bold and unscrupulous. This is definitely not a good thing!"
As he spoke, Nicholas I fell silent again, seeming to be thinking about how to deal with the matter. This period of time was torturous for Count Kleinmicher. He really didn't want to know Nicholas I's decision.
Because it can easily cause misunderstandings if word gets out.
If Count Uvarov and his friends mistakenly thought that it was he who said something to Nicholas I that caused them to be taught a lesson, then he would be greatly unjust.
But he could only stand there honestly, waiting for the final judgment of Nicholas I. That feeling was really painful!
After a long time, Nicholas I suddenly sighed again, glanced at Count Kleinmicher and said: "Peter, go and invite Duke Peter Volkonsky. I have..."
Having said this, Nicholas I was suddenly stunned, because he then remembered that Prince Peter Volkonsky had been ill for several months. The old guy's health was in a mess and he had to say goodbye to the Winter Palace and recuperate at home.
This made Nicholas I sigh again, because he found that there were fewer and fewer veteran ministers. Peter Volkonsky would probably not be able to survive this winter, and Paskovich's health was getting worse day by day.
Yesterday, I seemed to have had a gout attack recently and couldn't even climb on a horse's back.
Apart from these two people, Menshikov was barely suitable to complete his arrangement, but the old guy was negotiating with Turkish barbarians in Istanbul.
Well, looking at it this way, Nicholas I felt that he didn't even have a confidant at his disposal.
A few years ago, he thought that old Adlerberg could fill Peter Volkonsky's shortcomings, but the old guy was too preoccupied and was not as reliable as Peter Volkonsky. Moreover, he and Uva
Luo Fu's relationship seems a bit unclear, and he is not suitable for this at all.
After much deliberation, Nicholas I's eyes were firmly fixed on Count Kleinmicher. It seemed that the only person he could rely on was this politically dull friend?
Nicholas I was familiar with Count Kleinmicher's personality and knew that he was not actually the best candidate, but who said that no one was available for him now? He could only rush the ducks and put it on the shelves!
Thinking about it, Nicholas I waved to Count Kleinmicher, asked him to come closer, and then whispered a few instructions...
When Count Kleinmicher walked out of Nicholas I's study, he was already two heads tall, because he never expected that Nicholas I would leave this unfortunate task to him, and he really didn't want to get involved.