"Well, sire."
"She is a good friend of mine. Are you satisfied with your present position?"
"Yes, sire."
"How long since he entered among the pages?" asked the czar of the director.
"About two months since, sire."
"And conducts himself well?"
"Very well."
"Bravo!"
Until now the conversation had been in French.
"And," resumed the emperor, but this time speaking Russian, "have you learned Russian?"