"Is the best. But what is strange about it is, that he finds so many excellent men, and that he selects from so large a circle, when others who, in times of calamity, are no longer considered unworthy, never obtain their turn for preferment."
"You appear to be not in a very good humor, to-day, boyard.... Would you fall into disfavor with the Czar?"
"Why," exclaimed the boyard, "should I not tell a friend what probably he will learn to-day, if indeed he is ignorant of it now? You know," he continued with an affected calmness, "the domain of the crown adjacent to my lands in Tula?"
"I do not," said the embarrassed Prince.
"Indeed you do, Alexandre Michailowitz; or at least you ought to. It separates my property from yours."
"Ah! the manor."
"The same. It is not very extensive, containing only three villages and a thousand serfs. But its situation suits me and I desire its possession."
"Well, you ought to propose to the Czar to sell it. He will not refuse you."
"He has already refused. 'I am sorry,' he coldly said, 'that I cannot grant you the lands you ask; I have disposed of them to another.' I was about to reply, but turning to speak to some one, he closed our conversation."
"And do you know to whom he granted the domain?"