"Moreover, do you think that my discussion of poetry with His Majesty the Emperor will harm any interests of Russia? If so, please point it out and I will leave Paris immediately!"
Pushkin's angry questioning did not anger Count Garmanin across from him. This sophisticated diplomatic bureaucrat only faced the angry Pushkin with an indifferent and polite smile, not taking him seriously at all.
"You don't have to be so excited, sir... I'm definitely not here to interrogate you, otherwise I wouldn't come to visit you alone." After Pushkin controlled his emotions, he spoke again. "In fact, I just want to
I sincerely congratulate you on your success, and then I will have a frank discussion with you as a loyal subject of the Russian Empire... As far as I know, you have been deeply favored by the country since you were a child, and you have even been awarded by His Majesty the Tsar.
You should love your motherland and then work with me to safeguard the interests of the Russian motherland, right?"
"Motherland! Thank you for being able to mention this word to me and reminding me of my longing for her in this foreign country - it would be better if it was not said in French." Pushkin replied half angrily and half mockingly. "
No one can question my love for my motherland, I am willing to sacrifice everything for her, I sing her praises with all my talents, I want to protect her traditions, her people, and her writing, so as you know, I insist on using the Russian language
To create, because this is the text rooted in our land and the source of our thoughts and culture - then, Mr. Count, I would like to ask you, can you speak to me fluently in Russian, or recite any of my works?
A poem? If so, why don’t we try it now?”
Although Pushkin's sarcasm, which was armed with a gun and a stick, seemed not as loud as the angry question just now, it instantly made the count's face fall and his smile became stiff.
Yes, this time, he finally couldn't keep it on his face and "broken his defense" a little bit.
That's right, these two elite nobles of the Russian Empire have been communicating in French ever since they met.
This is not surprising, it can even be said to be "normal", because they are also like this in Petersburg and Moscow.
The elites of Russia's upper class have learned French from tutors hired with large sums of money since they were young, and use it to speak and think. On the contrary, Russian is an inferior language that is despised and ridiculed.
What is even more direct to the point is that Count Kamanin was originally a German nobleman from the Baltic coast. After this group of nobles was absorbed by the expansion of the Russian Empire, it has become an important part of the imperial bureaucracy.
, many Russian diplomats come from this group, and the Count is naturally one of them.
Because of this background, the count naturally learned Russian even more poorly.
What's more, during his many years of career as an envoy in foreign countries, he also communicated with officials from other countries in French, and he had little opportunity to practice his "Mandarin".
Originally, this was not a problem at all. No one would care whether he could speak Russian. But at this moment, when he was singing his patriotic sentiments, Pushkin pointed out that he loved the language of his motherland but he did not. He was caught off guard.
It's a bit overwhelming.
Now, he had a natural disadvantage in the "verbal patriotic contest", and it was difficult to label Pushkin as unpatriotic.
Fortunately, he had many years of experience as a diplomat, so after a moment of breaking his guard, he quickly regained his composure and coughed lightly to relieve his embarrassment.
"You are indeed a writer, so good at words." He suppressed his embarrassment, laughed again, and then continued to speak in his fluent French, "However, I still have to emphasize that I have absolutely no
I am interrogating you, or questioning your patriotism. I just hope to learn some important information from you, which will be extremely helpful to His Majesty the Tsar's government. Since you are a patriot who has been favored by the country, it is even more important.
We should cooperate."
"I am happy to cooperate with you, but I have told everything I know, sir." Pushkin replied sternly, "I am extremely grateful for my luck. I don't know who recommended me to His Majesty the Emperor. I also
I don’t care about this. After all, in the final analysis, the people who appreciate my poetry are the emperor and his wife, and the people who warmly receive me are also the emperor and his wife. Their love for literature and poetry has overcome the prejudices between national borders and ethnic groups, so much so that they treat me as an unknown person.
Foreigners are treated as distinguished guests... I think this is what makes them extraordinary and something worthy of you and me learning from."
Having said this, he glanced at the other party proudly, "And you, you don't have any love for literature and poetry in your heart. You visited me and congratulated me, but you just wanted to dig out some clues of conspiracy from me.
... You have insulted both the Emperor and his wife, and you have insulted me. However, from the standpoint of a Russian, I am willing to clarify your doubts - I can guarantee with my reputation and even my life that His Majesty the Emperor and I have never had any disputes.
No political topics were discussed, and no conspiracy was ever discussed...Any such speculation is tarnishing a friendship born of literature!"
Pushkin knew that if he said such words to a high-ranking diplomat, he would definitely offend people, but he didn't care.
Anyway, he has always been so proud and stubborn, disdainful of inconsistency, and when faced with unfounded suspicion, he would rather fight back with the strongest attitude rather than bend his knees to please the other party.
Naturally, his arrogant attitude did anger Count Garmanin, but judging from Pushkin's aboveboard performance, the Count felt that his words should be true.
In other words, it was purely by chance that the emperor got to know a Russian poet who came to Paris, and then he called him into the palace out of admiration and warmly received him?
Or is there indeed some kind of conspiracy, but the poet was not involved in it, so he had no idea about it?
The count suddenly fell into deep thought.
No matter what the situation was, it was obviously unwise and unnecessary to continue to offend this aristocratic poet with a background in Petersburg. So the sophisticated Count Garmanin decided not to pursue the issue further - of course, secretly
The investigation must still be carried out. He will keep in touch with Petersburg to see what the poet's reputation is and whether there is anything suspicious about it.
At least for now, he decided not to engage in this futile argument anymore.
"It seems that you have a good impression of the newly enthroned Emperor..." The count changed the subject and asked another question, "Then what kind of person do you think he is?"
"You are a diplomat stationed in Paris. You should be more familiar with him than me, right?" Pushkin first retorted, and then answered the other party's question directly, "In my opinion, young and witty,
But he is also proud. He is talented, but romantic, loves life and loves his country and people - I think, personally, he is exactly the kind of young man we like best. Even if he is not the emperor, he can still be among us.
Won huge reputation..."
"But he still became the emperor after all." The count sighed softly, seeming to feel a little regretful about this. "It would be great if he could choose to be a harmless libertine poet! At least I would save a lot.
It’s a headache…”
Although he said this, there was not much hatred for the Bonaparte family from the count's tone.
Not long ago, France and Russia were in a state of almost constant war due to the Great Revolution and imperial expansion. They even engaged in the largest major power showdown in European history so far. The result was also called "a lose-lose situation". The French Empire was at war because of the conquest.
Russia's defeat led to its destruction, but as the victor, Russia also suffered painful losses as a large area of its land was reduced to scorched earth.
But even so, no matter how intense the Russians' patriotic sentiments were at the beginning, today, more than ten years after the war ended, it is difficult to say that the Russians have any "hatred" for France. After all, in history, it has been normal for European countries to be at war with each other.
, Russia, as the final victor, has already vented its anger, and there is nothing to hate. On the other hand, it is indeed difficult for these nobles who grew up speaking French in elementary school to maintain their hostility towards France.
Rather than saying that the count hated the heir to the Bonaparte family's return to power, it is better to say that he hated the series of "troublesome events" caused by this and increased his workload for no reason.
"Whether you like to see it or not, he is the emperor now. We should recognize and get used to his existence -" Pushkin replied, "I am very happy. Today's lifeless Europe also needs a young man to inject vitality."
"No matter how lifeless it is, it is better than a bloody storm." The Count retorted.
"I agree with you on this point." Pushkin nodded slightly, "Although our two countries are falling into a sad quarrel, I don't think there is anything irresistible between our two countries.
The contradiction of redemption. Bonaparte was once a surname cursed by our whole people, but that person has passed away. The young man wearing the crown now should not bear the sins that have nothing to do with him! Besides, he is Habsburg
The son of the Princess of Habsburg and the husband of the Princess of Habsburg. Since even the Austrians who suffered the most at that time have chosen to forgive and reconcile, why should we dwell on the past? In my opinion, wait until it triggers
After the turmoil in Poland, in which our two countries quarreled, is over, all these disputes will soon disappear, and our two great countries will peacefully coexist in an ordinary and equal way."
You are a poet, what do you know about international politics? Don't embarrass yourself here... Although the count was calm on the outside, he was sneering in his heart.
However, despite his disdain, the count still questioned Pushkin with great interest.
"Do you have any basis for this idea? Or, did His Majesty the Emperor reveal this to you?"
Pushkin suddenly became nervous.
He was speaking his mind directly. In other words, it was just his personal thoughts. If it caused some misjudgment to the count and Petersburg behind him, so what?
So he quickly denied it.
"No, this is just my personal opinion... As I said, we did not discuss any political topics when we met - but I can definitely say that from our exchanges, I did not feel that he
There is no bloodthirsty desire for revenge in his heart. He is not obsessed with the hatred of the past. He just wants to lead his country to a new era of prosperity..."
The count believed in the poet's judgment - after all, the Roman king who could forgive and reuse Prince Talleyrand would definitely not be a reckless man who was carried away by his emotions.
Although the relationship between France and Russia is indeed tense now, he has long been aware of the situation and clearly saw that the young emperor just wanted to occupy the moral high ground through rhetoric and gain reputation for himself who had just seized the throne. He had no intention of doing so at all.
He risked his life and went crazy because of the so-called "hatred" of the past.
Therefore, he simply did not believe that the two countries would get into trouble because of these quarrels. During this period of time, he spent a leisurely time in Paris, taking advantage of the absence of the ambassador to indulge himself in the "ambassador" addiction.
Moreover, because he was far better informed than Pushkin, he controlled the situation much more accurately than Pushkin.
At present, as His Majesty the Tsar deploys his troops, Poland is already in danger, and the turmoil is about to be completely resolved in a short period of time. No matter how loud his words are, it is impossible for the French Emperor to use a single soldier for Poland.
It's just taking in some exiles, and that doesn't matter at all.
And this means that the war of words between France and Russia surrounding the Polish issue is coming to an end.
In other words, this also seems to pave the way for the subsequent "normalization of French-Russian relations."
In any case, as two major powers, the state of "quasi-breaking off diplomatic relations" without sending ambassadors to each other is unbearable and unsustainable. No matter how high-profile the two countries sing, they will actually have a need to restore relations.
Therefore, even if he did not uncover any "Russian conspiracy group colluding with the French emperor", if he could promote "the normalization of relations between France and Russia", then as a diplomat, it would seem to be a great achievement.
He didn't care about poetry and literature, and naturally he didn't care about the emperor or Poland. He only cared about his own official career.
And the poet in front of him, who is more passionate but less resourceful, seems to be a good medium... After all, he is the Russian closest to the emperor at the moment.
When he thought of this, Count Garmanin's eyes changed, and his brain started to work at a high speed.
After a while, the diplomat showed his humble and kind smile again, as if the embarrassment and quarrel just now had never existed.
"Mr. Pushkin, I am the same as you on this point. I personally prefer reconciliation between the two countries. Although this reconciliation seems to be far away at present, it should at least be the direction we strive for..." He started
He looked at Pushkin with a flattering look, "Maybe you can make some contribution to this."