"As to the Emperor of Russia, he is a man infinitely superior to these : he possesses wit, grace, information, is fascinating ; but he is not to be trusted ; he is devoid of candour; a true Greek of the Lower Empire. At the same time he is not without ideology, real or assumed : — after all it may only be a smattering derived from his education and his preceptor. Would you believe," said the Emperor, " what I had to discuss with him! He maintained that inheritance was an abuse in monarchy, and I had to spend more than an hour, and employ all my eloquence and logic, in proving to him that this rig-lit constituted the peace and happiness of the people. It may be, too, that he was mystifying ; for he can go a great length. If I die here, he will be my real heir in Europe."