"Did you ask about Marshal Paskevich's abilities?"
This question seemed to trouble Pushkin, and he rubbed his temples: "It seems you must have heard inconsistent evaluations from other nobility, which is why you're so curious about him, right?"
Arthur spoke in a lighthearted tone, holding his teacup as he vividly described his experiences at other gatherings.
"A few days ago, at a ball hosted by the French envoy, I met Count Tolstoy. When we talked about Marshal Paskevich's victories, his tone was somewhat sarcastic. Count Tolstoy said to me: Paskevich fought so brilliantly in the Persian expedition that if any clever person wanted to show they were different from him, they'd have to fight worse deliberately."
