Time passed quickly, about half an hour had gone by when Minister of War Prince Dolgorukov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Nesselrode, and Count Orlov, head of the "Third Department" arrived at the Catherine Palace together with the Military Attendant.
When the three ministers pushed open the door and entered the room, the voice of Nicholas I reached their ears: "You have arrived!"
The three ministers hurriedly knelt to salute Nicholas I, who waved them over.
The three of them walked together toward Nicholas I in the room, where Nicholas I was standing in front of a long rectangular table, his head bowed, and his forefinger constantly tracing on the table.
As the three ministers approached Nicholas I, they discovered it was a map of the Near East, scaled at approximately 1:50,000, laid out on the long rectangular table.
Prince Dolgorukov and Carl Nesselrode felt a sense of unease swelling within them.
