With a thrill of secret delight, Duke Golitsyn maintained a contemplative expression on his face. After a moment of silence, he inquired of Nicholas I which Guard Division was to be dispatched to the Crimea Peninsula.
With a snort, Nicholas I replied to Duke Golitsyn, saying that the responsibility of dispatching a Guard Division to Crimea was that of the Governor of St. Petersburg, and it should not be questioned of him. (In reality, this was the responsibility of the Minister of War. However, the former Minister of War, Dolgorukov, had already been precisely imprisoned, and a new Minister of War had not yet been appointed. Thus, the current functions of the Ministry of War were handled by Duke Golitsyn.)
Hearing that Nicholas I was delegating the power to dispatch the Guard Division to him, Duke Golitsyn, although internally thrilled, maintained an impassive demeanor as he "pleaded guilty" to Nicholas I.
