CHAPTER VIDISGRACE AND EXILEOfficial duties and administrative projects absorbed Speransky's
attention and energy so much that he seemed quite oblivious to his
social and political isolation in St. Petersburg. He felt confident that
as long as he retained the trust and esteem of the Emperor, his enemies
and ill-wishers could do him no real harm. Quite true, indeed, as long
as Alexander I trusted him, Speransky did not need to fear the jealousies
or intrigues of courtiers and dignitaries. Unfortunately, Speransky made
no allowance for the peculiarities of Alexander's character, suspicious
and ever-changing in his attachments. Nor did the State Secretary
seem to be aware of the growing tensions and dissatisfactions in the
country to which, for reasons of his own, the Emperor felt compelled
to pay some attention. So that when the blow fell, it came as a complete
and brutal surprise to the unsuspecting State Secretary. Yet, his fall
from influence and power had been in the making for some time; in a
way since Erfurt when, in the mind of Society, his name became in-
dissolubly linked with the hated French alliance. The "campaign"
against Speransky, frequently serving as a pretext to those who wished
to change Alexander's orientation, proceeded slowly and deviously. It
originated in Moscow from where it was taken up by some circles in
St. Petersburg, and finally the Emperor himself "se mit de la partie,"
sealing the fate of his assistant. Today it is almost impossible to unravel
the intricate and confused skein of intrigue which culminated in
Speransky's exile. We can no more separate" and analyse the motives
and roles of all participants with any degree of certainty. As a matter of
fact, probably not much would be gained even if it were possible to do
so. Whatever the factual details and the psychological riddles which
remain hidden from us, the general course of events is clear and we
can get at the main considerations that dictated the actions of the
personalities involved. The story of this resounding cause celebre of