DISGRACE AND EXILE 199apartment he had first rented from a widow, because the Governor's
wife forced his landlady to evict him, He found a house with great
difficulty, thanks to the devoted and fearless assistance of the merchant
Popov, the only person who dared to maintain close and friendly rela-
tions with the exile. For a while Speransky had to give up his daily
walks, for the children pursued him with their mockeries and insults
in the streets. Everywhere he went, he was received with ill-concealed
fear or hatred, which grew steadily worse with Napoleon's progress into
Russia. Speransky's daughter later recalled - perhaps with some exag-
geration, but it was indicative of the atmosphere - that even the poor
French prisoners of war were reluctant to accept aIms from him. On
top of all this, Speransky's pecuniary situation was extremely shaky and
bad. He had never been able to take good care of his financial interests;
he had no savings. Now he found himself without any income, for his
salary had been his only source. For a while he had to borrow from
everybody, even from his own servants. When his mother-in-law and
daughter joined him after a few months, they brought some money.
But it did not last very long either. Speransky had to save on everything;
he deprived himself of his only and best loved "luxuries," such as
French snuff and wine. The period in Perm' was the bitterest of his
exile and probably the worst in his life.
Eventually Speransky succeeded in informing the Emperor of his
plight, both financial and moral. (His earlier letters and appeals had
not reached the Emperor, as they were mislaid or held up by subor-
dinate officials). Alexander tersely ordered the Governor of Perm' to
treat Speransky in the manner befitting a Privy Councillor. And almost
overnight - Speransky was probably getting used to these sudden
changes in fortune - the isolated, hated exile and "prisoner of state"
became the most popular figure in town. This immediate reversal of
attitude may be proof that the people never took the rumors and
accusations concerning Speransky too seriously. The "hatred" for
Speransky was only due to the panic and tensions generated by the
invasion and the fear of displeasing the authorities. Of course, as far
as Speransky was concerned, the damage had been done, and his moral
sensitivity did not forget or forgive the insults and humiliations of the
past. While restoring Speransky's social position in Perm', the Emperor
had also taken care of his material needs by allotting him a moderate,
but quite adequate, yearly stipend (6000 rubles a year). The former
State Secretary could now move about freely and again take some com-
fort from the modest amenities of life Perm' provided. Speransky even
now did not establish any close relations with the society of Perm',