"I have endorsed a resolution on your memorandum and sent it to the committee.

I do not approve of it," said Arakcheev, rising and taking a paper from his writing table.

" Here!" and he handed it to Prince Andrew.

Across the paper was scrawled in pencil, without capital letters, misspelled, and without punctuation: "Unsoundly constructed because resembles an imitation of the French military code and from the Articles of War needlessly deviating.

" "To what committee has the memorandum been referred?" inquired Prince Andrew.