WITH COUNT TOLSTOY 73 



his guest for an opinion upon the imperial proposal for 

 the limitation of armaments. Count Tolstoy replied 

 that he could only believe in it when his Majesty 

 should set the example to other nations. On the Czar 

 mentioning the difficulties of the problem and the 

 necessity for the aid of the united powers the Count 

 softened somewhat and expressed the hope that his 

 Majesty would be able to attain some definite results 

 or at any rate to formulate some workable plan at the 

 conference. 



The Czar, thanking him for his good wishes, said 

 he would be pleased if Tolstoy could be induced to lend 

 his genius to the solution of the question and the 

 Count rejoined that the Emperor might count upon 

 his co-operation, for he was already engaged upon a 

 work dealing with the question in point, which would 

 soon see the light. 



Although the remainder of this long country 

 ride abounded in interesting experiences I must 

 touch upon only one or two incidents. Our mid- 

 day meal, thirty versts farther on, was thoroughly 

 enjoyed at the table of Madame Filosoffoff , a sister 

 of the Bobrinskoys, who, with two lovely daugh- 

 ters, had turned away from the comforts of a city 

 home to minister to the poor in this distressed 

 region. 



Visiting several more villages we came into one, 



