Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796

As time went on, it was September.

At Soloviev's house, he and Katya were waiting. It seemed strange that only the couple and Adela, who had always had a good relationship with Madame Recamier, were here. Yulia couldn't come because she had an errand in the palace, and the family was also having social events, so her father and stepmother would naturally not come.

Well, the lady was in the delivery room, she was about to give birth.

It was just because it was an illegitimate child, so they always had to pay attention to their dignity. Only the three of them came here.

"Doctor, how is the situation now?"

"You have nothing to worry about, Count. It's a girl, but according to the weighing method, the child's birth weight is 6 pounds. I don't know why, you must follow the British way."

After the doctor complained like this, Soloviev also knew the general situation, and the lady must be fine.

Katya and Adela, after washing their hands and disinfecting them, went in to help take care of the child.

Solovyov had to arrange doctors and servants. It seemed that the order of doing things in this family was always strange.

When Adela brought the child out, Solovyov was also very happy.

"Brother, sister Julie still wants you to name the child. But she mentioned that it cannot be a Russian name. It must follow the French custom and cannot have the same name as other family members."

"Where is Katya?"

"She is taking care of sister Julie. She is fine. She is just sweating because of nervousness. Sister-in-law has to help her wipe her body. You should not go in at this time."

Speaking of which, Mrs. Recamier was just a piece of clean white cloth covering her chest in front of the doctor. If Solovyov went in now, he would probably see everything.

"Okay, let me think about it."

Not being able to repeat and not being able to give a Russian name was already a headache for Solovyov. After all, his initial plan was Adelaide, which is the formal name of Adelaide's name. It cannot be repeated with family members. It is also because the lady hopes that the lover can have a deeper impression of the child.

In this way, even the stepmother's name "Amy" and related variants cannot be used.

The names he could quickly think of were still those starting with the letter C, such as Clara and Camilla. After all, even if their children's names were translated, they rarely fell into this range.

If it really didn't work, then he could only use a combined name like Marianne.

"How about Clara? If Julie is not satisfied, she can change it."

"Okay, brother, I can go and ask. Well, you can't hold the child yet, I like this little thing so much"

This is probably because Adela didn't get to hold the first child in the previous few births at home, or it can be said that the French girls have a natural intimacy with each other

It's probably like this, Soloviev thought about it, and didn't say anything.

Mrs. Recamier was also carried to the bed by the maids at this time. After Katya wiped her body clean, she covered her with a change of disinfected sheets. Now it is autumn, even if the indoor temperature is good, it is always necessary to keep warm.

"Julie, my brother named the child Clara. Do you agree?"

"That's good, Adela. There's no child in the family whose name starts with C, right?"

"My brother is such a bad guy. You know what he does outside, Julie."

"It can't be helped. Compared with some men, like Prince August, whom I dated, he's already very good."

Although Prince August has a higher status, he and Solovyov have some connections. Clausewitz used to be his adjutant.

With the birth of Clara, the family began to revolve around the newborn, and there would probably be no gossip.

That is to say, fortunately, Katya's two children are not very different from Clara, otherwise they might raise some questions, which would be embarrassing.

Soloviev is now going back to Tsarskoye Selo to preside over the operation of the Queen Mother's new car, Russia's first practical steam locomotive and special train.

The first test was carried out two days later on the sightseeing railway in Tsarskoye Selo.

The distance of this railway is very long. The section was carefully selected in the Royal Village, and the railway marshaling facilities were also designed in the middle.

The communication system used was still the French-style optical signal machine at that time, and the running speed of the train, considering the area of ​​the whole journey, would certainly not be too fast.

In order to ensure the safety along the road, after the completion of this railway, it was fine when the carriage was running in the past, and the driver could start to control the horse and vehicle at a long distance.

After the steam locomotive was replaced, the preparation distance was longer, and safety measures had to be considered.

In this case, led by Queen Maria, notices were indeed posted along the Royal Village Railway, explaining the dangers of approaching the railway, especially when the locomotive approached.

If anyone tried to approach in the end, he had to worry about whether he would end up like Anna Karenina in the future, with his body broken into several pieces and turned into a bloody pile.

Safety accidents are still very important, especially in the testing phase.

In order to ensure the operation of the train, the Guards also specially sent people to arrange guards along the railway to prevent accidents.

As for the locomotive, the first train used in Tsarskoye Selo was called "Pavel Petrovich", which was intended to commemorate Tsar Paul. After all, without his encouragement of steam locomotives during his lifetime, there would be no research on steam ships and steam locomotives in Russia, and investment has always followed.

Now, there are finally initial results.

The vehicle itself is not empty, but engineers and technical workers from the locomotive factory supervise each car and form it during vehicle operation.

As for Solovyov, he was at the front of the train, looking at the driver, co-driver and fireman, and his position always felt a little strange.

That's right, the German soldier who was smashed in the head by Alyosha with a shovel was probably in his position.

There are also German soldiers who were beaten in this place by Walter, Suli and Gis.

Speaking of which, the German soldier always gets beaten at the locomotive, but fortunately he is not a German.

As for the train starting to ignite and add coal to the furnace, it will only take a while. When the steam comes out, it can be set off.

After Solovyov read the instructions given by the station, the driver started the vehicle.

Whether it is the locomotive or the carriage behind, it is brand new and has undergone strict processing. There is also an acceptance stage when it is put out. After being disassembled, it was assembled in the garage of the Imperial Village.

In the palace of Gatchina, Queen Mother Maria could also hear the roar of the steam engine whistle and saw white smoke rising from a distance.

A small reception was being held here, and the Queen Mother was also going to receive the nobles from Petersburg.

When everyone used theater glasses and monoculars to see the distance, they did see the black locomotive with the four carriages behind it.

It’s just that the carriage is green, which the Queen Mother doesn’t like.

But she considered the words of Solovyov’s memorial and didn’t say anything.

After all, it was very clear above that the speed of the vehicle was clarified, and the carriages with different functions should also use different colors.

Since there is a distinction, that’s it, Queen Mother Maria will accept it. When the time comes, she will be satisfied if she can sit comfortably in it and make her happy.

The train was still moving on the railway. In fact, from the observation of others, the current speed had exceeded the running speed of the carriage. Even the carriages often used in the palace were not as fast as this.

For the sake of safety, Solovyov would not let the speed of the train be too fast on the Imperial Village Railway, and he had to ensure smooth operation. This route also needed to ensure safety.

In the future, Petersburg and Novgorod will be connected to become the first operating railway in Russia, so naturally, it cannot be sloppy.

The early speed was actually beyond the expectations of many people.

At least when the vehicle successfully completed the first trial run and stopped at the terminal, Solovyov was also convenient to report to Alexander.

He quickly wrote a memorial and handed it to the Tsar himself.

At this time, Alexander went to Speransky's house. He was surprised that the desk and bookshelf of his most trusted civil servant, the acting Minister of Justice, were so neat and orderly.

"Speransky, isn't your place nice? Even the documents on your desk are neatly arranged. Did a servant help you with that?"

"No, Your Majesty. You should also know that a few days ago, a translation material submitted by Solovyov was sent to me by his sister."

"Yulia has been with Lisa all the time. How could she come to you?"

"Your Majesty, have you forgotten that when his family was still a baron, they once submitted a petition to adopt Misha's personal maid as an adopted daughter."

"That Adela, no wonder, ordinary noble ladies can't do that. Did she come to help you clean up?"

"She saw that the newly arrived documents on my desk were a little messy. This girl loves cleanliness, so she helped clean up the office area directly."

Speransky knew that Alexander would soon know that there were guests in his house, and he also knew the emperor's character, so it was better to tell the truth.

But he overlooked one point, that is, Alexander, like his father Paul, also liked to introduce people to potential partners.

This seems to be a common problem among European monarchs, but Alexander always considers it carefully, unlike his father who acts on impulse, and George III who urges little Pitt to get married all day long.

Now, little Pitt is still a bachelor in his coffin.

Speransky only looks old, but he is considered to have excellent physical fitness among civil servants. He can withstand eighteen hours of high-intensity work every day and is very efficient.

Alexander thought at this time that his wife had been dead for ten years, but he had not remarried.

Adela is a great beauty. Although Alexander has only seen her a few times, he is very impressed.

This French girl is wearing a maid outfit and has a tall figure. Even though she has the identity of a noble lady, she still serves her original master, now her brother, and is mainly responsible for managing household chores, and sometimes entertaining guests.

Unfortunately, she is a girl.

Alexander heard from Nicholas and Mikhail that Adela not only manages household chores, but also reads books. However, she rarely reads maid novels, but often holds various account books and often reads some books related to managing estates.

This is a rather unusual talented woman. There are many people in the Solovyov family who are in charge of things, and their family is a hereditary family of profiteers.

If this girl Alexander also thought of the same problem, Speransky gave him work day and night every day, and he had few days off a year. Recently, he was even busier drafting documents and receiving officials at all levels. Even his daughter was sent to Novgorod.

It was his business that he didn't want to get married. Alexander always remembered that his trusted assistant always needed a diligent and smart wife, who should also know how to handle household affairs and a certain degree of simple documents.

This girl, isn't it just right? She is not from a high status, and so is Speransky.

However, Alexander was also testing, he has always been an actor. After hearing Speransky talk about Adela, she naturally followed what he said: "It's really strange. Solovyov mentioned the engagement for his sister Yulia some time ago. Adela is old enough to get married. Speransky, what do you think?"

"Adela should indeed find a suitable husband, Your Majesty. But it depends on Count Sergei's opinion. He is the head of the family after all. And this girl went to Moscow to do things for the relatives of the Dolgorukov family. It will take a few days for her to come back."

"Don't you think about yourself? Speransky, your wife died of tuberculosis many years ago. , I see your family has always lacked someone to take care of it. "

"I am too old. There is a ten-year age difference between Misha and Katya, and the age difference between me and Adela is even greater."

"If you say so, there was a 46-year-old Minister of the Navy who married a 16-year-old girl, and there was nothing wrong with it. And the Solovyov family is not a new rich, nor a noble family with a long history. Isn't this good!"

Alexander often tries to improve the economic conditions of his capable men, such as sending hardcover books to the tutor and some favorites, which are often hollowed out to store banknotes, or directly sandwich signed checks with specific amounts.

The Solovyov family has some "profiteer" backgrounds, and the dowries prepared for their daughters are naturally not like those of some shabby nobles.

Alexander is not afraid that the marriages between these close confidants and close ministers will become a party. Speransky has always been selfless and fair; Solovyov, this guy, has less ambition than ability, and has always been cautious in the court.

He is indeed very cautious. After all, he has a relationship with Louisa. There is no way to say more about this.

In fact, it doesn't matter much if Alexander finds out. At most, he will be sent to Siberia as a governor. (End of this chapter)