Anna Karenina - Part 7

Alexey Alexandrovitch questioned him as to the duties of this new

committee, and pondered. He was considering whether the new

committee would not be acting in some way contrary to the views

he had been advocating. But as the influence of the new

committee was of a very complex nature, and his views were of

very wide application, he could not decide this straight off, and

taking off his pince-nez, he said: "Of course, I can mention it to him; but what is your reason

precisely for wishing to obtain the appointment?"

"It's a good salary, rising to nine thousand, and my means..."

"Nine thousand!" repeated Alexey Alexandrovitch, and he frowned.

The high figure of the salary made him reflect that on that side

Stepan Arkadyevitch's proposed position ran counter to the main

tendency of his own projects of reform, which always leaned

towards economy.

"I consider, and I have embodied my views in a note on the

subject, that in our day these immense salaries are evidence of

the unsound economic _assiette_ of our finances."

"But what's to be done?" said Stepan Arkadyevitch. "Suppose a

bank director gets ten thousand--well, he's worth it; or an

engineer gets twenty thousand--after all, it's a growing thing,

you know!"

"I assume that a salary is the price paid for a commodity, and it

ought to conform with the law of supply and demand. If the

salary is fixed without any regard for that law, as, for

instance, when I see two engineers leaving college together, both

equally well trained and efficient, and one getting forty

thousand while the other is satisfied with two; or when I see

lawyers and hussars, having no special qualifications, appointed

directors of banking companies with immense salaries, I conclude

that the salary is not fixed in accordance with the law of supply

and demand, but simply through personal interest. And this is an

abuse of great gravity in itself, and one that reacts injuriously

on the government service. I consider..."

Stepan Arkadyevitch made haste to interrupt his brother-in-law.

"Yes; but you must agree that it's a new institution of undoubted

utility that's being started. After all, you know, it's a

growing thing! What they lay particular stress on is the thing

being carried on honestly," said Stepan Arkadyevitch with

emphasis.

But the Moscow significance of the word "honest" was lost on

Alexey Alexandrovitch.

"Honesty is only a negative qualification," he said.

"Well, you'll do me a great service, anyway," said Stepan

Arkadyevitch, "by putting in a word to Pomorsky--just in the way

of conversation...."