There were two brothers.

They did not remember their father, and their mother died when Alexey Alexandrovitch was ten years old.

The property was a small one.

Their uncle, Karenin, a government official of high standing, at one time a favorite of the late Tsar, had brought them up.

On completing his high school and university courses with medals, Alexey Alexandrovitch had, with his uncle's aid, immediately started in a prominent position in the service, and from that time forward he had devoted himself exclusively to political ambition.