Chapter 4

           Lvov,thehusbandofNatalia,Kitty’ssister,hadspentallhislifeinforeigncapitals,wherehehadbeeneducated,andhadbeeninthediplomaticservice.

           Duringthepreviousyearhehadleftthediplomaticservice,notowingtoany“unpleasantness”(heneverhadany“unpleasantness”withanyone),andwastransferredtothedepartmentofthecourtofthepalaceinMoscow,inordertogivehistwoboysthebesteducationpossible.

           InspiteofthestrikingcontrastintheirhabitsandviewsandthefactthatLvovwasolderthanLevin,theyhadseenagreatdealofoneanotherthatwinter,andhadtakenagreatlikingtoeachother.

           Lvovwasathome,andLevinwentintohimunannounced.

           Lvov,inahousecoatwithabeltandinchamoisleathershoes,wassittinginanarmchair,andwithapince-nezwithblueglasseshewasreadingabookthatstoodonareadingdesk,whileinhisbeautifulhandheheldahalf-burnedcigarettedaintilyawayfromhim.

           Hishandsome,delicate,andstillyouthful-lookingface,towhichhiscurly,glisteningsilveryhairgaveastillmorearistocraticair,lightedupwithasmilewhenhesawLevin.

           “Capital!Iwasmeaningtosendtoyou.How’sKitty?Sithere,it’smorecomfortable.”Hegotupandpusheduparockingchair.“HaveyoureadthelastcircularintheJournaldeSt.Pétersbourg?Ithinkit’sexcellent,”hesaid,withaslightFrenchaccent.

           LevintoldhimwhathehadheardfromKatavasovwasbeingsaidinPetersburg,andaftertalkingalittleaboutpolitics,hetoldhimofhisinterviewwithMetrov,andthelearnedsociety’smeeting.