Chapter 7

Levinreachedtheclubjustattherighttime.Membersandvisitorsweredrivingupashearrived.Levinhadnotbeenattheclubforaverylongwhile—notsincehelivedinMoscow,whenhewasleavingtheuniversityandgoingintosociety.Herememberedtheclub,theexternaldetailsofitsarrangement,buthehadcompletelyforgottentheimpressionithadmadeonhiminolddays.Butassoonas,drivingintothewidesemicircularcourtandgettingoutofthesledge,hemountedthesteps,andthehall-porter,adornedwithacrosswayscarf,noiselesslyopenedthedoortohimwithabow;assoonashesawintheporter’sroomthecloaksandgaloshesofmemberswhothoughtitlesstroubletotakethemoffdownstairs;assoonasheheardthemysteriousringingbellthatprecededhimasheascendedtheeasy,carpetedstaircase,andsawthestatueonthelanding,andthethirdporteratthetopdoors,afamiliarfiguregrownolder,intheclublivery,openingthedoorwithouthasteordelay,andscanningthevisitorsastheypassedin—Levinfelttheoldimpressionoftheclubcomebackinarush,animpressionofrepose,comfort,andpropriety.

“Yourhat,please,”theportersaidtoLevin,whoforgottheclubruletoleavehishatintheporter’sroom.“Longtimesinceyou’vebeen.Theprinceputyournamedownyesterday.PrinceStepanArkadyevitchisnothereyet.”