Chapter 17

           Unconsciouslygoingoverinhismemorytheconversationsthathadtakenplaceduringandafterdinner,AlexeyAlexandrovitchreturnedtohissolitaryroom.DaryaAlexandrovna’swordsaboutforgivenesshadarousedinhimnothingbutannoyance.Theapplicabilityornon-applicabilityoftheChristianprecepttohisowncasewastoodifficultaquestiontobediscussedlightly,andthisquestionhadlongagobeenansweredbyAlexeyAlexandrovitchinthenegative.Ofallthathadbeensaid,whatstuckmostinhismemorywasthephraseofstupid,good-naturedTurovtsin—“Actedlikeaman,hedid!Calledhimoutandshothim!”Everyonehadapparentlysharedthisfeeling,thoughfrompolitenesstheyhadnotexpressedit.

           “Butthematterissettled,it’suselessthinkingaboutit,”AlexeyAlexandrovitchtoldhimself.Andthinkingofnothingbutthejourneybeforehim,andtherevisionworkhehadtodo,hewentintohisroomandaskedtheporterwhoescortedhimwherehismanwas.Theportersaidthatthemanhadonlyjustgoneout.AlexeyAlexandrovitchorderedteatobesenthim,satdowntothetable,andtakingtheguidebook,beganconsideringtherouteofhisjourney.

           “Twotelegrams,”saidhismanservant,comingintotheroom.“Ibegyourpardon,yourexcellency;I’donlyjustthatminutegoneout.”

           AlexeyAlexandrovitchtookthetelegramsandopenedthem.ThefirsttelegramwastheannouncementofStremov’sappointmenttotheverypostKareninhadcoveted.AlexeyAlexandrovitchflungthetelegramdown,andflushingalittle,gotupandbegantopaceupanddowntheroom.