Part Four: Chapter 8

by Leo Tolstoy

　　Alexey Alexandrovitch, on coming back from church service, hadspent the whole morning indoors. He had two pieces of businessbefore him that morning; first, to receive and send on adeputation from the native tribes which was on its way toPetersburg, and now at Moscow; secondly, to write the promisedletter to the lawyer. The deputation, though it had beensummoned at Alexey Alexandrovitch's instigation, was not withoutits discomforting and even dangerous aspect, and he was glad hehad found it in Moscow. The members of this deputation had notthe slightest conception of their duty and the part they were toplay. They naively believed that it was their business to laybefore the commission their needs and the actual condition ofthings, and to ask assistance of the government, and utterlyfailed to grasp that some of their statements and requestssupported the contention of the enemy's side, and so spoiled thewhole business. Alexey Alexandrovitch was busily engaged withthem for a long while, drew up a program for them from which theywere not to depart, and on dismissing them wrote a letter toPetersburg for the guidance of the deputation. He had his chiefsupport in this affair in the Countess Lidia Ivanovna. She was aspecialist in the matter of deputations, and no one knew betterthan she how to manage them, and put them in the way they shouldgo. Having completed this task, Alexey Alexandrovitch wrote theletter to the lawyer. Without the slightest hesitation he gavehim permission to act as he might judge best. In the letter heenclosed three of Vronsky's notes to Anna, which were in theportfolio he had taken away.

　　Since Alexey Alexandrovitch had left home with the intention ofnot returning to his family again, and since he had been at thelawyer's and had spoken, though only to one man, of hisintention, since especially he had translated the matter from theworld of real life to the world of ink and paper, he had grownmore and more used to his own intention, and by now distinctlyperceived the feasibility of its execution.

　　He was sealing the envelope to the lawyer, when he heard the loudtones of Stepan Arkadyevitch's voice. Stepan Arkadyevitch wasdisputing with Alexey Alexandrovitch's servant, and insisting onbeing announced.

　　"No matter," thought Alexey Alexandrovitch, "so much the better.I will inform him at once of my position in regard to hissister, and explain why it is I can't dine with him."

　　"Come in!" he said aloud, collecting his papers, and putting themin the blotting-paper.

　　"There, you see, you're talking nonsense, and he's at home!"responded Stepan Arkadyevitch's voice, addressing the servant,who had refused to let him in, and taking off his coat as hewent, Oblonsky walked into the room. "Well, I'm awfully gladI've found you! So I hope..." Stepan Arkadyevitch begancheerfully.

　　"I cannot come," Alexey Alexandrovitch said coldly, standing andnot asking his visitor to sit down.

　　Alexey Alexandrovitch had thought to pass at once into thosefrigid relations in which he ought to stand with the brother of awife against whom he was beginning a suit for divorce. But hehad not taken into account the ocean of kindliness brimming overin the heart of Stepan Arkadyevitch.

　　Stepan Arkadyevitch opened wide his clear, shining eyes.

　　"Why can't you? What do you mean?" he asked in perplexity,speaking in French. "Oh, but it's a promise. And we're allcounting on you."

　　"I want to tell you that I can't dine at your house, because theterms of relationship which have existed between us must cease."

　　"How? How do you mean? What for?" said Stepan Arkadyevitch witha smile.

　　"Because I am beginning an action for divorce against yoursister, my wife. I ought to have..."

　　But, before Alexey Alexandrovitch had time to finish hissentence, Stepan Arkadyevitch was behaving not at all as he hadexpected. He groaned and sank into an armchair.

　　"No, Alexey Alexandrovitch! What are you saying?" criedOblonsky, and his suffering was apparent in his face.

　　"It is so."

　　"Excuse me, I can't, I can't believe it!"

　　Alexey Alexandrovitch sat down, feeling that his words had nothad the effect he anticipated, and that it would be unavoidablefor him to explain his position, and that, whatever explanationshe might make, his relations with his brother-in-law would remainunchanged.

　　"Yes, I am brought to the painful necessity of seeking adivorce," he said.

　　"I will say one thing, Alexey Alexandrovitch. I know you for anexcellent, upright man; I know Anna--excuse me, I can't change myopinion of her--for a good, an excellent woman; and so, excuseme, I cannot believe it. There is some misunderstanding," saidhe.

　　"Oh, if it were merely a misunderstanding!..."

　　"Pardon, I understand," interposed Stepan Arkadyevitch. "But ofcourse.... One thing: you must not act in haste. You must not,you must not act in haste!"

　　"I am not acting in haste," Alexey Alexandrovitch said coldly,"but one cannot ask advice of anyone in such a matter. I havequite made up my mind.

　　"This is awful!" said Stepan Arkadyevitch. "I would do onething, Alexey Alexandrovitch. I beseech you, do it!" he said."No action has yet been taken, if I understand rightly. Beforeyou take advice, see my wife, talk to her. She loves Anna like asister, she loves you, and she's a wonderful woman. For God'ssake, talk to her! Do me that favor, I beseech you!"

　　Alexey Alexandrovitch pondered, and Stepan Arkadyevitch looked athim sympathetically, without interrupting his silence.

　　"You will go to see her?"

　　"I don't know. That was just why I have not been to see you. Iimagine our relations must change."

　　"Why so? I don't see that. Allow me to believe that apart fromour connection you have for me, at least in part, the samefriendly feeling I have always had for you...and sincere esteem,"said Stepan Arkadyevitch, pressing his hand. "Even if your worstsuppositions were correct, I don't--and never would--take onmyself to judge either side, and I see no reason why ourrelations should be affected. But now, do this, come and see mywife."

　　"Well, we look at the matter differently," said AlexeyAlexandrovitch coldly. "However, we won't discuss it."

　　"No; why shouldn't you come today to dine, anyway? My wife'sexpecting you. Please, do come. And, above all, talk it overwith her. She's a wonderful woman. For God's sake, on my knees,I implore you!"

　　"If you so much wish it, I will come," said AlexeyAlexandrovitch, sighing.

　　And, anxious to change the conversation, he inquired about whatinterested them both--the new head of Stepan Arkadyevitch'sdepartment, a man not yet old, who had suddenly been promoted toso high a position.

　　Alexey Alexandrovitch had previously felt no liking for CountAnitchkin, and had always differed from him in his opinions. Butnow, from a feeling readily comprehensible to officials--thathatred felt by one who has suffered a defeat in the service forone who has received a promotion, he could not endure him.

　　"Well, have you seen him?" said Alexey Alexandrovitch with amalignant smile.

　　"Of course; he was at our sitting yesterday. He seems to knowhis work capitally, and to be very energetic."

　　"Yes, but what is his energy directed to?" said AlexeyAlexandrovitch. "Is he aiming at doing anything, or simplyundoing what's been done? It's the great misfortune of ourgovernment--this paper administration, of which he's a worthyrepresentative."

　　"Really, I don't know what fault one could find with him. Hispolicy I don't know, but one thing--he's a very nice fellow,"answered Stepan Arkadyevitch. "I've just been seeing him, andhe's really a capital fellow. We lunched together, and I taughthim how to make, you know that drink, wine and oranges. It's socooling. And it's a wonder he didn't know it. He liked itawfully. No, really he's a capital fellow."

　　Stepan Arkadyevitch glanced at his watch.

　　"Why, good heavens, it's four already, and I've still to go toDolgovushin's! So please come round to dinner. You can'timagine how you will grieve my wife and me."

　　The way in which Alexey Alexandrovitch saw his brother-in-law outwas very different from the manner in which he had met him.

　　"I've promised, and I'll come," he answered wearily.

　　"Believe me, I appreciate it, and I hope you won't regret it,"answered Stepan Arkadyevitch, smiling.

　　And, putting on his coat as he went, he patted the footman on thehead, chuckled, and went out.

　　"At five o'clock, and not evening dress, please," he shouted oncemore, turning at the door.