第72章

`Come, really,' said Oblonsky in surprise, `I've given my word, you know.'

Levin went out of the room, slamming the door. Riabinin looked toward the door and shook his head with a smile.

`It's all youthfulness - definitively nothing but childishness.

Why, I'm buying it, upon my honor, simply, believe me, for the glory of it, that Riabinin, and no one else, should have bought the copse of Oblonsky.

And as to the profits, why, I must make what God gives. God's my witness.

If you would kindly sign the title deed...'

Within an hour the merchant, carefully stroking his wrapper down, and hooking up his coat, with the agreement in his pocket, seated himself in his tightly covered trap, and drove homeward.

`Ugh, these gentlefolk!' he said to the overseer. `They are all made alike! they're a fine lot!'

`That's so,' responded the overseer, handing him the reins and buttoning the leather apron. `But can I congratulate you on the purchase, Mikhail Ignatich?'

`Well, well...'

[Next Chapter] [Table of Contents]TOLSTOY: Anna Karenina Part 2, Chapter 17[Previous Chapter] [Table of Contents] Chapter 17 Stepan Arkadyevich went upstairs with his pocket bulging with notes which the merchant had paid him for three months in advance. The business of the forest was over, the money in his pocket; their shooting had been excellent, and Stepan Arkadyevich was in the happiest frame of mind, and therefore felt especially anxious to dissipate the ill-humor that had come upon Levin.

He wanted to finish the day at supper as pleasantly as it had been begun.

Levin certainly was out of humor, and, in spite of all his desire to be affectionate and cordial to his charming guest, he could not control his mood. The aftereffects of the intoxication of the news that Kitty was not married had gradually begun to work upon him.

Kitty was not married, and was ill, and ill from love for a man who had slighted her. This offense, as it were, rebounded upon him. Vronsky had slighted her, and she had slighted him, Levin. Consequently Vronsky had the right to despise Levin, and therefore he was his enemy. But all this Levin did not think of. He vaguely felt that there was something in it insulting to him, and he was not angry now at what had disturbed him, but he fell foul of everything that presented itself. The stupid sale of the forest, the fraud practised upon Oblonsky and concluded in his house, exasperated him.

`Well, finished?' he said, meeting Stepan Arkadyevich upstairs.

`Would you like supper?'

`Well, I wouldn't say no to it. What an appetite I get in the country! Wonderful! Why didn't you offer Riabinin something?'

`Oh, damn him!'

`Still, how you do treat him!' said Oblonsky. `You didn't even shake hands with him. Why not shake hands with him?'

`Because I don't shake hands with a waiter, and a waiter's a hundred times better than he is.'

`What a reactionist you are, really! What about the amalgamation of classes?' said Oblonsky.

`Anyone who likes it is welcome to it, but it sickens me.'

`You're a downright reactionist, I see.'

`Really. I have never considered what I am. I am Konstantin Levin, and nothing else.'

`And Konstantin Levin very much out of temper,' said Stepan Arkadyevich, smiling.

`Yes, I am out of temper, and do you know why? Because - excuse me - of your stupid sale....'

Stepan Arkadyevich frowned good-humoredly, like one who feels himself teased and attacked for no fault of his own.

`Come, enough about that!' he said. `When did anybody ever sell anything without being told immediately after the sale, ``It was worth much more'? But when one wants to sell, no one will give anything.... No, I see you've a grudge against that unlucky Riabinin.'

`Maybe I have. And do you know why? You'll say again that I'm a reactionist, or some other terrible word; but all the same it does annoy and anger me to see on all sides the impoverishing of the nobility to which I belong, and, in spite of the amalgamation of classes, I'm glad to belong.

And their impoverishment is not due to living in luxury - that would be nothing; living in good style - that's the proper thing for noblemen: it's only the nobles who know how to do it. Now, the peasants about us buy land, and I don't mind that. The gentleman does nothing, while the peasant works and supplants the idle man. That's as it should be. And I welcome the peasant.

But I do mind seeing the process of impoverishment from a sort of - I don't know what to call it - innocence. Here a Polish lessee bought for half its value a magnificent estate from a lady who lives in Nice. And there a merchant leases land, worth ten roubles in rent the dessiatina, for one rouble. Here, for no kind of reason, you've made that cheat a present of thirty thousand roubles.'

`Well, what should I have done? Counted every tree?'

`Of course, they must be counted. You didn't count them, but Riabinin did. Riabinin's children will have means of livelihood and education, while yours, like as not, won't!'

`Well, you must excuse me, but there's something mean in this counting. We have our business and they have theirs, and they must make their profit. Anyway, the thing's done, and there's an end of it. And here come some fried eggs, my favorite dish. And Agathya Mikhailovna will give us that marvelous herb brandy....'

Stepan Arkadyevich sat down at the table and began jollying Agathya Mikhailovna, assuring her that it was long since he had tasted such a dinner and such a supper.

`Well, you praise it, at any rate,' said Agathya Mikhailovna, `but Konstantin Dmitrievich, no matter what you give him - even a crust of bread - will just eat it and walk away.'

Though Levin tried to control himself, he was gloomy and silent.