Anna Karenina - LimpidSoft

PART SIX CHAPTER 28
Chapter 28
LEVIN was standing rather far off. A nobleman breathing heavily and hoarsely
at his side, and another whose thick boots were creaking, prevented him from
hearing distinctly. He could only hear the soft voice of the marshal faintly, then the
shrill voice of the malignant gentleman, and then the voice of Sviazhsky. They were
disputing, as far as he could make out, as to the interpretation to be put on the act
and the exact meaning of the words: “liable to be called up for trial.”
The crowd parted to make way for Sergey Ivanovitch approaching the table.
Sergey Ivanovitch, waiting till the malignant gentleman had finished speaking, said
that he thought the best solution would be to refer to the act itself, and asked the
secretary to find the act. The act said that in case of difference of opinion, there must
be a ballot.
Sergey Ivanovitch read the act and began to explain its meaning, but at that point
a tall, stout, round-shouldered landowner, with dyed whiskers, in a tight uniform
that cut the back of his neck, interrupted him. He went up to the table, and striking
it with his finger ring, he shouted loudly: “A ballot! Put it to the vote! No need for
more talking!” Then several voices began to talk all at once, and the tall nobleman
with the ring, getting more and more exasperated, shouted more and more loudly.
But it was impossible to make out what he said.
He was shouting for the very course Sergey Ivanovitch had proposed; but it was
evident that he hated him and all his party, and this feeling of hatred spread through
the whole party and roused in opposition to it the same vindictiveness, though in a
more seemly form, on the other side. Shouts were raised, and for a moment all was
confusion, so that the marshal of the province had to call for order.
“A ballot! A ballot! Every nobleman sees it! We shed our blood for our country!...
The confidence of the monarch.... No checking the accounts of the marshal; he’s not
a cashier.... But that’s not the point.... Votes, please! Beastly!...” shouted furious and
violent voices on all sides. Looks and faces were even more violent and furious than
their words. They expressed the most implacable hatred. Levin did not in the least
understand what was the matter, and he marveled at the passion with which it was
disputed whether or not the decision about Flerov should be put to the vote. He
forgot, as Sergey Ivanovitch explained to him afterwards, this syllogism: that it was
necessary for the public good to get rid of the marshal of the province; that to get rid
of the marshal it was necessary to have a majority of votes; that to get a majority of
votes it was necessary to secure Flerov’s right to vote; that to secure the recognition
of Flerov’s right to vote they must decide on the interpretation to be put on the act.
“And one vote may decide the whole question, and one must be serious and consecutive,
if one wants to be of use in public life,” concluded Sergey Ivanovitch. But
Levin forgot all that, and it was painful to him to see all these excellent persons, for
whom he had a respect, in such an unpleasant and vicious state of excitement. To
escape from this painful feeling he went away into the other room where there was
nobody except the waiters at the refreshment bar. Seeing the waiters busy over washing
up the crockery and setting in order their plates and wine glasses, seeing their
calm and cheerful faces, Levin felt an unexpected sense of relief as though he had
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