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who had gone on this errand, to Sviazhsky. “He’s all right? he’ll do.”
“Not too drunk, he won’t fall down?” said Sviazhsky, shaking his
head.
“No, he’s first-rate. If only they don’t give him any more here.... I’ve
told the waiter not to give him anything on any account.”
Chapter 29.
The narrow room, in which they were smoking and taking refresh~
ments, was full of noblemen. The excitement grew more intense, and
every face betrayed some uneasiness. The excitement was specially
keen for the leaders of each party, who knew every detail, and had
reckoned up every vote. They were the generals organizing the ap-
proaching battle. The rest, like the rank and file before an engagement,
though they were getting ready for the fight, sought for other distrac-
tions in the interval. Some were lunching, standing at the bar, or sitting
at the table; others were walking up and down the long room, smoking
cigarettes, and talking with friends whom they had not seen for a long
while.
Levin did not care to eat, and he was not smoking; he did not want
to join his own friends, that is Sergey Ivanovitch, Stepan Arkadyevitch,
Sviazhsky and the rest, because Vronsky in his equerry’s uniform was
standing with them in eager conversation. Levin had seen him already
at the meeting on the previous day, and he had studiously avoided him,
not caring to greet him. He went to the window and sat down, scan-
ning the groups, and listening to what was being said around him. He
felt depressed, especially because everyone else was, as he saw, eager,
anxious, and interested, and he alone, with an old, toothless little man
with mumbling lips wearing a naval uniform, sitting beside him, had no