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If it had not been a characteristic of Levin's to put the most

favorable interpretation on people, Sviazhsky's character would

have presented no doubt or difficulty to him: he would have said

to himself, "a fool or a knave," and everything would have seemed

clear. But he could not say "a fool," because Sviazhsky was

unmistakably clever, and moreover, a highly cultivated man, who

was exceptionally modest over his culture. There was not a

subject he knew nothing of. But he did not display his knowledge

except when he was compelled to do so. Still less could Levin say

that he was a knave, as Sviazhsky was unmistakably an honest,

good-hearted, sensible man, who worked good-humoredly, keenly,

and perseveringly at his work; he was held in high honor by

everyone about him, and certainly he had never consciously done,

and was indeed incapable of doing, anything base.

Levin tried to understand him, and could not understand him, and

looked at him and his life as at a living enigma.