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A secretary came in, with respectful familiarity and the modest

consciousness, characteristic of every secretary, of superiority

to his chief in the knowledge of their business; he went up to

Oblonsky with some papers, and began, under pretense of asking a

question, to explain some objection. Stepan Arkadyevitch, without

hearing him out, laid his hand genially on the secretary's

sleeve.

"No, you do as I told you," he said, softening his words with a

smile, and with a brief explanation of his view of the matter he

turned away from the papers, and said: "So do it that way, if you

please, Zahar Nikititch."

The secretary retired in confusion. During the consultation with

the secretary Levin had completely recovered from his

embarrassment. He was standing with his elbows on the back of a

chair, and on his face was a look of ironical attention.

"I don't understand it, I don't understand it," he said.