Pagina 52 de 2288

"It's a long story. I will tell you some time," said Levin, but

he began telling him at once. "Well, to put it shortly, I was

convinced that nothing was really done by the district councils,

or ever could be," he began, as though someone had just insulted

him. "On one side it's a plaything; they play at being a

parliament, and I'm neither young enough nor old enough to find

amusement in playthings; and on the other side" (he stammered)

"it's a means for the coterie of the district to make money.

Formerly they had wardships, courts of justice, now they have the

district council-not in the form of bribes, but in the form of

unearned salary," he said, as hotly as though someone of those

present had opposed his opinion.

"Aha! You're in a new phase again, I see-a conservative," said

Stepan Arkadyevitch. "However, we can go into that later."

"Yes, later. But I wanted to see you," said Levin, looking with

hatred at Grinevitch's hand.

Stepan Arkadyevitch gave a scarcely perceptible smile.