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

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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.




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