ing a terribly exacting man, who got up at six o'clock, worked like a horse, and demanded similar zeal from his subordinates. Moreover, this new nachalnik had the reputation of being a regular bear in his manners and was, according to rumor, a man of the opposite party from that to which his predecessor had belonged, and to which Stepan Arkadyevitch himself had up to that time also belonged.
The afternoon before, Stepan Arkadyevitch had appeared at the office in full uniform and the new nachalnick had been very cordial and had talked with Oblonsky as with an old friend. Consequently he thought it his duty to pay him an unofficial visit. The thought that the new nachalnik might not receive him cordially was the second disturbing element. But Stepan Arkadyevitch felt instinctively that all would be arranged to perfection.
"All people, all men, are transgressors as well as we. Why get angry and quarrel?" he said to himself as he went to the hotel.
"How are you, Vasili?" said he, as he went through the corridor with his hat cocked on one side, and met a lackey of his acquaintance; "have you sacrificed your whiskers? Levin? in number seven? Please show me. Thanks! Do you know, is Count Anitchkin at home?" This was the new nachalnik.
"At your service," said Vasili, with a smile. "We have not seen you for a long time."
"I was here yesterday, but came up another stairway. Is this number seven?"
When Stepan Arkadyevitch entered, Levin was standing in the middle of his room with a muzhik from Tver, measuring a bear-skin.
"Ah! did you kill him?" cried Stepan Arkadyevitch. "Splendid skin! A bear! How are you, Arkhip?"
He held out his hand to the peasant, and then sat down in his paletot and hat.
"Take off your coat, and stay awhile," said Levin, taking his hat.
"I have n't time. I only came in for a little second,"
