The secretary retired in confusion. During the consultation with the secretary Levin had completely recovered from his embarrassment. He was standing with 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.

`What don't you understand?' said Oblonsky, smiling just as cheerfully, and picking up a cigarette. He expected some queer outburst from Levin.

`I don't understand what you are doing,' said Levin, shrugging his shoulders. `How can you be serious about it?'

`Why not?'

`Why, because there's nothing in it.'

`You think so - yet we're overwhelmed with work.'

`On paper. But, there, you've a gift for it,' added Levin.

`That's to say, you think there's a lack of something in me?'

`Perhaps so,' said Levin. `But all the same I admire your grandeur, and am proud to have such a great person as a friend. You've not answered my question, though,' he went on, with a desperate effort looking Oblonsky straight in the face.

`Oh, that's all very well. You wait a bit, and you'll come to this yourself. It's very nice for you to have three thousand dessiatinas in the Karazinsky district, and such muscles, and the freshness of a girl of twelve; still you'll be one of us one day. Yes, as to your question, there is no change, but it's a pity you've been away so long.'

`Oh, why so?' Levin queried, frightened.

`Oh, nothing,' responded Oblonsky. `We'll talk it over. But what's brought you up to town?'

`Oh, we'll talk about that, too, later on,' said Levin, reddening again up to his ears.

`All right. I see,' said Stepan Arkadyevich. `I should ask you to come to us, you know, but my wife's not quite well. But I'll tell you what: if you want to see them, they're sure now to be at the Zoological Gardens from four to five. Kitty skates. You drive along there, and I'll come and fetch you, and we'll go and dine somewhere together.'

`Capital. So good-by till then.'

`Now mind, you'll forget - I know you! - or rush off home to the country!' Stepan Arkadyevich called out laughing.

`No, truly!'

And Levin went out of the room, recalling only when he was in the doorway that he had forgotten to take leave of Oblonsky's colleagues.

`That gentleman must be a man of great energy,' said Grinevich, when Levin had gone away.

`Yes, my dear sir,' said Stepan Arkadyevich, nodding his head, `he's a lucky fellow! Three thousand dessiatinas in the Karazinsky district; everything before him; and what youth and vigor! Not like some of us.'