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 justice of the peace? Your uniform is not that of a justice, I see."

"Because I think that justices of the peace are an absurd institution," answered Levin, gloomily, but all the time hoping for an opportunity to atone for his former rudeness.

"I do not think so; on the contrary ...." said Vronsky, surprised.

"It is all child's play," interrupted Levin; "justices of the peace are unnecessary for us. In eight years I never have had any business with one. And the one case I had was decided exactly contrary to the evidence. There's a justice of the peace forty versts from me. I had a small matter amounting to two rubles; I had to send for a lawyer, and that cost fifteen ...."

And Levin went on to tell how a muzhik had stolen some flour from a miller, and when the miller charged him with it, the muzhik made a calumnious complaint.

All this was not to the point, and awkwardly put, and Levin himself, while speaking, felt it.

"Oh, this is such an original!" said Stepan Arkadyevitch, with his oily smile. "Come on; it seems they are balloting." ....

And they separated.

"I don't understand," said Sergyeï Ivanovitch, who had noticed his brother's awkward sally, "I don't understand how it is possible to be so absolutely devoid of political tact. It is just what we Russians lack. The government marshal is our opponent, and you are ami cochon, you are on intimate terms with him. But why on earth make an enemy of Count Vronsky? .... not that I make a friend of him, for I have just refused his invitation to dinner; but he is ours. Then you asked Nevyedovsky if he was going to be a candidate. It isn't the right way to act."

"Oh! I don't understand anything about it; it all seems to me unimportant," said Levin, gloomily.

"You say that it is unimportant; but when you mix up in it, you spoil it."

Levin was silent, and they entered the large hall.