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 "There cannot be differences in regard to sacred truth."

"Oh, yes, of course, but...."

Stepan Arkadyevitch grew confused, and stopped speaking. He perceived that the countess was talking about religion.

"It seems to me that he's going to sleep," said Alekseï Aleksandrovitch, approaching the countess, and speaking in a significant whisper.

Stepan Arkadyevitch turned round. Landau was seated near the window, with his elbow leaning on the arm and back of a chair, and his head bowed as he saw the looks turned toward him. He raised his head and smiled in a naive and childlike manner.

"Don't pay any attention to him," said the countess, pushing a chair toward Alekseï Aleksandrovitch. "I have noticed ...." she began, but was interrupted by a lackey bringing her a letter. She read it through with extraordinary rapidity, sent a reply, and resumed the thread of her discourse. "I have noticed that Muscovites, the men especially, are very indifferent to religion."

"Oh, no, countess! I think that Muscovites have the reputation of being very pious," replied Stepan Arkadyevitch.

"But as far as I have observed, you yourself," said Alekseï Aleksandrovitch, with his weary smile, " I am sorry to say, belong to the category of the indifferents."

"Is it possible to be indifferent?" cried Lidia Ivanovna.

"I am not indifferent, but rather in the attitude of expectation," answered Oblonsky, with his most agreeable smile. "I do not think that the time for me to settle such questions has come yet."

Alekseï Aleksandrovitch and the countess exchanged glances.

"We can never know whether the time for us has come or not," said Alekseï Aleksandrovitch, sternly, "we ought not even to think whether we are prepared or not. The blessing does not follow human calculations, does