Page:Complete Works of Count Tolstoy - 18.djvu/289

 (rising without haste). Yes. (Smiling.) Only I am afraid your new medium may disgrace himself, Leoníd Fédorovich.

. No, Aleksyéy Vladímirovich and I have tested him. He is a wonderfully strong medium!

. I do not know about that. But is he clean? You have not troubled yourself about ordering him to wash his hands. It might cause some inconvenience.

. His hands? Oh, yes! You think they might be dirty?

. Yes, he being a peasant. And there will be ladies present, and Márya Vasílevna.

. Let them be!

. I wanted to tell you something else: Timoféy, the coachman, came to complain about the dogs; he says it is impossible to keep clean on account of them.

(placing things on the table, distractedly). What dogs?

. They brought three greyhounds from Vasíli Leonídych this morning, and they were put in the coachman's room.

(annoyed). Tell Anna Pávlovna about it! Let her do as she pleases! I have no time.

. You know her weakness for Vasíli Leonídych—

. Let her do as she pleases. From him nothing but annoyance— Well, I have no time.

. Did you call me?

. Yes, yes. Let me see your hands! All right, all right! So, my dear, you do just