Page 1428 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

and though he had not been called upon by all to stand,
had still made up his mind to stand. All was silence in the
room. The secretary announced in a loud voice that the
captain of the guards, Mihail Stepanovitch Snetkov, would

now be balloted for as marshal of the province.
The district marshals walked carrying plates, on which
were balls, from their tables to the high table, and the
election began.
‘Put it in the right side,’ whispered Stepan
Arkadyevitch, as with his brother Levin followed the
marshal of his district to the table. But Levin had forgotten
by now the calculations that had been explained to him,
and was afraid Stepan Arkadyevitch might be mistaken in
saying ‘the right side.’ Surely Snetkov was the enemy. As
he went up, he held the ball in his right hand, but
thinking he was wrong, just at the box he changed to the
left hand, and undoubtedly put the ball to the left. An
adept in the business, standing at the box and seeing by the
mere action of the elbow where each put his ball, scowled
with annoyance. It was no good for him to use his insight.
Everything was still, and the counting of the balls was
heard. Then a single voice rose and proclaimed the
numbers for and against. The marshal had been voted for
by a considerable majority. All was noise and eager

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