Page 1486 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Levin got up and went with him to the big table spread
with spirits and appetizers of the most various kinds. One
would have thought that out of two dozen delicacies one
might find something to one’s taste, but Stepan

Arkadyevitch asked for something special, and one of the
liveried waiters standing by immediately brought what was
required. They drank a wine glassful and returned to their
table.
At once, while they were still at the soup, Gagin was
served with champagne, and told the waiter to fill four
glasses. Levin did not refuse the wine, and asked for a
second bottle. He was very hungry, and ate and drank
with great enjoyment, and with still greater enjoyment
took part in the lively and simple conversation of his
companions. Gagin, dropping his voice, told the last good
story from Petersburg, and the story, though improper and
stupid, was so ludicrous that Levin broke into roars of
laughter so loud that those near looked round.
‘That’s in the same style as, ‘that’s a thing I can’t
endure!’ You know the story?’ said Stepan Arkadyevitch.
‘Ah, that’s exquisite! Another bottle,’ he said to the waiter,
and he began to relate his good story.
‘Pyotr Illyitch Vinovsky invites you to drink with him,’
a little old waiter interrupted Stepan Arkadyevitch,

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