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"Konstantin Dmitrievitch," she said to him, "do explain to me,

please, what's the meaning of it. You know all about such things.

At home in our village of Kaluga all the peasants and all the

women have drunk up all they possessed, and now they can't pay us

any rent. What's the meaning of that? You always praise the

peasants so."

At that instant another lady came into the room, and Levin got

up.

"Excuse me, countess, but I really know nothing about it, and

can't tell you anything," he said, and looked round at the

officer who came in behind the lady.