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Alexey Alexandrovitch came back from the meeting of the ministers

at four o'clock, but as often happened, he had not time to come

in to her. He went into his study to see the people waiting for

him with petitions, and to sign some papers brought him by his

chief secretary. At dinner time (there were always a few people

dining with the Karenins) there arrived an old lady, a cousin of

Alexey Alexandrovitch, the chief secretary of the department and

his wife, and a young man who had been recommended to Alexey

Alexandrovitch for the service. Anna went into the drawing-room

to receive these guests. Precisely at five o'clock, before the

bronze Peter the First clock had struck the fifth stroke, Alexey

Alexandrovitch came in, wearing a white tie and evening coat with

two stars, as he had to go out directly after dinner. Every

minute of Alexey Alexandrovitch's life was portioned out and

occupied.