" Come, what do they say about the new act I have got passed in the council?" Anna had heard nothing of this act, And she felt conscience-stricken at having been able so readily to forget what was to him of such importance.

"Here, on the other hand, it has made a great sensation," he said, with a complacent smile.

She saw that Alexey Alexandrovitch wanted to tell her something pleasant to him about it, and she brought him by questions to telling it.

With the same complacent smile he told her of the ovations he had received in consequence of the act he had passed.