with Alekseï Aleksandrovitch, took considerable time. Alekseï Aleksandrovitch had not expected him that day and was astonished at his visit, and still more so at the scrupulous care with which he plied him with questions, and sounded his lungs and punched and thumped his liver; Alekseï Aleksandrovitch was not aware that his friend, the Countess Lidya, troubled by his abnormal condition, had begged the doctor to visit him and give him a thorough examination.
"Do it for my sake," said the Countess Lidya Ivanovna.
"I will do it for the sake of Russia, countess," replied the doctor.
"Admirable man!" cried the countess.
The doctor was very much disturbed at Alekseï Aleksandrovitch's state. His liver was congested, his digestion was bad; the waters had done him no good. He ordered more physical exercise, as little mental strain as possible, and, above all, freedom from vexation of spirit; in other words, he ordered Alekseï Aleksandrovitch to do what was as impossible for him as not to breathe.
The doctor departed, leaving Alekseï Aleksandrovitch with the disagreeable impression that something was very wrong with him, and that there was no help for it.
On the way out, the doctor met on Karenin's steps his old acquaintance Sliudin, who was Alekseï Aleksandrovitch's chief secretary. They had been in the university together; but, though they rarely met, they were still excellent friends, and therefore to no one else than Sliudin would the doctor have expressed his opinion concerning the sick man so frankly.
"How glad I am that you have been to see him!" said Sliudin. "He is not well, and it seems to me ..... Well, what is it?"
"I will tell you," said the doctor, nodding to his coachman to drive up to the door. "This is what I say;" and, taking with his white hand the fingers of his dogskin glove, he stretched it out; "try to break a tough cord which is not stretched and it's hard work;
