Lidia Ivanovna made inquiries through her friends as to what those infamous people, as she called Anna and Vronsky, intended doing, and she endeavored so to guide every movement of her friend during those days that he could not come across them.  The young adjutant, an acquaintance of Vronsky, through whom she obtained her information, and who hoped through Countess Lidia Ivanovna to obtain a concession, told her that they had finished their business and were going away next day.  Lidia Ivanovna had already begun to calm down, when the next morning a note was brought her, the handwriting of which she recognized with horror.  It was the handwriting of Anna Karenina.  The envelope was of paper as thick as bark; on the oblong yellow paper there was a huge monogram, and the letter smelt of agreeable scent.

“Who brought it?”

“A commissionaire from the hotel.”

It was some time before Countess Lidia Ivanovna could sit down to read the letter.  Her excitement brought on an attack of asthma, to which she was subject.  When she had recovered her composure, she read the following letter in French: 

“Madame la Comtesse,

“The Christian feelings with which your heart is filled give me the, I feel, unpardonable boldness to write to you.  I am miserable at being separated from my son.  I entreat permission to see him once before my departure.  Forgive me for recalling myself to your memory.  I apply to you and not to Alexey Alexandrovitch, simply because I do not wish to cause that generous man to suffer in remembering me.  Knowing your friendship for him, I know you will understand me.  Could you send Seryozha to me, or should I come to the house at some fixed hour, or will you let me know when and where I could see him away from home?  I do not anticipate a refusal, knowing the magnanimity of him with whom it rests.  You cannot conceive the craving I have to see him, and so cannot conceive the gratitude your help will arouse in me.

Anna”

Everything in this letter exasperated Countess Lidia Ivanovna:  its contents and the allusion to magnanimity, and especially its free and easy—­as she considered—­tone.

“Say that there is no answer,” said Countess Lidia Ivanovna, and immediately opening her blotting-book, she wrote to Alexey Alexandrovitch that she hoped to see him at one o’clock at the levee.

“I must talk with you of a grave and painful subject.  There we will arrange where to meet.  Best of all at my house, where I will order tea as you like it.  Urgent.  He lays the cross, but He gives the strength to bear it,” she added, so as to give him some slight preparation.  Countess Lidia Ivanovna usually wrote some two or three letters a day to Alexey Alexandrovitch.  She enjoyed that form of communication, which gave opportunity for a refinement and air of mystery not afforded by their personal interviews.

Chapter 24