Stepan Arkadyevitch liked dining, but still better he liked to give a dinner, small, but very choice, both as regards the food and drink and as regards the selection of guests.

He particularly liked the program of that day's dinner.

There would be fresh perch, asparagus, and _la piece de resistance_-- first-rate, but quite plain, roast beef, and wines to suit: so much for the eating and drinking.

Kitty and Levin would be of the party, and that this might not be obtrusively evident, there would be a girl cousin too, and young Shtcherbatsky, and _la piece de resistance_ among the guests--Sergey Koznishev and Alexey Alexandrovitch.

Sergey Ivanovitch was a Moscow man, and a philosopher; Alexey Alexandrovitch a Petersburger, and a practical politician.