Book 1 Chapter 57 The Vice-Governors At-Home

As he drove up to Maslennikoff's house Nekhludoff saw a number of
different carriages by the front door, and remembered that it was
Maslennikoff's wife's "at-home" day, to which he had been
invited. At the moment Nekhludoff drove up there was a carriage
in front of the door, and a footman in livery, with a cockade in
his hat, was helping a lady down the doorstep. She was holding up
her train, and showing her thin ankles, black stockings, and
slippered feet. Among the carriages was a closed landau, which he
knew to be the Korchagins'.

The grey-haired, red-checked coachman took off his hat and bowed
in a respectful yet friendly manner to Nekhludoff, as to a
gentleman he knew well. Nekhludoff had not had time to inquire
for Maslennikoff, when the latter appeared on the carpeted
stairs, accompanying a very important guest not only to the first
landing but to the bottom of the stairs. This very important
visitor, a military man, was speaking in French about a lottery
for the benefit of children's homes that were to be founded in
the city, and expressed the opinion that this was a good
occupation for the ladies. "It amuses them, and the money comes."

_"Qu'elles s'amusent et que le bon dieu les benisse. M.
Nekhludoff!_ How d'you do? How is it one never sees you?" he
greeted Nekhludoff. "_Allez presenter vos devoirs a Madame._ And
the Korchagins are here et Nadine Bukshevden. _Toutes les jolies
femmes de la ville,_" said the important guest, slightly raising
his uniformed shoulders as he presented them to his own richly
liveried servant to have his military overcoat put on. "_Au
revoir, mon cher._" And he pressed Maslennikoff's hand.