Анна Каренина

           Butthismorning,insteadofananswer,IreceivedaninvitationfromCountessLidiaIvanovnaforthisevening.”

           “Ah,sothat’sit,that’sit!”saidPrincessMyakayagleefully,“they’regoingtoaskLandauwhathe’stosay.”

           “AskLandau?Whatfor?Whoorwhat’sLandau?”

           “What!youdon’tknowJulesLandau,lefameuxJulesLandau,leclairvoyant?He’scrazytoo,butonhimyoursister’sfatedepends.Seewhatcomesoflivingintheprovinces—youknownothingaboutanything.Landau,doyousee,wasacommisinashopinParis,andhewenttoadoctor’s;andinthedoctor’swaitingroomhefellasleep,andinhissleephebegangivingadvicetoallthepatients.Andwonderfuladviceitwas!ThenthewifeofYuryMeledinsky—youknow,theinvalid?—heardofthisLandau,andhadhimtoseeherhusband.Andhecuredherhusband,thoughIcan’tsaythatIseehedidhimmuchgood,forhe’sjustasfeebleacreatureaseverhewas,buttheybelievedinhim,andtookhimalongwiththemandbroughthimtoRussia.Herethere’sbeenageneralrushtohim,andhe’sbegundoctoringeveryone.HecuredCountessBezzubova,andshetooksuchafancytohimthatsheadoptedhim.”

           “Adoptedhim?”

           “Yes,asherson.He’snotLandauanymorenow,butCountBezzubov.That’sneitherherenorthere,though;butLidia—I’mveryfondofher,butshehasascrewloosesomewhere—haslostherhearttothisLandaunow,andnothingissettlednowinherhouseorAlexeyAlexandrovitch’swithouthim,andsoyoursister’sfateisnowinthehandsofLandau,aliasCountBezzubov.”