Part Two: Chapter 19

by Leo Tolstoy

　　On the day of the races at Krasnoe Selo, Vronsky had come earlierthan usual to eat beefsteak in the common messroom of theregiment. He had no need to be strict with himself, as he hadvery quickly been brought down to the required light weight; butstill he had to avoid gaining flesh, and so he eschewedfarinaceous and sweet dishes. He sat with his coat unbuttonedover a white waistcoat, resting both elbows on the table, andwhile waiting for the steak he had ordered he looked at a Frenchnovel that lay open on his plate. He was only looking at thebook to avoid conversation with the officers coming in and out;he was thinking.

　　He was thinking of Anna's promise to see him that day after theraces. But he had not seen her for three days, and as herhusband had just returned from aborad, he did not know whethershe would be able to meet him today or not, and he did not knowhow to find out. He had had his last interview with her at hiscousin Betsy's summer villa. He visited the Karenins' summervilla as rarely as possible. Now he wanted to go there, and hepondered the question how to do it.

　　"Of course In shall say Betsy has sent me to ask whether she'scoming to the races. Of course, I'll go," he decided, liftinghis head from the book. And as he vividly pictured the happinessof seeing her, his face lighted up.

　　"Send to my house, and tell them to have out the carriage andthree horses as quick as they can," he said to the servant, whohanded him the steak on a hot silver dish, and moving the dish uphe began eating.

　　From the billiard room next door came the sound of ballsknocking, of talk and laughter. Two officers appeared at theentrance-door: one, a young fellow, with a feeble, delicateface, who had lately joined the regiment from the Corps of Pages;the other, a plump, elderly officer, with a bracelet on hiswrist, and little eyes, lost in fat.

　　Vronsky glanced at them, frowned, and looking down at his book asthough he had not noticed them, he proceeded to eat and read atthe same time.

　　"What? Fortifying yourself for your work?" said the plumpofficer, sitting down beside him.

　　"As you see," responded Vronsky, knitting his brows, wiping hismouth, and not looking at the officer.

　　"So you're not afraid of getting fat?" said the latter, turning achair round for the young officer.

　　"What?" said Vronsky angrily, making a wry face of disgust, andshowing his even teeth.

　　"You're not afraid of getting fat?"

　　"Waiter, sherry!" said Vronsky, without replying, and moving thebook to the other side of him, he went on reading.

　　The plump officer took up the list of wines and turned to theyoung officer.

　　"You choose what we're to drink," he said, handing him the card,and looking at him.

　　"Rhine wine, please," said the young officer, stealing a timidglance at Vronsky, and trying to pull his scarcely visiblemustache. Seeing that Vronsky did not turn round, the youngofficer got up.

　　"Let's go into the billiard room," he said.

　　The plump officer rose submissively, and they moved towards thedoor.

　　At that moment there walked into the room the tall and well-builtCaptain Yashvin. Nodding with an air of lofty contempt to thetwo officers, he went up to Vronsky.

　　"Ah! here he is!" he cried, bringing his big hand down heavily onhis epaulet. Vronsky looked round angrily, but his face lightedup immediately with his characteristic expression of genial andmanly serenity.

　　"That's it, Alexey," said the captain, in his loud baritone."You must just eat a mouthful, now, and drink only one tinyglass."

　　"Oh, I'm not hungry."

　　"There go the inseparables," Yashvin dropped, glancingsarcastically at the two officers who were at that instantleaving the room. And he bent his long legs, swatched in tightriding breeches, and sat down in the chair, too low for him, sothat his knees were cramped up in a sharp angle.

　　"Why didn't you turn up at the Red Theater yesterday? Numerovawasn't at all bad. Where were you?"

　　"In was late at the Tverskoys'," said Vronsky.

　　"Ah!" responded Yashvin.

　　Yashvin, a gambler and a rake, a man not merely without moralprinciples, but of immoral principles, Yashvin was Vronsky'sgreatest friend in the regiment. Vronsky liked him both for hisexceptional physical strength, which he showed for the most partby being able to drink like a fish, and do without sleep withoutbeing in the slightest degree affected by it; and for his greatstrength of character, which he showed in his relations with hiscomrades and superior officers, commanding both fear and respect,and also at cards, when he would play for tens of thousands andhowever much he might have drunk, always with such skill anddecision that he was reckoned the best player in the EnglishClub. Vronsky respected and liked Yashvin particularly becausehe felt Yashvin liked him, not for his name and his money, butfor himself. And of all men he was the only one with whomVronsky would have liked to speak of his love. He felt thatYashvin, in spite of his apparent contempt for every sort offeeling, was the only man who could, so he fancied, comprehendthe intense passion which now filled his whole life. Moreover,he felt certain that Yashvin, as it was, took no delight ingossip and scandal, and interpreted his feeling rightly, that isto say, knew and believed that this passion was not a jest, not apastime, but something more serious and important.

　　Vronsky had never spoken to him of his passion, but he was awarethat he knew all about it, and that he put the rightinterpretation on it, and he was glad to see that in his eyes.

　　"Ah! yes," he said, to the announcement that Vronsky had been atthe Tverskoys'; and his black eyes shining, he plucked at hisleft mustache, and began twisting it into his mouth, a bad habithe had.

　　"Well, and what did you do yesterday? Win anything?" askedVronsky.

　　"Eight thousand. But three don't count; he won't pay up."

　　"Oh, then you can afford to lose over me," said Vronsky,laughing. (Yashvin had bet heavily on Vronsky in the races.)

　　"No chance of my losing. Mahotin's the only one that's risky."

　　And the conversation passed to forecasts of the coming race, theonly thing Vronsky could think of just now.

　　"Come along, I've finished," said Vronsky, and getting up he wentto the door. Yashvin got up too, stretching his long legs andhis long back.

　　"It's too early for me to dine, but I must have a drink. I'llcome along directly. Hi, wine!" he shouted, in his rich voice,that always rang out so loudly at drill, and set the windowsshaking now.

　　"No, all right," he shouted again immediately after. "You'regoing home, so I'll go with you."

　　And he walked out with Vronsky.