Page 143 - ANNA KARENINA
P. 143
Anna Karenina
‘Now let us be off,’ said Vronsky, coming in. They
went out together. Vronsky was in front with his mother.
Behind walked Madame Karenina with her brother. Just as
they were going out of the station the station-master
overtook Vronsky.
‘You gave my assistant two hundred roubles. Would
you kindly explain for whose benefit you intend them?’
‘For the widow,’ said Vronsky, shrugging his shoulders.
‘I should have thought there was no need to ask.’
‘You gave that?’ cried Oblonsky, behind, and, pressing
his sister’s hand, he added: ‘Very nice, very nice! Isn’t he a
splendid fellow? Good-bye, countess.’
And he and his sister stood still, looking for her maid.
When they went out the Vronsky’s carriage had already
driven away. People coming in were still talking of what
happened.
‘What a horrible death!’ said a gentleman, passing by.
‘They say he was cut in two pieces.’
‘On the contrary, I think it’s the easiest—
instantaneous,’ observed another.
‘How is it they don’t take proper precautions?’ said a
third.
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