Page 253 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

The coffee was never really made, but spluttered over
every one, and boiled away, doing just what was required
of it—that is, providing much cause for much noise and
laughter, and spoiling a costly rug and the baroness’s

gown.
‘Well now, good-bye, or you’ll never get washed, and
I shall have on my conscience the worst sin a gentleman
can commit. So you would advise a knife to his throat?’
‘To be sure, and manage that your hand may not be far
from his lips. He’ll kiss your hand, and all will end
satisfactorily,’ answered Vronsky.
‘So at the Francais!’ and, with a rustle of her skirts, she
vanished.
Kamerovsky got up too, and Vronsky, not waiting for
him to go, shook hands and went off to his dressing room.
While he was washing, Petritsky described to him in
brief outlines his position, as far as it had changed since
Vronsky had left Petersburg. No money at all. His father
said he wouldn’t give him any and pay his debts. His tailor
was trying to get him locked up, and another fellow, too,
was threatening to get him locked up. The colonel of the
regiment had announced that if these scandals did not
cease he would have to leave. As for the baroness, he was
sick to death of her, especially since she’d taken to offering

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