Page 285 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Chapter 5

‘This is rather indiscreet, but it’s so good it’s an awful
temptation to tell the story,’ said Vronsky, looking at her
with his laughing eyes. ‘I’m not going to mention any
names.’
‘But I shall guess, so much the better.’
‘Well, listen: two festive young men were driving-.’
‘Officers of your regiment, of course?’
‘I didn’t say they were officers,—two young men who
had been lunching.’
‘In other words, drinking.’
‘Possibly. They were driving on their way to dinner
with a friend in the most festive state of mind. And they
beheld a pretty woman in a hired sledge; she overtakes
them, looks round at them, and, so they fancy anyway,
nods to them and laughs. They, of course, follow her.
They gallop at full speed. To their amazement, the fair
one alights at the entrance of the very house to which they
were going. The fair one darts upstairs to the top story.
They get a glimpse of red lips under a short veil, and
exquisite little feet.’

284 of 1759