Page 428 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Vronsky looked round for the last time at his rivals. He
knew that he would not see them during the race. Two
were already riding forward to the point from which they
were to start. Galtsin, a friend of Vronsky’s and one of his

more formidable rivals, was moving round a bay horse that
would not let him mount. A little light hussar in tight
riding breeches rode off at a gallop, crouched up like a cat
on the saddle, in imitation of English jockeys. Prince
Kuzovlev sat with a white face on his thoroughbred mare
from the Grabovsky stud, while an English groom led her
by the bridle. Vronsky and all his comrades knew
Kuzovlev and his peculiarity of ‘weak nerves’ and terrible
vanity. They knew that he was afraid of everything, afraid
of riding a spirited horse. But now, just because it was
terrible, because people broke their necks, and there was a
doctor standing at each obstacle, and an ambulance with a
cross on it, and a sister of mercy, he had made up his mind
to take part in the race. Their eyes met, and Vronsky gave
him a friendly and encouraging nod. Only one he did not
see, his chief rival, Mahotin on Gladiator.
‘Don’t be in a hurry,’ said Cord to Vronsky, ‘and
remember one thing: don’t hold her in at the fences, and
don’t urge her on; let her go as she likes.’
‘All right, all right,’ said Vronsky, taking the reins.

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