Page 680 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

‘What’s done can’t be undone, and you know I never
go back on what I’ve done. And besides, I’m very well
off.’
‘Very well off—for the time. But you’re not satisfied

with that. I wouldn’t say this to your brother. He’s a nice
child, like our host here. There he goes!’ he added,
listening to the roar of ‘hurrah!’—‘and he’s happy, but that
does not satisfy you.’
‘I didn’t say it did satisfy me.’
‘Yes, but that’s not the only thing. Such men as you are
wanted.’
‘By whom?’
‘By whom? By society, by Russia. Russia needs men;
she needs a party, or else everything goes and will go to
the dogs.’
‘How do you mean? Bertenev’s party against the
Russian communists?’
‘No,’ said Serpuhovskoy, frowning with vexation at
being suspected of such an absurdity. ‘Tout ca est une
blague. That’s always been and always will be. There are
no communists. But intriguing people have to invent a
noxious, dangerous party. It’s an old trick. No, what’s
wanted is a powerful party of independent men like you
and me.’

679 of 1759