Page 682 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

thinking things out and for taking things in, through his
intelligence and gift of words, so rarely met with in the
world in which he moved. And, ashamed as he was of the
feeling, he felt envious.

‘Still I haven’t the one thing of most importance for
that,’ he answered; ‘I haven’t the desire for power. I had it
once, but it’s gone.’
‘Excuse me, that’s not true,’ said Serpuhovskoy,
smiling.
‘Yes, it is true, it is true...now!’ Vronsky added, to be
truthful.
‘Yes, it’s true now, that’s another thing; but that NOW
won’t last forever.’
‘Perhaps,’ answered Vronsky.
‘You say PERHAPS,’ Serpuhovskoy went on, as
though guessing his thoughts, ‘but I say FOR CERTAIN.
And that’s what I wanted to see you for. Your action was
just what it should have been. I see that, but you ought
not to keep it up. I only ask you to give me carte blanche.
I’m not going to offer you my protection...though,
indeed, why shouldn’t I protect you?— you’ve protected
me often enough! I should hope our friendship rises above
all that sort of thing. Yes,’ he said, smiling to him as

681 of 1759