Page:Anna Karenina.djvu/249

 Vronsky had, indeed, promised to bring some money to Briansky, who lived about ten versts from Peterhof; and he was in a hurry to get there as soon as possible so as to pay for the horses, but his friends immediately understood that he was also going somewhere else.

Petritsky, who kept on singing, winked, and pursed his lips as if he would say, "We know who this Briansky means."

"See here, don't be late," said Yashvin; and, changing the subject, "And my roan, does she suit you?" he asked, looking out of the window, and referring to the middle horse of the team which he had sold.

Just as Vronsky left the room, Petritsky called out to him, "Hold on! your brother left a note and a letter. Hold on! where did I put them?"

Vronsky waited impatiently.

"Well, where are they?"

"Where are they indeed? That's the question," declaimed Petritsky, solemnly, putting his forefinger above his nose.

"Speak quick! no nonsense!" said Vronsky, smiling.

"I have not had any fire in the fireplace; where can I have put them?"

"Come now, that's enough talk! where's the letter?"

"I swear I have forgotten; or did I dream about it? Wait, wait! don't get angry. If you had drunk four bottles, as I did yesterday, you would n't even know where you went to bed. Hold on, I'll think in a minute."

Petritsky went behind his screen again, and got into bed.

"Hold on! I was lying here. He stood there. Da-da-da-da! .... Here it is!"

And he pulled the letter out from under the mattress, where he had put it.

Vronsky took the letter and his brother's note. It was exactly as he expected. His mother reproached him because he had not been to see her, and his brother said he had something to speak to him about. "What concern is it of theirs?" he muttered; and, crumpling