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 and, turning to his aide, "Please have this distributed with my thanks; only have it get to the men."

And he hurriedly took out of his pocket-book three hundred-ruble notes, and the color came into his face.

"Vronsky, will you have something to eat or drink?" asked Yashvin. "Hey! bring something to the count here. There, now, drink this."

The feasting at the regimental commander's lasted a long time. They drank a great deal. They toasted Serpukhovskoï, and carried him on their shoulders. They cheered also the regimental commander. Then the regimental commander and Petritsky danced a Russian dance, while the regimental singers made the music; and when he was tired, he sat down on a bench in the court, and tried to prove to Yashvin Russia's superiority over Prussia, especially in cavalry charges; and the gayety calmed down for a moment. Serpukhovskoï went into the house to wash his hands, and found Vronsky in the toilet-room. Vronsky was splashing the water. He had taken off his kitel, and was sousing his head and his handsome neck under the tap of the basin, and rubbing them with his hands. When he had finished his ablutions, he sat down by Serpukhovskoï. They sat together, on a divanchik, and a conversation very interesting to both parties arose between them.

"I have learned all about you through my wife," said Serpukhovskoï. "I am glad that you see her so often."

"She is a friend of Varia's, and they are the only women in Petersburg that I care to see," said Vronsky, with a smile. He smiled because he foresaw on what subject the conversation would turn, and it was pleasing to him.

"The only ones?" repeated SerpukhovskoÏ, also smiling.

"Yes; and I, too, know all about you, but not through your wife only," said Vronsky, cutting the allusion short by the suddenly stern expression of his face; "and I am very glad at your success, but not the least surprised. I expected even more."