Page:Anna Karenina.djvu/968

 Yes, there was something interesting in the service here.

The Petersburg views about money especially appealed to Stepan Arkadyevitch.

Bartnyansky, who now spent at least fifty thousand rubles, judging by the rate at which he was living, made a remark which deeply impressed him. Just before dinner, as they were talking together, Stepan Arkadyevitch had said:—

"You seem to have some connection with Mordvinsky. You might do me a favor; please say a little word to him in my behalf. It is a place which I should like to have, member of the commission." ....

"Well, I won't forget Only what pleasure can you have in attending to this railroad business with the Jews?.... Of course, if you want it; but still it's a wretched business."

Stepan Arkadyevitch did not say to him that it was "no sinecure." Bartnyansky would not have known what he meant.

"I need money; I must have something to live on."

"But don't you live, then?"

"Yes, but in debt."

"Much?" asked Bartnyansky, sympathetically.

"Yes; twenty thousand rubles."

Bartnyansky broke out into a gay laugh.

"Oh, happy man! I have a million and a half of debts, and not a ruble; and, as you see, I live all the same."

And Stepan Arkadyevitch saw that this was not mere words, but was actually true. Zhivakhof was in debt three hundred thousand, and had not a kopek. Petrovsky had spent five millions, and yet he went on living just as before, and had charge of the finances, and had only twenty thousand salary.

Petersburg had a delightful physical influence on Stepan Arkadyevitch. It made him feel younger. In Moscow he sometimes detected gray hairs, he would fall asleep after dinner, it made him breathe hard to go up-stairs, he was dull in the company of young women, he no longer danced at balls.