Chapter 5

           Intheslantingeveningshadowscastbythebaggagepiledupontheplatform,Vronskyinhislongovercoatandslouchhat,withhishandsinhispockets,strodeupanddown,likeawildbeastinacage,turningsharplyaftertwentypaces.SergeyIvanovitchfancied,asheapproachedhim,thatVronskysawhimbutwaspretendingnottosee.ThisdidnotaffectSergeyIvanovitchintheslightest.HewasaboveallpersonalconsiderationswithVronsky.

           AtthatmomentSergeyIvanovitchlookeduponVronskyasamantakinganimportantpartinagreatcause,andKoznishevthoughtithisdutytoencouragehimandexpresshisapproval.Hewentuptohim.

           Vronskystoodstill,lookedintentlyathim,recognizedhim,andgoingafewstepsforwardtomeethim,shookhandswithhimverywarmly.

           “Possiblyyoudidn’twishtoseeme,”saidSergeyIvanovitch,“butcouldn’tIbeofusetoyou?”

           “There’snooneIshouldlessdislikeseeingthanyou,”saidVronsky.“Excuseme;andthere’snothinginlifeformetolike.”

           “Iquiteunderstand,andImerelymeanttoofferyoumyservices,”saidSergeyIvanovitch,scanningVronsky’sface,fullofunmistakablesuffering.“Wouldn’titbeofusetoyoutohavealettertoRistitch—toMilan?”

           “Oh,no!”Vronskysaid,seemingtounderstandhimwithdifficulty.“Ifyoudon’tmind,let’swalkon.It’ssostuffyamongthecarriages.Aletter?No,thankyou;tomeetdeathoneneedsnolettersofintroduction.NorfortheTurks....”hesaid,withasmilethatwasmerelyofthelips.Hiseyesstillkepttheirlookofangrysuffering.