Chapter 5

           “Thisisratherindiscreet,butit’ssogoodit’sanawfultemptationtotellthestory,”saidVronsky,lookingatherwithhislaughingeyes.“I’mnotgoingtomentionanynames.”

           “ButIshallguess,somuchthebetter.”

           “Well,listen:twofestiveyoungmenweredriving—”

           “Officersofyourregiment,ofcourse?”

           “Ididn’tsaytheywereofficers,—twoyoungmenwhohadbeenlunching.”

           “Inotherwords,drinking.”

           “Possibly.Theyweredrivingontheirwaytodinnerwithafriendinthemostfestivestateofmind.Andtheybeheldaprettywomaninahiredsledge;sheovertakesthem,looksroundatthem,and,sotheyfancyanyway,nodstothemandlaughs.They,ofcourse,followher.Theygallopatfullspeed.Totheiramazement,thefaironealightsattheentranceoftheveryhousetowhichtheyweregoing.Thefaironedartsupstairstothetopstory.Theygetaglimpseofredlipsunderashortveil,andexquisitelittlefeet.”

           “YoudescribeitwithsuchfeelingthatIfancyyoumustbeoneofthetwo.”

           “Andafterwhatyousaid,justnow!Well,theyoungmengointotheircomrade’s;hewasgivingafarewelldinner.Theretheycertainlydiddrinkalittletoomuch,asonealwaysdoesatfarewelldinners.Andatdinnertheyinquirewholivesatthetopinthathouse.Nooneknows;onlytheirhost’svalet,inanswertotheirinquirywhetherany‘youngladies’arelivingonthetopfloor,answeredthattherewereagreatmanyofthemaboutthere.Afterdinnerthetwoyoungmengointotheirhost’sstudy,andwritealettertotheunknownfairone.