Both the young men were in Vronsky's company. The colonel of the

regiment was waited upon by the government clerk, Venden, with a

complaint against his officers, who had insulted his wife. His

young wife, so Venden told the story--he had been married half a

year--was at church with her mother, and suddenly overcome by

indisposition, arising from her interesting condition, she could

not remain standing, she drove home in the first sledge, a

smart-looking one, she came across. On the spot the officers set

off in pursuit of her; she was alarmed, and feeling still more

unwell, ran up the staircase home. Venden himself, on returning

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from his office, heard a ring at their bell and voices, went out,

and seeing the intoxicated officers with a letter, he had turned

them out. He asked for exemplary punishment.

"Yes, it's all very well," said the colonel to Vronsky, whom he

had invited to come and see him. "Petritsky's becoming

impossible. Not a week goes by without some scandal. This

government clerk won't let it drop, he'll go on with the thing."

Vronsky saw all the thanklessness of the business, and that there

could be no question of a duel in it, that everything must be

done to soften the government clerk, and hush the matter up. The

colonel had called in Vronsky just because he knew him to be an

honorable and intelligent man, and, more than all, a man who

cared for the honor of the regiment. They talked it over, and

decided that Petritsky and Kedrov must go with Vronsky to

Venden's to apologize. The colonel and Vronsky were both fully

aware that Vronsky's name and rank would be sure to contribute

greatly to the softening of the injured husband's feelings.

And these two influences were not in fact without effect; though

the result remained, as Vronsky had described, uncertain.

On reaching the French theater, Vronsky retired to the foyer with

the colonel, and reported to him his success, or non-success.

The colonel, thinking it all over, made up his mind not to pursue

the matter further, but then for his own satisfaction proceeded

to cross-examine Vronsky about his interview; and it was a long

while before he could restrain his laughter, as Vronsky described

how the government clerk, after subsiding for a while, would

suddenly flare up again, as he recalled the details, and how

Vronsky, at the last half word of conciliation, skillfully

maneuvered a retreat, shoving Petritsky out before him.

"It's a disgraceful story, but killing. Kedrov really can't

fight the gentleman! Was he so awfully hot?" he commented,

laughing. "But what do you say to Claire today? She's

marvelous," he went on, speaking of a new French actress.

"However often you see her, every day she's different. It's only

the French who can do that."




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