Page 365 of 2288

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

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.