Pagina 318 di 2288

Petritsky, in his overcoat, and the cavalry captain Kamerovsky,

in full uniform, probably just come from duty, were sitting each

side of her.

"Bravo! Vronsky!" shouted Petritsky, jumping up, scraping his

chair. "Our host himself! Baroness, some coffee for him out of

the new coffee pot. Why, we didn't expect you! Hope you're

satisfied with the ornament of your study," he said, indicating

the baroness. "You know each other, of course?"

"I should think so," said Vronsky, with a bright smile, pressing

the baroness's little hand. "What next! I'm an old friend."

"You're home after a journey," said the baroness, "so I'm flying.

Oh, I'll be off this minute, if I'm in the way."

"You're home, wherever you are, baroness," said Vronsky. "How do

you do, Kamerovsky?" he added, coldly shaking hands with

Kamerovsky.

"There, you never know how to say such pretty things," said the

baroness, turning to Petritsky.

"No; what's that for? After dinner I say things quite as good."