Anna Karenina - LimpidSoft

PART TWO CHAPTER 5
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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