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From the billiard room next door came the sound of balls

knocking, of talk and laughter. Two officers appeared at the

entrance-door: one, a young fellow, with a feeble, delicate face,

who had lately joined the regiment from the Corps of Pages; the

other, a plump, elderly officer, with a bracelet on his wrist,

and little eyes, lost in fat.

Vronsky glanced at them, frowned, and looking down at his book as

though he had not noticed them, he proceeded to eat and read at

the same time.

"What? Fortifying yourself for your work?" said the plump

officer, sitting down beside him.

"As you see," responded Vronsky, knitting his brows, wiping his

mouth, and not looking at the officer.

"So you're not afraid of getting fat?" said the latter, turning a

chair round for the young officer.

"What?" said Vronsky angrily, making a wry face of disgust, and

showing his even teeth.

"You're not afraid of getting fat?"