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At his quarters no one was left at home; all were at the races,

and his valet was looking out for him at the gate. While he was

changing his clothes, his valet told him that the second race had

begun already, that a lot of gentlemen had been to ask for him,

and a boy had twice run up from the stables. Dressing without

hurry (he never hurried himself, and never lost his

self-possession), Vronsky drove to the sheds. From the sheds he

could see a perfect sea of carriages, and people on foot,

soldiers surrounding the race course, and pavilions swarming with

people. The second race was apparently going on, for just as he

went into the sheds he heard a bell ringing. Going towards the

stable, he met the white-legged chestnut, Mahotin's Gladiator,

being led to the race-course in a blue forage horsecloth, with

what looked like huge ears edged with blue.

"Where's Cord?" he asked the stable-boy.

"In the stable, putting on the saddle."