Page 861 of 2288

His attitude to society, too, was clear. Everyone might know,

might suspect it, but no one might dare to speak of it. If any

did so, he was ready to force all who might speak to be silent

and to respect the non-existent honor of the woman he loved.

His attitude to the husband was the clearest of all. From the

moment that Anna loved Vronsky, he had regarded his own right

over her as the one thing unassailable. Her husband was simply a

superfluous and tiresome person. No doubt he was in a pitiable

position, but how could that be helped? The one thing the husband

had a right to was to demand satisfaction with a weapon in his

hand, and Vronsky was prepared for this at any minute.