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"I've always been hearing about you through my wife," said

Serpuhovskoy. "I'm glad you've been seeing her pretty often."

"She's friendly with Varya, and they're the only women in

Petersburg I care about seeing," answered Vronsky, smiling. He

smiled because he foresaw the topic the conversation would turn

on, and he was glad of it.

"The only ones?" Serpuhovskoy queried, smiling.

"Yes; and I heard news of you, but not only through your wife,"

said Vronsky, checking his hint by a stern expression of face. "I

was greatly delighted to hear of your success, but not a bit

surprised. I expected even more."

Serpuhovskoy smiled. Such an opinion of him was obviously

agreeable to him, and he did not think it necessary to conceal

it.

"Well, I on the contrary expected less-I'll own frankly. But I'm

glad, very glad. I'm ambitious; that's my weakness, and I confess

to it."

"Perhaps you wouldn't confess to it if you hadn't been

successful," said Vronsky.