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It was only after driving nearly five miles that he had

sufficiently recovered himself to look at his watch, and realize

that it was half-past five, and he was late.

There were several races fixed for that day: the Mounted Guards'

race, then the officers' mile-and-a-half race, then the

three-mile race, and then the race for which he was entered. He

could still be in time for his race, but if he went to Bryansky's

he could only just be in time, and he would arrive when the whole

of the court would be in their places. That would be a pity. But

he had promised Bryansky to come, and so he decided to drive on,

telling the coachman not to spare the horses.