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to the sun and center as we have. They can be bought either by money
or by favor. And they have to find a support for themselves in invent-
ing a policy. And they bring forward some notion, some policy that
they don’t believe in, that does harm; and the whole policy is really only
a means to a government house and so much income. Cela n’est pas
plus fin que ca, when you get a peep at their cards. I may be inferior to
them, stupider perhaps, though I don’t see why I should be inferior to
them. But you and I have one important advantage over them for
certain, in being more difficult to buy. And such men are more needed
than ever.”
Vronsky listened attentively, but he was not so much interested by
the meaning of the words as by the attitude of Serpuhovskoy who was
already contemplating a struggle with the existing powers, and already
had his likes and dislikes in that higher world, while his own interest in
the governing world did not go beyond the interests of his regiment.
Vronsky felt, too, how powerful Serpuhovskoy might become through
his unmistakable faculty for thinking things out and for taking things
in, through his intelligence and gift of words, so rarely met with in the
world in which he moved. And, ashamed as he was of the feeling, he
felt envious.
“Still I haven’t the one thing of most importance for that,” he an-
swered; “I haven’t the desire for power. I had it once, but it’s gone.”
“Excuse me, that’s not true,” said Serpuhovskoy, smiling.
“Yes, it is true, it is true...now!” Vronsky added, to be truthful.
“Yes, it’s true now, that’s another thing; but that NOW won’t last
forever.”
“Perhaps,” answered Vronsky.
“You say PERHAPS,” Serpuhovskoy went on, as though guessing
his thoughts, “but I say FOR CERTAIN. And that’s what I wanted
to see you for. Your action was just what it should have been. I see
that, but you ought not to keep it up. I only ask you to give me carte
blanche. I’m not going to offer you my protection...though, indeed, why
shouldn’t I protect you?— you’ve protected me often enough! I should
hope our friendship rises above all that sort of thing. Yes,” he said,
smiling to him as tenderly as a woman, “give me carte blanche, retire
from the regiment, and I’ll draw you upwards imperceptibly.”
“But you must understand that I want nothing,” said Vronsky,
“except that all should be as it is.”
Serpuhovskoy got up and stood facing him.
“You say that all should be as it is. I understand what that means.
But listen: we’re the same age, you’ve known a greater number of
women perhaps than I have.” Serpohovskoy’s smile and gestures told
Vronsky that he mustn’t be afraid, that he would be tender and careful
in touching the sore place. “But I’m married, and believe me, in getting
to know thoroughly one’s wife, if one loves her, as someone has said,
one gets to know all women better than if one knew thousands of
them.”
“We’re coming directly!” Vronsky shouted to an officer, who looked
into the room and called them to the colonel.
Vronsky was longing now to hear to the end and know what
Serpuhovskey would say to him.
“And here’s my opinion for you. Women are the chief stumbling
block in a man’s career. It’s hard to love a woman and do anything.
There’s only one way of having love conveniently without its being a
hindrance—that’s marriage. How, how am I to tell you what I mean?”
said Serpuhovskoy, who liked similes. “Wait a minute, wait a minute!
Yes, just as you can only carry a fardeau and do something with your
hands, when the fardeau is tied on your back, and that’s marriage. And