This evening..." He mentioned a French actress, and was going to tell something about her; but the ambassador's wife, with playful horror, cut him short.

"Please don't tell us about that horror.

" "All right, I won't especially as everyone knows those horrors.

" "And we should all go to see them if it were accepted as the correct thing, like the opera," chimed in Princess Myakaya.

Steps were heard at the door, and Princess Betsy, knowing it was Madame Karenina, glanced at Vronsky.