When I come back from abroad and put on this," he touched his epaulets, "I regret my freedom.

" Serpuhovskoy had long given up all hope of Vronsky's career, but he liked him as before, and was now particularly cordial to him.

"What a pity you were not in time for the first act!" Vronsky, listening with one ear, moved his opera glass from the stalls and scanned the boxes.