He had taken off his coat and put his sunburnt, hairy neck under the tap, and was rubbing it and his head with his hands.

When he had finished, Vronsky sat down by Serpuhovskoy.

They both sat down in the bathroom on a lounge, and a conversation began which was very interesting to both of them.

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

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