Prince Kuzovlev sat with a white face on his thoroughbred mare from the Grabovsky stud, while an English groom led her by the bridle.

Vronsky and all his comrades knew Kuzovlev and his peculiarity of "weak nerves" and terrible vanity.

They knew that he was afraid of everything, afraid of riding a spirited horse.

But now, just because it was terrible, because people broke their necks, and there was a doctor standing at each obstacle, and an ambulance with a cross on it, and a sister of mercy, he had made up his mind to take part in the race.