`Perhaps that is true for you, but not for everyone. I used to think so too, but now I see and think life worth living not only for that.'

`There it comes! there it comes!' said Serpukhovskoy laughing. `Ever since I heard about you, about your refusal, I began... Of course, I approved of what you did. But there are ways of doing everything. And I think your action was good in itself, but you didn't do it in quite the way you should have done.'

`What's done can't be undone, and you know I never go back on what I've done. And, besides, I'm very well off.'

`Very well off - for the time. But you're not satisfied with that. I wouldn't say this to your brother. He's a charming child, like our host here. There he goes!' he added, listening to the roar of a `hurrah!' - `and he's happy; that does not satisfy you.'

`I didn't say it did.'

`Yes, but that's not the only thing. Such men as you are wanted.'

`By whom?'

`By whom? By society, by Russia. Russia needs men, she needs a party, or else everything goes and will go to the dogs.'

`How do you mean? Bertenev's party against the Russian communists?'

`No,' said Serpukhovskoy, frowning with vexation at being suspected of such an absurdity. `Tout ça est une blague. That has always been, and always will be. There are no communists. But intriguing people have to invent a noxious, dangerous party. It's an old trick. No, what's wanted is a powerful party of independent men, like you and me.'

`But why so?' Vronsky mentioned a few men who were in power. `Why aren't they independent men?'

`Simply because they have not, or have not had from birth, an independent fortune, they've not had a name, they weren't born close to the sun as we were. They can be bought either by money or by favor. And they have to find a support for themselves in inventing a trend. And they bring forward some notion, some trend that they don't believe in, that does harm; and the whole policy is really only a means to a house at the expense of the crown and so much income. Cela n'est pas plus fin que ça, when you get a peep at their cards. I may be inferior to them, more stupid perhaps, though I don't see why I should be inferior to them. But you and I have one important, certain advantage over them, 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 Serpukhovskoy, who was already contemplating a struggle with the existing powers, and already had his likes and dislikes in that world, while his own interest in his service did not go beyond the interests of his squadron. Vronsky felt, too, how powerful Serpukhovskoy might become through his unmistakable faculty for thinking things out and for taking things in, through his intelligence and gift of eloquence, 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 paramount importance for that,' he answered; `I haven't the desire for power. I had it once, but it's gone.'

`Excuse me, that's not true,' said Serpukhovskoy smiling.

`Yes, it's true, it's true - now to be truthful!' Vronsky added.

`Yes, it's true now, that's another thing; but that now won't last forever.'