The dance starts at half past six.
Karenin was somewhat friendly with that Durovtin. So he also happened to have a suitable reason to be there.
When attending such formal occasions, Karenin usually wears a tuxedo and a white tie. He has a thinner figure, and his clothes don't always need to be too fancy. Well-tailored clothes are enough to make him look decent and stable.
Anna originally wanted to wear a more low-key light-colored dress, but Karenin rarely expressed his disapproval.
"You didn't really care what I wore before." Anna smiled. Although she didn't quite understand, she still chose a more expensive dress.
It was a sapphire blue dress, with trumpet sleeves at the elbows, and was tightened with grass green satin ribbons, exposing small white arms.
The silver skirt has a big hem, although it is not fancy, it looks very decent.
Her hair was not pulled up high as before, but bent into a half-arc, with a few strands of dark hair that was deliberately deepened and uncurled. Tiaras made of sapphires are fastened to the sides.
"I'm a little nervous." Anna said, she looked down at her waist, "Maybe it's a little tight around the waist, or maybe I've gained weight recently?" She said to herself quickly.
"Do you really think it's better for me to wear this? Today's protagonist is not me."
Karenin poured her a glass of water.
"Calm down, Anna. You didn't go there alone."
Anna took a deep breath, then looked at her husband, and tiptoed to kiss the corner of his mouth.
"Thank you, Alexis."
"For everything you've done for me."
Anna drank the water slowly, and she went to the mirror to cheer herself up again.
Karenin walked towards her, raised his left hand, fixed her chin slightly when Anna turned her head slightly, held a handkerchief in her right hand, and used the corner of the handkerchief to imprint the water stains on the corners of her mouth.
"It's not a difficult thing. You've already done what you can. I'll help you with the rest."
Anna raised her right hand, let her own hand gently grasp Karenin's left hand, and then leaned her head against the dry and warm palm of the other party.
"you're right."
They drove to the house of Count Durovtin in a carriage.
The residence of Count Durovtin was not as prosperous as that of Betsy's, or even that of Anna's brother, Oblonsky, but it was one of the best in Petersburg.
The servant brought Anna and the others to the master.
Count Durovtin didn't take good care of himself. Because of his thin body, he looked even older. However, his way of dealing with people was unmatched by many people in Petersburg.
After greeting Count Durovtin, Anna leaned against Karenin, and like many women in the neighborhood, leaned peacefully beside her husband.
Karenin greeted these people as usual.
Anna noticed that her husband seemed a little hot, or, like a sturgeon that everyone would share, everyone was eager to have a few words with him, which indirectly reflected Karenin's status in Petersburg.
Anna didn't bother to listen to these official jargon. Her eyes were always on Miss Eliza, so that the lady gave her a gentle smile.
"She doesn't recognize me yet," thought Anna, blinking her eyes, admiring Miss Eliza's beauty in the crowd.
The hat that matched the skirt had been taken off.
Miss Eliza's skin was as white as the snow on the Russian mountains, and her golden hair hung down, flanked by pink and purple flowers.
Except for Anna, half of the people at the banquet were looking at Miss Elisa.
This Petersburg courtesan had always been famous for her meekness and beauty, and most of the young people felt sorry for her standing beside Count Durovtin.
Anna noticed that Miss Elisa suddenly seemed to see someone, and she whispered something to Count Durovtin, who sent a servant over.
She followed her gaze and found Mr. Goldman, Miss Oria, and Mr. Prokhov.
Mr. Gorman was dressed very carefully, Miss Oria wore a pink dress suitable for her age, Mr. Prokhov even wore a bow tie, and his thick hair was done with hairspray. He turned out to be very handsome and strong.
The servants of Earl Durovtin's family introduced Mr. Goldman and the three of them.
Anna noticed that Mr. Gorman saw her, and there was a little surprise in his expression, but he quickly regained his composure.
"I must solemnly introduce this gentleman to everyone. Although I know that many of you here already know him, his talent is indeed worthy of our introduction again, isn't it?" Earl Durovtin laughed. Applause was given.
"Why don't you come here, Mr. Krasco."
When Durovtin said the name, Anna was stunned for a moment, or rather, several people who knew about it were all stunned for a moment.
Among the crowd, a tall, broad-shouldered man came out, with a beautiful beard, handsome but frivolous.
"Mr. Krasko designed this suit for you, didn't he?" Mr. Durovtin asked Miss Elisa kindly.
The latter also nodded with a smile.
Anna couldn't help but want to go forward, but Karenin held her back privately.
Anna looked at each other, and Karenin motioned her not to move from the corner of his eye. So she could only purse her lower lip and continue to stand still.
There was a lot of discussion in the crowd, after all, the news everyone got at the beginning was not like this.
"It's my honor to design clothes for you." Mr. Krasko kissed the back of Elisa's hand, "You are as beautiful as spring, and you match so well with Count Durovtin."
Miss Eliza accepted Mr. Krasco's hand kiss and made no rebuttal to her call.
Anna felt a little chill all over.
She knew what was coming, the worst thing, I'm afraid...
She did not finish thinking, Miss Eliza had already begun to do so.
The other party's beautiful and gentle eyes looked at Mr. Goldman, and said with an unbearable expression: "Mr. Goldman, I don't know why you claimed that this suit was designed by your store. Maybe it's a misunderstanding. , but I have to tell everyone that this dress was tailor-made for me by Mr. Krasko."
"You're lying!" Mr. Prokhov couldn't hold back, he yelled, his face flushed.
"I didn't expect you to do this. I always think that although we are peers, we can compete fairly, Mr. Goldman." Mr. Krasco said with a hypocritical expression.
"Still, maybe you didn't do it. After all, you haven't been in this business for two or three years. If not, you don't have to cover up that despicable person. It's the best to hand him over. I can also return your innocence."
Everyone looked at the green-eyed young tailor. Anna's heart was in a mess, with anger on one side and guilt on the other.
She didn't want to hurt the other party, but if she stood up now regardless, she would not be able to prove her innocence, and would also embarrass Karenin.
She looked at her husband, who looked down at her, and his lips moved a few times, silently conveying a meaning—to calm down.
Anna took a deep breath of air, she leaned close to her husband, and the latter's free hand gently wrapped around her forearm to comfort her.
"I agree with the word 'despicable' you said." Mr. Goldman spoke, emphasizing the word despicable.
"We can take this opportunity to clarify this matter in detail now. After all, it is a matter of reputation. I think, after clarifying, these people will not be able to be tolerantly accommodated in this circle."
Mr. Goldman said pointedly, and then he shouted loudly: "Miss Alina, it's your turn now!"
Everyone looked in one direction.
Miss Alina, who was wearing a long crimson red velvet dress, walked forward gracefully, with high eyebrows and full red lips. The tall Miss Alina instantly attracted everyone's attention.
Women generally don't use black leather belts, but the one worn by Miss Alina is used.
Miss Alina, who has a proud personality, seems to be naturally suitable for this bold color. Her original blonde hair has now become a head of jet black hair.
If it was said that everyone was attracted by Miss Alina's bold outfit, then Anna was because the clothes were clearly scribbled on the drawings after she saw each other last time.
As if thinking of something, Anna suddenly looked at her husband, who stared straight ahead naturally with his eyes straight, and the arc of his jaw looked hard and even arrogant.
"I believe that everyone present can see that these two sets of clothes have their own styles, but without exception, they are unique to Petersburg."
"Because they were all made by the same person."
"This man is not me, much less Mr. Krasco."
While talking, Mr. Goldman walked towards Anna. He kissed the back of Anna's hand in a gentlemanly manner, and then smiled: "Mrs. Karenin, as their designer, I think it would be best for you to tell the story yourself."
Then, Mr. Goldman looked at everyone again and said: "Mrs. Karenin has a very outstanding talent. She loves clothing and hopes that every piece of clothing can bring beauty to the person who wears it, so she found me. And she told me with her philanthropic heart that she provides ideas and styles, and every piece of clothing sold will be used for charity activities. Let the homeless children in Russia have clothes to cover their bodies."
"Let me ask, should a lady who gives so silently deserve to be respected?"
"You're lying, it's not like that!" cried Mr. Krasco, flushing and flustered.
Mr. Goldman gave the other party a contemptuous look, and he looked at Miss Alina, who spoke frankly about the last dinner.
About her asking Mr. Krasko to order a gown while he stole Mr. Goldman's idea. When she found out later, she had a big quarrel with Mr. Krasco, and informed Mr. Goldman of the matter. But Mr. Goldman generously stated that he did not intend to care about this matter.
"I've never seen such a shameless person." Miss Alina said in a contemptuous tone.
Mr. Krasco turned purple with anger.
Karenin finally spoke: "If that's the case, as a person who is not innocent, I think this person's words are no longer trustworthy. What do you think? Mr. Count Durovtin."
Karenin kicked the ball to the earl, who was overwhelmed by too much information at this moment, but he had been in politics for so long after all.
Durovtin knew that things were not that simple. He was still immersed in this little love, but now he seemed to be sober.
He calmly said, "Of course what you said is correct."
Durovtin let go of his hand, and Elisa had been relying on his arm to stand still, but now, she almost staggered.
Her eyes looked resentfully at the man who was supposed to be her fiancé tonight, but the latter glanced at her indifferently.
Miss Eliza's already diminutive stature seemed even smaller now.
A mocking voice from the crowd came to her.
She stood numb, and finally looked up at Ana as the guards took her and Krasko away.
Anna saw the look in Miss Eliza's eyes, and her heart was scorched.
"Say something, Anna." The deep and steady voice made Anna raise her head and look over.
Karenin raised his hand and patted her on the shoulder. Now, she felt as if she was back under the spotlight again, a familiar yet unfamiliar feeling.
As if in a dream.
Karenin leaned slightly and whispered in her ear, "I said, you can do what you want."
After a long time, Anna smiled and introduced the idea of these two sets of clothes to everyone in a gentle voice. Since that night, there has been a well-known noble lady in Petersburg.