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

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

" "She's friendly with Varya, and they're the only women in Petersburg I care about seeing," answered Vronsky, smiling.

He smiled because he foresaw the topic the conversation would turn on, and he was glad of it.

"The only ones?" Serpuhovskoy queried, smiling.