In the middle of the winter Vronsky spent a very tiresome week.

A foreign prince, who had come on a visit to Petersburg, was put under his charge, and he had to show him the sights worth seeing.

Vronsky was of distinguished appearance; he possessed, moreover, the art of behaving with respectful dignity, and was used to having to do with such grand personages--that was how he came to be put in charge of the prince.