That was so far well, but Vronsky knew that in this dirty business, though his only share in it was undertaking by word of mouth to be surety for Venovsky, it was absolutely necessary for him to have the two thousand five hundred roubles so as to be able to fling it at the swindler, and have no more words with him.

And so for this first and most important division he must have four thousand roubles.

The second class--eight thousand roubles--consisted of less important debts.

These were principally accounts owing in connection with his race horses, to the purveyor of oats and hay, the English saddler, and so on.