Several of the riders were in front and several behind, when suddenly Vronsky heard the sound of a horse galloping in the mud behind him, and he was overtaken by Mahotin on his white-legged, lop-eared Gladiator.

Mahotin smiled, showing his long teeth, but Vronsky looked angrily at him.

He did not like him, and regarded him now as his most formidable rival.

He was angry with him for galloping past and exciting his mare.