resurrection(复活)-第38章

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〃I　have　been　told　that　there　were　many　sick；　and　help　was
needed。〃

〃All　right；　all　right。　I　shall　let　you　know　in　any　case。〃

〃Please　do；〃　said　Nekhludoff。

The　sound　of　a　general　and　even　a　natural　laugh　came　from　the
drawing…room。

〃That's　all　that　Victor。　He　is　wonderfully　sharp　when　he　is　in
the　right　vein；〃　said　Maslennikoff。

〃The　next　thing　I　wanted　to　tell　you；〃　said　Nekhludoff；　〃is　that
130　persons　are　imprisoned　only　because　their　passports　are
overdue。　They　have　been　kept　here　a　month。〃

And　he　related　the　circumstances　of　the　case。

〃How　have　you　come　to　know　of　this？〃　said　Maslennikoff；　looking
uneasy　and　dissatisfied。

〃I　went　to　see　a　prisoner；　and　these　men　came　and　surrounded　me
in　the　corridor；　and　asked　。　。　。〃

〃What　prisoner　did　you　go　to　see？〃

〃A　peasant　who　is　kept　in　prison；　though　innocent。　I　have　put　his
case　into　the　hands　of　a　lawyer。　But　that　is　not　the　point。〃

〃Is　it　possible　that　people　who　have　done　no　wrong　are　imprisoned
only　because　their　passports　are　overdue？　And　。　。　。〃

〃That's　the　Procureur's　business；〃　Maslennikoff　interrupted；
angrily。　〃There；　now；　you　see　what　it　is　you　call　a　prompt　and
just　form　of　trial。　It　is　the　business　of　the　Public　Prosecutor
to　visit　the　prison　and　to　find　out　if　the　prisoners　are　kept
there　lawfully。　But　that　set　play　cards；　that's　all　they　do。〃

〃Am　I　to　understand　that　you　can　do　nothing？〃　Nekhludoff　said；
despondently；　remembering　that　the　advocate　had　foretold　that　the
Governor　would　put　the　blame　on　the　Procureur。

〃Oh；　yes；　I　can。　I　shall　see　about　it　at　once。〃

〃So　much　the　worse　for　her。　C'est　un　souffre　douleur；〃　came　the
voice　of　a　woman；　evidently　indifferent　to　what　she　was　saying；
from　the　drawing…room。

〃So　much　the　better。　I　shall　take　it　also；〃　a　man's　voice　was
heard　to　say　from　the　other　side；　followed　by　the　playful
laughter　of　a　woman；　who　was　apparently　trying　to　prevent　the　man
from　taking　something　away　from　her。

〃No；　no；　not　on　any　account；〃　the　woman's　voice　said。

〃All　right；　then。　I　shall　do　all　this；〃　Maslennikoff　repeated；
and　put　out　the　cigarette　he　held　in　his　white；　turquoise…ringed
hand。　〃And　now　let　us　join　the　ladies。〃

〃Wait　a　moment；〃　Nekhludoff　said；　stopping　at　the　door　of　the
drawing…room。　〃I　was　told　that　some　men　had　received　corporal
punishment　in　the　prison　yesterday。　Is　this　true？〃

Maslennikoff　blushed。

〃Oh；　that's　what　you　are　after？　No；　mon　cher；　decidedly　it　won't
do　to　let　you　in　there；　you　want　to　get　at　everything。　Come；
come；　Anna　is　calling　us；〃　he　said；　catching　Nekhludoff　by　the
arm；　and　again　becoming　as　excited　as　after　the　attention　paid
him　by　the　important　person；　only　now　his　excitement　was　not
joyful；　but　anxious。

Nekhludoff　pulled　his　arm　away；　and　without　taking　leave　of　any
one　and　without　saying　a　word；　he　passed　through　the　drawing…room
with　a　dejected　look；　went　down　into　the　hall；　past　the　footman；
who　sprang　towards　him；　and　out　at　the　street　door。

〃What　is　the　matter　with　him？　What　have　you　done　to　him？〃　asked
Anna　of　her　husband。

〃This　is　a　la　Francaise；〃　remarked　some　one。

〃A　la　Francaise；　indeedit　is　a　la　Zoulou。〃

〃Oh；　but　he's　always　been　like　that。〃

Some　one　rose；　some　one　came　in；　and　the　clatter　went　on　its
course。　The　company　used　this　episode　with　Nekhludoff　as　a
convenient　topic　of　conversation　for　the　rest　of　the　〃at…home。〃

On　the　day　following　his　visit　to　Maslennikoff；　Nekhludoff
received　a　letter　from　him；　written　in　a　fine；　firm　hand；　on
thick；　glazed　paper；　with　a　coat…of…arms；　and　sealed　with
sealing…wax。　Maslennikoff　said　that　he　had　written　to　the　doctor
concerning　Maslova's　removal　to　the　hospital；　and　hoped
Nekhludoff's　wish　would　receive　attention。　The　letter　was　signed；
〃Your　affectionate　elder　comrade；〃　and　the　signature　ended　with　a
large；　firm；　and　artistic　flourish。　〃Fool！〃　Nekhludoff　could　not
refrain　from　saying；　especially　because　in　the　word　〃comrade〃　he
felt　Maslennikoff's　condescension　towards　him；　i。e。；　while
Maslennikoff　was　filling　this　position；　morally　most　dirty　and
shameful；　he　still　thought　himself　a　very　important　man；　and
wished；　if　not　exactly　to　flatter　Nekhludoff；　at　least　to　show
that　he　was　not　too　proud　to　call　him　comrade。


CHAPTER　LIX。

NEKHLUDOFF'S　THIRD　INTERVIEW　WITH　MASLOVA　IN　PRISON。

One　of　the　most　widespread　superstitions　is　that　every　man　has
his　own　special；　definite　qualities；　that　a　man　is　kind；　cruel；
wise；　stupid；　energetic；　apathetic；　etc。　Men　are　not　like　that。
We　may　say　of　a　man　that　he　is　more　often　kind　than　cruel；
oftener　wise　than　stupid；　oftener　energetic　than　apathetic；　or
the　reverse；　but　it　would　be　false　to　say　of　one　man　that　he　is
kind　and　wise；　of　another　that　he　is　wicked　and　foolish。　And　yet
we　always　classify　mankind　in　this　way。　And　this　is　untrue。　Men
are　like　rivers：　the　water　is　the　same　in　each；　and　alike　in　all；
but　every　river　is　narrow　here；　is　more　rapid　there；　here　slower；
there　broader；　now　clear；　now　cold；　now　dull；　now　warm。　It　is　the
same　with　men。　Every　man　carries　in　himself　the　germs　of　every
human　quality；　and　sometimes　one　manifests　itself；　sometimes
another；　and　the　man　often　becomes　unlike　himself；　while　still
remaining　the　same　man；　In　some　people　these　changes　are　very
rapid；　and　Nekhludoff　was　such　a　man。　These　changes　in　him　were
due　to　physical　and　to　spiritual　causes。　At　this　time　he
experienced　such　a　change。

That　feeling　of　triumph　and　joy　at　the　renewal　of　life　which　he
had　experienced　after　the　trial　and　after　the　first　interview
with　Katusha；　vanished　completely；　and　after　the　last　interview
fear　and　revulsion　took　the　place　of　that　joy。　He　was　determined
not　to　leave　her；　and　not　to　change　his　decision　of　marrying　her；
if　she　wished　it；　but　it　seemed　very　hard；　and　made　him　suffer。

On　the　day　after　his　visit　to　Maslennikoff；　he　again　went　to　the
prison　to　see　her。

The　inspector　allowed　him　to　speak　to　her；　only　not　in　the
advocate's　room　nor　in　the　office；　but　in　the　women's
visiting…room。　In　spite　of　his　kindness；　the　inspector　was　more
reserved　with　Nekhludoff　than　hitherto。

An　order　for　greater　caution　had　apparently　been　sent；　as　a
result　of　his　conversation　with　Meslennikoff。

〃You　may　see　her；〃　the　inspector　said；　〃but　please　remember　what
I　said　as　regards　money。　And　as　to　her　removal　to　the　hospital；
that　his　excellency　wrote　to　me　about；　it　can　be　done；　the　doctor
would　agree。　Only　she　herself　does　not　wish　it。　She　says；　'Much
need　have　I　to　carry　out　the　slops　for　the　scurvy　beggars。'　You
don't　know　what　these　people　are；　Prince；〃　he　added。

Nekhludoff　did　not　reply；　but　asked　to　have　the　interview。　The
inspector　called　a　jailer；　whom　Nekhludoff　followed　into　the
women's　visiting…room；　where　there　was　no　one　but　Maslova
waiting。　She　came　from　behind　the　grating；　quiet　and　timid；　close
up　to　him；　and　said；　without　looking　at　him：

〃Forgive　me；　Dmitri　Ivanovitch；　I　spoke　hastily　the　day　before
yesterday。〃

〃It　is　not　for　me　to　forgive　you；〃　Nekhludoff　began。

〃But　all　the　same；　you　must　leave　me；〃　she　interrupted；　and　in
the　terribly　squinting　eyes　with　which　she　looked　at　him
Nekhludoff　read　the　former　strained；　angry　expression。

〃Why　should　I　leave　you？〃

〃So。〃

〃But　why　so？〃

She　again　looked　up；　as　it　seemed　to　him；　with　the　same　angry
look。

〃Well；　then；　thus　it　is；〃　she　said。　〃You　must　leave　me。　It　is
true　what　I　am　saying。　I　cannot。　You　just　give　it　up　altogether。〃
Her　lips　trembled　and　she　was　silent　for　a　moment。　〃It　is　true。
I'd　rather　hang　myself。〃

Nekhludoff　felt　that　in　this　refusal　there　was　hatred　and
unforgiving　resentment；　but　there　was　also　something　besides；
something　good。　This　confirmation　of　the　refusal　in　cold　blood　at
once　quenched　all　the　doubts　in　Nekhludoff's　bosom；　and　brought
back　the　serious；　triumphant　emotion　he　had　felt　in　relation　to
Katusha。

〃Katusha；　what　I　have　said　I　will　again　repeat；〃　he　uttered；　very
seriously。　〃I　ask　you　to　marry　me。　If　you　do　not　wish　it；　and　for
as　long　as　you　do　not　wish　it；　I　shall　only　continue　to　follow
you；　and　shall　go　where　you　are　taken。〃

〃That　is　your　business。　I　shall　not　say　anything　more；〃　she
answered；　and　her　lips　began　to　tremble　again。

He；　too；　was　silent；　feeling　unable　to　speak。

〃I　shall　now　go　to　the　country；　and　then　to　Petersburg；〃　he　said；
when　he　was　quieter　again。　〃I　shall　do　my　utmost　to　get　your…
our　case；　I　mean；　reconsidered；　and　by　the　help　of　God　the
sentence　may　be　revoked。〃

〃And　if　it　is　not　revoked；　never　mind。　I　have　deserved　it；　if　not
in　this　case；　in　other　ways；〃　she　said；　and　he　saw　how　difficult
it　was　for　her　to　keep　down　her　tears。

〃Well；　have　you　seen　Menshoff？〃　she　suddenly　asked；　to　hide　her
emotion。　〃It's　true　they　are　innocent；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes；　I　think　so。〃

〃Such　a　splendid　old　woman；〃　she　said。

There　was　another　pause。

〃Well；　and　as　to　the　hospital？〃　she　suddenly　said；　and　looking　at
him　with　her　squinting　eyes。　〃If　you　like；　I　will　go；　and　I　shall
not　drink　any　spirits；　either。〃

Nekhludoff　looked　into　her　eyes。　They　were　smiling。

〃Yes；　yes；　she　is　quite　a　different　being；〃　Nekhludoff　thought。
After　all　his　former　doubts；　he　now　felt　something　he　had　never
before　experiencedthe　certainty　that　love　is　invincible。

When　Maslova　returned　to　her　noisome　cell　after　this　interview；
she　took　off　her　cloak　and　sat　down　in　her　place　on　the　shelf
bedstead　with　her　hands　folded　on　her　lap。　In　the　cell　were　only
the　consumptive　woman；　the　Vladimir　woman　with　her　baby；
Menshoff's　old　mother；　and　the　watchman's　wife。　The　deacon's
daughter　had　the　day　before　been　declared　mentally　diseased　and
removed　to　the　hospital。　The　rest　of　the　women　were　away；　washing
clothes。　The　old　woman　was　asleep；　the　cell　door　stood　open；　and
the　watchman's　children　were　in　the　corridor　outside。　The
Vladimir　woman；　with　her　baby　in　her　arms；　and　the　watchman's
wife；　with　the　stocking　she　was　knitting　with　deft　fingers；　came
up　to　Maslova。　〃Well；　have　you　had　a　chat？〃　they　asked。　Maslova
sat　silent　on　the　high　bedstead；　swinging　her　legs；　which　did　not
reach　to　the　floor。

〃What's　the　good　of　snivelling？〃　said　the　watchman's　wife。　〃The
chief　thing's　not　to　go　down　into　the　dumps。　Eh；　Katusha？　Now；
then！〃　and　she　went　on；　quickly　moving　her　fingers。

Maslova　did　not　answer。

〃And　our　women　have　all　gone　to　wash；〃　said　the　Vladimir　woman。
〃I　heard　them　say　much　has　been　given　in　alms　to…day。　Quite　a　lot
has　been　brought。〃

〃Finashka；〃　called　out　the　watchman's　wife；　〃where's　the　little
imp　gone　to？〃

She　took　a　knitting　needle；　stuck　it　through　both　the　ball　and
the　stocking；　and　went　out　into　the　corridor。

At　this　moment　the　sound　of　women's　voices　was　heard　from　the
corridor；　and　the　inmates　of　the　cell　entered；　with　their　prison
shoes；　but　no　stockings　on　their　feet。　Each　was　carrying　a　roll；
some　even　two。　Theodosia　came　at　once　up　to　Maslova。

〃What's　the　matter；　is　anything　wrong？〃　Theodosia　asked；　looking
lovingly　at　Maslova　with　her　clear；　blue　eyes。　〃This　is　for　our
tea；〃　and　she　put　the　rolls　on　a　shelf。

〃Why；　surely　he　has　not　changed　his　mind　about　marrying？〃　asked
Korableva。

〃No；　he　has　not；　but　I　don't