resurrection(复活)-第77章

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chatter　of　women's　voices　was　unceasing。　The　next　door　led　into
the　bachelors'　room。　This　room　was　still　more　crowded；　even　the
doorway　and　the　passage　in　front　of　it　were　blocked　by　a　noisy
crowd　of　men；　in　wet　garments；　busy　doing　or　deciding　something
or　other。

The　convoy　sergeant　explained　that　it　was　the　prisoner　appointed
to　buy　provisions；　paying　off　out　of　the　food　money　what　was
owing　to　a　sharper　who　had　won　from　or　lent　money　to　the
prisoners；　and　receiving　back　little　tickets　made　of　playing
cards。　When　they　saw　the　convoy　soldier　and　a　gentleman；　those
who　were　nearest　became　silent；　and　followed　them　with　looks　of
ill…will。　Among　them　Nekhludoff　noticed　the　criminal　Fedoroff；
whom　he　knew；　and　who　always　kept　a　miserable　lad　with　a　swelled
appearance　and　raised　eyebrows　beside　him；　and　also　a　disgusting；
noseless；　pock…marked　tramp；　who　was　notorious　among　the
prisoners　because　he　killed　his　comrade　in　the　marshes　while
trying　to　escape；　and　had；　as　it　was　rumoured；　fed　on　his　flesh。
The　tramp　stood　in　the　passage　with　his　wet　cloak　thrown　over　one
shoulder；　looking　mockingly　and　boldly　at　Nekhludoff；　and　did　not
move　out　of　the　way。　Nekhludoff　passed　him　by。

Though　this　kind　of　scene　had　now　become　quite　familiar　to　him；
though　he　had　during　the　last　three　months　seen　these　four
hundred　criminal　prisoners　over　and　over　again　in　many　different
circumstances；　in　the　heat；　enveloped　in　clouds　of　dust　which
they　raised　as　they　dragged　their　chained　feet　along　the　road；
and　at　the　resting　places　by　the　way；　where　the　most　horrible
scenes　of　barefaced　debauchery　had　occurred；　yet　every　time　he
came　among　them；　and　felt　their　attention　fixed　upon　him　as　it
was　now；　shame　and　consciousness　of　his　sin　against　them
tormented　him。　To　this　sense　of　shame　and　guilt　was　added　an
unconquerable　feeling　of　loathing　and　horror。　He　knew　that；
placed　in　a　position　such　as　theirs；　they　could　not　he　other　than
they　were；　and　yet　he　was　unable　to　stifle　his　disgust。

〃It's　well　for　them　do…nothings；〃　Nekhludoff　heard　some　one　say
in　a　hoarse　voice　as　he　approached　the　room　of　the　political
prisoners。　Then　followed　a　word　of　obscene　abuse；　and　spiteful；
mocking　laughter。


CHAPTER　X。

MAKAR　DEVKIN。

When　they　had　passed　the　bachelors'　room　the　sergeant　who
accompanied　Nekhludoff　left　him；　promising　to　come　for　him　before
the　inspection　would　take　place。　As　soon　as　the　sergeant　was　gone
a　prisoner；　quickly　stepping　with　his　bare　feet　and　holding　up
the　chains；　came　close　up　to　Nekhludoff；　enveloping　him　in　the
strong；　acid　smell　of　perspiration；　and　said　in　a　mysterious
whisper：

〃Help　the　lad；　sir；　he's　got　into　an　awful　mess。　Been　drinking。
To…day　he's　given　his　name　as　Karmanoff　at　the　inspection。　Take
his　part；　sir。　We　dare　not；　or　they'll　kill　us；〃　and　looking
uneasily　round　he　turned　away。

This　is　what　had　happened。　The　criminal　Kalmanoff　had　persuaded　a
young　fellow　who　resembled　him　in　appearance　and　was　sentenced　to
exile　to　change　names　with　him　and　go　to　the　mines　instead　of
him；　while　he　only　went　to　exile。　Nekhludoff　knew　all　this。　Some
convict　had　told　him　about　this　exchange　the　week　before。　He
nodded　as　a　sign　that　he　understood　and　would　do　what　was　in　his
power；　and　continued　his　way　without　looking　round。

Nekhludoff　knew　this　convict；　and　was　surprised　by　his　action。
When　in　Ekaterinburg　the　convict　had　asked　Nekhludoff　to　get　a
permission　for　his　wife　to　follow　him。　The　convict　was　a　man　of
medium　size　and　of　the　most　ordinary　peasant　type；　about　thirty
years　old。　He　was　condemned　to　hard　labour　for　an　attempt　to
murder　and　rob。　His　name　was　Makar　Devkin。　His　crime　was　a　very
curious　one。　In　the　account　he　gave　of　it　to　Nekhludoff；　he　said
it　was　not　his　but　his　devil's　doing。　He　said　that　a　traveller
had　come　to　his　father's　house　and　hired　his　sledge　to　drive　him
to　a　village　thirty　miles　off　for　two　roubles。　Makar's　father
told　him　to　drive　the　stranger。　Makar　harnessed　the　horse；
dressed；　and　sat　down　to　drink　tea　with　the　stranger。　The
stranger　related　at　the　tea…table　that　he　was　going　to　be　married
and　had　five　hundred　roubles；　which　he　had　earned　in　Moscow；　with
him。　When　he　had　heard　this；　Makar　went　out　into　the　yard　and　put
an　axe　into　the　sledge　under　the　straw。　〃And　I　did　not　myself
know　why　I　was　taking　the　axe；〃　he　said。　〃'Take　the　axe；'　says
HE；　and　I　took　it。　We　got　in　and　started。　We　drove　along　all
right；　I　even　forgot　about　the　axe。　Well；　we　were　getting　near
the　village；　only　about　four　miles　more　to　go。　The　way　from　the
cross…road　to　the　high　road　was　up　hill；　and　I　got　out。　I　walked
behind　the　sledge　and　HE　whispers　to　me；　'What　are　you　thinking
about？　When　you　get　to　the　top　of　the　hill　you　will　meet　people
along　the　highway；　and　then　there　will　be　the　village。　He　will
carry　the　money　away。　If　you　mean　to　do　it；　now's　the　time。'　I
stooped　over　the　sledge　as　if　to　arrange　the　straw；　and　the　axe
seemed　to　jump　into　my　hand　of　itself。　The　man　turned　round。
'What　are　you　doing？'　I　lifted　the　axe　and　tried　to　knock　him
down；　but　he　was　quick；　jumped　out；　and　took　hold　of　my　hands。
'What　are　you　doing；　you　villain？'　He　threw　me　down　into　the
snow；　and　I　did　not　even　struggle；　but　gave　in　at　once。　He　bound
my　arms　with　his　girdle；　and　threw　me　into　the　sledge；　and　took
me　straight　to　the　police　station。　I　was　imprisoned　and　tried。
The　commune　gave　me　a　good　character；　said　that　I　was　a　good　man；
and　that　nothing　wrong　had　been　noticed　about　me。　The　masters　for
whom　I　worked　also　spoke　well　of　me；　but　we　had　no　money　to
engage　a　lawyer；　and　so　I　was　condemned　to　four　years'　hard
labour。〃

It　was　this　man　who；　wishing　to　save　a　fellow…villager；　knowing
that　he　was　risking　his　life　thereby；　told　Nekhludoff　the
prisoner's　secret；　for　doing　which　（if　found　out）　he　should
certainly　be　throttled。


CHAPTER　XI。

MASLOVA　AND　HER　COMPANIONS。

The　political　prisoners　were　kept　in　two　small　rooms；　the　doors
of　which　opened　into　a　part　of　the　passage　partitioned　off　from
the　rest。　The　first　person　Nekhludoff　saw　on　entering　into　this
part　of　the　passage　was　Simonson　in　his　rubber　jacket　and　with　a
log　of　pine　wood　in　his　hands；　crouching　in　front　of　a　stove；　the
door　of　which　trembled；　drawn　in　by　the　heat　inside。

When　he　saw　Nekhludoff　he　looked　up　at　him　from　under　his
protruding　brow；　and　gave　him　his　hand　without　rising。

〃I　am　glad　you　have　come；　I　want　to　speak　to　you；〃　he　said；
looking　Nekhludoff　straight　in　the　eyes　with　an　expression　of
importance。

〃Yes；　what　is　it？〃　Nekhludoff　asked。

〃It　will　do　later　on；　I　am　busy　just　now；〃　and　Simonson　turned
again　towards　the　stove；　which　he　was　heating　according　to　a
theory　of　his　own；　so　as　to　lose　as　little　heat　energy　as
possible。

Nekhludoff　was　going　to　enter　in　at　the　first　door；　when　Maslova；
stooping　and　pushing　a　large　heap　of　rubbish　and　dust　towards　the
stove　with　a　handleless　birch　broom；　came　out　of　the　other。　She
had　a　white　jacket　on；　her　skirt　was　tucked　up；　and　a　kerchief；
drawn　down　to　her　eyebrows；　protected　her　hair　from　the　dust。
When　she　saw　Nekhludoff；　she　drew　herself　up；　flushing　and
animated；　put　down　the　broom；　wiped　her　hands　on　her　skirt；　and
stopped　right　in　front　of　him。　〃You　are　tidying　up　the
apartments；　I　see；〃　said　Nekhludoff；　shaking　hands。

〃Yes；　my　old　occupation；〃　and　she　smiled。　〃But　the　dirt！　You
can't　imagine　what　it　is。　We　have　been　cleaning　and　cleaning。
Well；　is　the　plaid　dry？〃　she　asked；　turning　to　Simonson。

〃Almost；〃　Simonson　answered；　giving　her　a　strange　look；　which
struck　Nekhludoff。

〃All　right；　I'll　come　for　it；　and　will　bring　the　cloaks　to　dry。
Our　people　are　all　in　here；〃　she　said　to　Nekhludoff；　pointing　to
the　first　door　as　she　went　out　of　the　second。

Nekhludoff　opened　the　door　and　entered　a　small　room　dimly　lit　by
a　little　metal　lamp；　which　was　standing　low　down　on　the　shelf
bedstead。　It　was　cold　in　the　room；　and　there　was　a　smell　of　the
dust；　which　had　not　had　time　to　settle；　damp　and　tobacco　smoke。

Only　those　who　were　close　to　the　lamp　were　clearly　visible；　the
bedsteads　were　in　the　shade　and　wavering　shadows　glided　over　the
walls。　Two　men；　appointed　as　caterers；　who　had　gone　to　fetch
boiling　water　and　provisions；　were　away；　most　of　the　political
prisoners　were　gathered　together　in　the　small　room。　There　was
Nekhludoff's　old　acquaintance；　Vera　Doukhova；　with　her　large；
frightened　eyes；　and　the　swollen　vein　on　her　forehead；　in　a　grey
jacket　with　short　hair；　and　thinner　and　yellower　than　ever。。　She
had　a　newspaper　spread　out　in　front　of　her；　and　sat　rolling
cigarettes　with　a　jerky　movement　of　her　hands。

Emily　Rintzeva；　whom　Nekhludoff　considered　to　be　the　pleasantest
of　the　political　prisoners；　was　also　here。　She　looked　after　the
housekeeping；　and　managed　to　spread　a　feeling　of　home　comfort
even　in　the　midst　of　the　most　trying　surroundings。　She　sat　beside
the　lamp；　with　her　sleeves　rolled　up；　wiping　cups　and　mugs；　and
placing　them；　with　her　deft；　red　and　sunburnt　hands；　on　a　cloth
that　was　spread　on　the　bedstead。　Rintzeva　was　a　plain…looking
young　woman；　with　a　clever　and　mild　expression　of　face；　which；
when　she　smiled；　had　a　way　of　suddenly　becoming　merry；　animated
and　captivating。　It　was　with　such　a　smile　that　she　now　welcomed
Nekhludoff。

〃Why；　we　thought　you　had　gone　back　to　Russia；〃　she　said。

Here　in　a　dark　corner　was　also　Mary　Pavlovna；　busy　with　a　little；
fair…haired　girl；　who　kept　prattling　in　her　sweet；　childish
accents。

〃How　nice　that　you　have　come；〃　she　said　to　Nekhludoff。

Have　you　seen　Katusha？　And　we　have　a　visitor　here；〃　and　she
pointed　to　the　little　girl。

Here　was　also　Anatole　Kryltzoff　with　felt　boots　on；　sitting　in　a
far　corner　with　his　feet　under　him；　doubled　up　and　shivering；　his
arms　folded　in　the　sleeves　of　his　cloak；　and　looking　at
Nekhludoff　with　feverish　eyes。　Nekhludoff　was　going　up　to　him；
but　to　the　right　of　the　door　a　man　with　spectacles　and　reddish
curls；　dressed　in　a　rubber　jacket；　sat　talking　to　the　pretty；
smiling　Grabetz。　This　was　the　celebrated　revolutionist
Novodvoroff。　Nekhludoff　hastened　to　greet　him。　He　was　in　a
particular　hurry　about　it；　because　this　man　was　the　only　one
among　all　the　political　prisoners　whom　he　disliked。　Novodvoroff's
eyes　glistened　through　his　spectacles　as　he　looked　at　Nekhludoff
and　held　his　narrow　hand　out　to　him。

〃Well；　are　you　having　a　pleasant　journey？〃　he　asked；　with
apparent　irony。

〃Yes；　there　is　much　that　is　interesting；〃　Nekhludoff　answered；　as
if　he　did　not　notice　the　irony；　but　took　the　question　for
politeness；　and　passed　on　to　Kryltzoff。

Though　Nekhludoff　appeared　indifferent；　he　was　really　far　from
indifferent；　and　these　words　of　Novodvoroff；　showing　his　evident
desire　to　say　or　do　something　unpleasant；　interfered　with　the
state　of　kindness　in　which　Nekhludoff　found　himself；　and　he　felt
depressed　and　sad。

〃Well；　how　are　you？〃　he　asked；　pressing　Kryltzoff's　cold　and
trembling　hand。

〃Pretty　well；　only　I　cannot　get　warm；　I　got　wet　through；〃
Kryltzoff　answered；　quickly　replacing　his　hands　into　the　sleeves
of　his　cloak。　〃And　here　it　is　also　beastly　cold。　There；　look；　the
window…panes　are　broken；〃　and　he　pointed　to　the　br