noble； high…minded fellow； as he did and had to do to go on
living his life boldly and merrily。 There was only one solution
of the problemi。e。； not to think about it。 He succeeded in doing
so。 The life he was now entering upon； the new surroundings； new
friends； the war； all helped him to forget。 And the longer he
lived； the less he thought about it； until at last he forgot it
completely。
Once only； when； after the war； he went to see his aunts in hopes
of meeting Katusha； and heard that soon after his last visit she
had left； and that his aunts had heard she had been confined
somewhere or other and had gone quite to the bad； his heart
ached。 According to the time of her confinement； the child might
or might not have been his。 His aunts said she had gone wrong；
that she had inherited her mother's depraved nature； and he was
pleased to hear this opinion of his aunts'。 It seemed to acquit
him。 At first he thought of trying to find her and her child； but
then； just because in the depths of his soul he felt so ashamed
and pained when thinking about her； he did not make the necessary
effort to find her； but tried to forget his sin again and ceased
to think about it。 And now this strange coincidence brought it
all back to his memory； and demanded from him the acknowledgment
of the heartless； cruel cowardice which had made it possible for
him to live these nine years with such a sin on his conscience。
But he was still far from such an acknowledgment； and his only
fear was that everything might now be found out； and that she or
her advocate might recount it all and put him to shame before
every one present。
CHAPTER XIX。
THE TRIALRESUMPTION。
In this state of mind Nekhludoff left the Court and went into the
jurymen's room。 He sat by the window smoking all the while； and
hearing what was being said around him。
The merry merchant seemed with all his heart to sympathise with
Smelkoff's way of spending his time。 〃There； old fellow； that was
something like！ Real Siberian fashion！ He knew what he was about；
no fear！ That's the sort of wench for me。〃
The foreman was stating his conviction； that in some way or other
the expert's conclusions were the important thing。 Peter
Gerasimovitch was joking about something with the Jewish clerk；
and they burst out laughing。 Nekhludoff answered all the
questions addressed to him in monosyllables and longed only to be
left in peace。
When the usher； with his sideways gait； called the jury back to
the Court； Nekhludoff was seized with fear； as if he were not
going to judge； but to be judged。 In the depth of his soul he
felt that he was a scoundrel； who ought to be ashamed to look
people in the face； yet； by sheer force of habit； he stepped on
to the platform in his usual self…possessed manner； and sat down；
crossing his legs and playing with his pince…nez。
The prisoners had also been led out； and were now brought in
again。 There were some new faces in the Court witnesses； and
Nekhludoff noticed that Maslova could not take her eyes off a
very fat woman who sat in the row in front of the grating； very
showily dressed in silk and velvet； a high hat with a large bow
on her head； and an elegant little reticule on her arm； which was
bare to the elbow。 This was； as he subsequently found out； one of
the witnesses； the mistress of the establishment to which Maslova
had belonged。
The examination of the witnesses commenced： they were asked their
names； religion； etc。 Then； after some consultation as to whether
the witnesses were to be sworn in or not； the old priest came in
again； dragging his legs with difficulty； and； again arranging
the golden cross on his breast； swore the witnesses and the
expert in the same quiet manner； and with the same assurance that
he was doing something useful and important。
The witnesses having been sworn； all but Kitaeva； the keeper of
the house； were led out again。 She was asked what she knew about
this affair。 Kitaeva nodded her head and the big hat at every
sentence and smiled affectedly。 She gave a very full and
intelligent account； speaking with a strong German accent。 First
of all； the hotel servant Simeon； whom she knew； came to her
establishment on behalf of a rich Siberian merchant； and she sent
Lubov back with him。 After a time Lubov returned with the
merchant。 The merchant was already somewhat intoxicatedshe
smiled as she said thisand went on drinking and treating the
girls。 He was short of money。 He sent this same Lubov to his
lodgings。 He had taken a 〃predilection〃 to her。 She looked at the
prisoner as she said this。
Nekhludoff thought he saw Maslova smile here； and this seemed
disgusting to him。 A strange； indefinite feeling of loathing；
mingled with suffering； arose in him。
〃And what was your opinion of Maslova？〃 asked the blushing and
confused applicant for a judicial post； appointed to act as
Maslova's advocate。
〃Zee ferry pesht；〃 answered Kitaeva。 〃Zee yoong voman is etucated
and elecant。 She was prought up in a coot family and can reat
French。 She tid have a trop too moch sometimes； put nefer forcot
herself。 A ferry coot girl。〃
Katusha looked at the woman； then suddenly turned her eyes on the
jury and fixed them on Nekhludoff； and her face grew serious and
even severe。 One of her serious eyes squinted； and those two
strange eyes for some time gazed at Nekhludoff； who； in spite of
the terrors that seized him； could not take his look off these
squinting eyes； with their bright； clear whites。
He thought of that dreadful night； with its mist； the ice
breaking on the river below； and when the waning moon； with horns
turned upwards； that had risen towards morning； lit up something
black and weird。 These two black eyes now looking at him reminded
him of this weird； black something。 〃She has recognised me；〃 he
thought； and Nekhludoff shrank as if expecting a blow。 But she
had not recognised him。 She sighed quietly and again looked at
the president。 Nekhludoff also sighed。 〃Oh； if it would only get
on quicker；〃 he thought。
He now felt the same loathing and pity and vexation as when； out
shooting； he was obliged to kill a wounded bird。 The wounded bird
struggles in the game bag。 One is disgusted and yet feels pity；
and one is in a hurry to kill the bird and forget it。
Such mixed feelings filled Nekhludoff's breast as he sat
listening to the examination of the witnesses。
CHAPTER XX。
THE TRIALTHE MEDICAL REPORT。
But； as if to spite him； the case dragged out to a great length。
After each witness had been examined separately and the expert
last of all； and a great number of useless questions had been
put； with the usual air of importance； by the public prosecutor
and by both advocates； the president invited the jury to examine
the objects offered as material evidence。 They consisted of an
enormous diamond ring； which had evidently been worn on the first
finger； and a test tube in which the poison had been analysed。
These things had seals and labels attached to them。
Just as the witnesses were about to look at these things； the
public prosecutor rose and demanded that before they did this the
results of the doctor's examination of the body should be read。
The president； who was hurrying the business through as fast as
he could in order to visit his Swiss friend； though he knew that
the reading of this paper could have no other effect than that of
producing weariness and putting off the dinner hour； and that the
public prosecutor wanted it read simply because he knew he had a
right to demand it； had no option but to express his consent。
The secretary got out the doctor's report and again began to read
in his weary lisping voice； making no distinction between the
〃r's〃 and 〃l's。〃
The external examination proved that：
〃1。 Theropont Smelkoff's height was six feet five inches。
〃Not so bad； that。 A very good size；〃 whispered the merchant；
with interest； into Nekhludoff's ear。
2。 He looked about 40 years of age。
3。 The body was of a swollen appearance。
4。 The flesh was of a greenish colour； with dark spots in several
places。
5。 The skin was raised in blisters of different sizes and in
places had come off in large pieces。
6。 The hair was chestnut； it was thick； and separated easily from
the skin when touched。
7。 The eye…balls protruded from their sockets and the cornea had
grown dim。
8。 Out of the nostrils； both ears； and the mouth oozed serous
liquid； the mouth was half open。
9。 The neck had almost disappeared； owing to the swelling of the
face and chest。〃
And so on and so on。
Four pages were covered with the 27 paragraphs describing all the
details of the external examination of the enormous； fat；
swollen； and decomposing body of the merchant who had been making
merry in the town。 The indefinite loathing that Nekhludoff felt
was increased by the description of the corpse。 Katusha's life；
and the scrum oozing from the nostrils of the corpse； and the
eyes that protruded out of their sockets； and his own treatment
of herall seemed to belong to the same order of things； and he
felt surrounded and wholly absorbed by things of the same nature。
When the reading of the report of the external examination was
ended； the president heaved a sigh and raised his hand； hoping it
was finished； but the secretary at once went on to the
description of the internal examination。 The president's head
again dropped into his hand and he shut his eyes。 The merchant
next to Nekhludoff could hardly keep awake； and now and then his
body swayed to and fro。 The prisoners and the gendarmes sat
perfectly quiet。
The internal examination showed that：
〃1。 The skin was easily detachable from the bones of the skull；
and there was no coagulated blood。
〃2。 The bones of the skull were of average thickness and in sound
condition。
〃3。 On the membrane of the brain there were two discoloured
spots about four inches long； the membrane itself being of a dull
white。〃 And so on for 13 paragraphs more。 Then followed the names
and signatures of the assistants； and the doctor's conclusion
showing that the changes observed in the stomach； and to a lesser
degree in the bowels and kidneys； at the postm