priest repeated such a great number of times； and whom he praised
with all these curious expressions； had forbidden the very things
that were being done there； that He had prohibited not only this
meaningless much…speaking and the blasphemous incantation over
the bread and wine； but had also； in the clearest words；
forbidden men to call other men their master； and to pray in
temples； and had ordered that every one should pray in solitude；
had forbidden to erect temples； saying that He had come to
destroy them； and that one should worship； not in a temple； but
in spirit and in truth； and； above all； that He had forbidden not
only to judge； to imprison； to torment； to execute men； as was
being done here； but had prohibited any kind of violence； saying
that He had come to give freedom to the captives。
No one present seemed conscious that all that was going on here
was the greatest blasphemy and a supreme mockery of that same
Christ in whose name it was being done。 No one seemed to realise
that the gilt cross with the enamel medallions at the ends； which
the priest held out to the people to be kissed； was nothing but
the emblem of that gallows on which Christ had been executed for
denouncing just what was going on here。 That these priests； who
imagined they were eating and drinking the body and blood of
Christ in the form of bread and wine； did in reality eat and
drink His flesh and His blood； but not as wine and bits of bread；
but by ensnaring 〃these little ones〃 with whom He identified
Himself； by depriving them of the greatest blessings and
submitting them to most cruel torments； and by hiding from men
the tidings of great joy which He had brought。 That thought did
not enter into the mind of any one present。
The priest did his part with a quiet conscience； because he was
brought up from childhood to consider that the only true faith
was the faith which had been held by all the holy men of olden
times and was still held by the Church； and demanded by the State
authorities。 He did not believe that the bread turned into flesh；
that it was useful for the soul to repeat so many words； or that
he had actually swallowed a bit of God。 No one could believe
this； but he believed that one ought to hold this faith。 What
strengthened him most in this faith was the fact that； for
fulfilling the demands of this faith； he had for the last 15
years been able to draw an income； which enabled him to keep his
family； send his son to a gymnasium and his daughter to a school
for the daughters of the clergy。 The deacon believed in the same
manner； and even more firmly than the priest； for he had
forgotten the substance of the dogmas of this faith； and knew
only that the prayers for the dead； the masses； with and without
the acathistus； all had a definite price； which real Christians
readily paid； and； therefore； he called out his 〃have mercy； have
mercy；〃 very willingly； and read and said what was appointed；
with the same quiet certainty of its being necessary to do so
with which other men sell faggots； flour； or potatoes。 The prison
inspector and the warders； though they had never understood or
gone into the meaning of these dogmas and of all that went on in
church； believed that they must believe； because the higher
authorities and the Tsar himself believed in it。 Besides； though
faintly （and themselves unable to explain why）； they felt that
this faith defended their cruel occupations。 If this faith did
not exist it would have been more difficult； perhaps impossible；
for them to use all their powers to torment people； as they were
now doing； with a quiet conscience。 The inspector was such a
kind…hearted man that he could not have lived as he was now
living unsupported by his faith。 Therefore； he stood motionless；
bowed and crossed himself zealously； tried to feel touched when
the song about the cherubims was being sung； and when the
children received communion he lifted one of them； and held him
up to the priest with his own hands。
The great majority of the prisoners believed that there lay a
mystic power in these gilt images； these vestments； candles；
cups； crosses； and this repetition of incomprehensible words；
〃Jesu sweetest〃 and 〃have mercy〃a power through which might be
obtained much convenience in this and in the future life。 Only a
few clearly saw the deception that was practised on the people
who adhered to this faith； and laughed at it in their hearts； but
the majority； having made several attempts to get the
conveniences they desired； by means of prayers； masses； and
candles； and not having got them （their prayers remaining
unanswered）； were each of them convinced that their want of
success was accidental； and that this organisation； approved by
the educated and by archbishops； is very important and necessary；
if not for this； at any rate for the next life。
Maslova also believed in this way。 She felt； like the rest； a
mixed sensation of piety and dulness。 She stood at first in a
crowd behind a railing； so that she could see no one but her
companions； but when those to receive communion moved on； she
and Theodosia stepped to the front； and they saw the inspector；
and； behind him； standing among the warders； a little peasant；
with a very light beard and fair hair。 This was Theodosia's
husband； and he was gazing with fixed eyes at his wife。 During
the acathistus Maslova occupied herself in scrutinising him and
talking to Theodosia in whispers； and bowed and made the sign of
the cross only when every one else did。
CHAPTER XLI。
VISITING DAYTHE MEN'S WARD。
Nekhludoff left home early。 A peasant from the country was still
driving along the side street and calling out in a voice peculiar
to his trade； 〃Milk！ milk！ milk！〃
The first warm spring rain had fallen the day before； and now
wherever the ground was not paved the grass shone green。 The
birch trees in the gardens looked as if they were strewn with
green fluff； the wild cherry and the poplars unrolled their long；
balmy buds； and in shops and dwelling…houses the double
window…frames were being removed and the windows cleaned。
In the Tolkoochi ＇literally； jostling market； where second…hand
clothes and all sorts of cheap goods are sold＇ market； which
Nekhludoff had to pass on his way； a dense crowd was surging
along the row of booths； and tattered men walked about selling
top…boots； which they carried under their arms； and renovated
trousers and waistcoats； which hung over their shoulders。
Men in clean coats and shining boots； liberated from the
factories； it being Sunday； and women with bright silk kerchiefs
on their heads and cloth jackets trimmed with jet； were already
thronging at the door of the traktir。 Policemen； with yellow
cords to their uniforms and carrying pistols； were on duty；
looking out for some disorder which might distract the ennui that
oppressed them。 On the paths of the boulevards and on the
newly…revived grass； children and dogs ran about； playing； and
the nurses sat merrily chattering on the benches。 Along the
streets； still fresh and damp on the shady side； but dry in the
middle； heavy carts rumbled unceasingly； cabs rattled and
tramcars passed ringing by。 The air vibrated with the pealing and
clanging of church bells； that were calling the people to attend
to a service like that which was now being conducted in the
prison。 And the people； dressed in their Sunday best； were
passing on their way to their different parish churches。
The isvostchik did not drive Nekhludoff up to the prison itself；
but to the last turning that led to the prison。
Several personsmen and womenmost of them carrying small
bundles； stood at this turning； about 100 steps from the prison。
To the right there were several low wooden buildings； to the
left； a two…storeyed house with a signboard。 The huge brick
building； the prison proper； was just in front； and the visitors
were not allowed to come up to it。 A sentinel was pacing up and
down in front of it； and shouted at any one who tried to pass
him。
At the gate of the wooden buildings； to the right； opposite the
sentinel； sat a warder on a bench； dressed in uniform； with gold
cords； a notebook in his hands。 The visitors came up to him； and
named the persons they wanted to see； and he put the names down。
Nekhludoff also went up； and named Katerina Maslova。 The warder
wrote down the name。
〃Whydon't they admit us yet？〃 asked Nekhludoff。
〃The service is going on。 When the mass is over； you'll be
admitted。〃
Nekhludoff stepped aside from the waiting crowd。 A man in
tattered clothes； crumpled hat； with bare feet and red stripes
all over his face； detached himself from the crowd； and turned
towards the prison。
〃Now； then； where are you going？〃 shouted the sentinel with the
gun。
〃And you hold your row；〃 answered the tramp； not in the least
abashed by the sentinel's words； and turned back。 〃Well； if
you'll not let me in； I'll wait。 But； no！ Must needs shout； as if
he were a general。〃
The crowd laughed approvingly。 The visitors were； for the greater
part； badly…dressed people； some were ragged； but there were also
some respectable…looking men and women。 Next to Nekhludoff stood
a clean…shaven； stout； and red…cheeked man； holding a bundle；
apparently containing under…garments。 This was the doorkeeper of
a bank； he had come to see his brother； who was arrested for
forgery。 The good…natured fellow told Nekhludoff the whole story
of his life； and was going to question him in turn； when their
attention was aroused by a student and a veiled lady； who drove
up in a trap； with rubber tyres； drawn by a large thoroughbred
horse。 The student was holding a large bundle。 He came up to
Nekhludoff； and asked if and how he could give the rolls he had
brought in alms to the prisoners。 His fiancee wished it （this
lady was his fiancee）； and her parents had advised them to take
some rolls to the prisoners。
〃I myself am here for the first time；〃 said Nekhludoff； 〃and
don't know； but I think you had better ask this man；〃 and he
pointed to the warder with the gold cords and the book； sitting
on the right。
As they were speaking； the large iron door with a window in it
opened； and an officer