room and walked up to her father with her head turned towards
Nekhludoff； and her eyes fixed on him。
〃There； now； you'll fall down；〃 said the inspector； smiling； as
the little girl ran up to him； and； not looking where she was
going； caught her foot in a little rug。
〃Well； then； if I may； I shall go。〃
〃It's not very convenient to see Maslova to…day；〃 said the
inspector。
〃How's that？〃
〃Well； you know； it's all your own fault；〃 said the inspector；
with a slight smile。 〃Prince； give her no money into her hands。
If you like； give it me。 I will keep it for her。 You see； you
gave her some money yesterday； she got some spirits （it's an evil
we cannot manage to root out）； and to…day she is quite tipsy；
even violent。〃
〃Can this be true？〃
〃Oh； yes； it is。 I have even been obliged to have recourse to
severe measures； and to put her into a separate cell。 She is a
quiet woman in an ordinary way。 But please do not give her any
money。 These people are so〃 What had happened the day before
came vividly back to Nekhludoff's mind； and again he was seized
with fear。
〃And Doukhova； a political prisoner； might I see her？〃
〃Yes； if you like；〃 said the inspector。 He embraced the little
girl； who was still looking at Nekhludoff； got up； and； tenderly
motioning her aside； went into the ante…room。 Hardly had he got
into the overcoat which the maid helped him to put on； and before
he had reached the door； the distinct sounds of Clementi's
roulades again began。
〃She entered the Conservatoire； but there is such disorder there。
She has a great gift；〃 said the inspector； as they went down the
stairs。 〃She means to play at concerts。〃
The inspector and Nekhludoff arrived at the prison。 The gates
were instantly opened as they appeared。 The jailers； with their
fingers lifted to their caps； followed the inspector with their
eyes。 Four men； with their heads half shaved； who were carrying
tubs filled with something； cringed when they saw the inspector。
One of them frowned angrily； his black eyes glaring。
〃Of course a talent like that must be developed； it would not do
to bury it； but in a small lodging； you know； it is rather hard。〃
The inspector went on with the conversation； taking no notice of
the prisoners。
〃Who is it you want to see？〃
〃Doukhova。〃
〃Oh； she's in the tower。 You'll have to wait a little；〃 he said。
〃Might I not meanwhile see the prisoners Menshoff； mother and
son； who are accused of incendiarism？〃
〃Oh； yes。 Cell No。 21。 Yes； they can be sent for。〃
〃But might I not see Menshoff in his cell？〃
〃Oh； you'll find the waiting…room more pleasant。〃
〃No。 I should prefer the cell。 It is more interesting。〃
Well； you have found something to be interested in！〃
Here the assistant； a smartly…dressed officer； entered the side
door。
〃Here； see the Prince into Menshoff's cell； No。 21；〃 said the
inspector to his assistant； 〃and then take him to the office。 And
I'll go and callWhat's her name？〃 Vera Doukhova。〃
The inspector's assistant was young； with dyed moustaches； and
diffusing the smell of eau…de…cologne。 〃This way； please；〃 he
said to Nekhludoff； with a pleasant smile。 〃Our establishment
interests you？〃
〃Yes； it does interest me； and； besides； I look upon it as a duty
to help a man who I heard was confined here； though innocent。〃
The assistant shrugged his shoulders。
〃Yes； that may happen；〃 he said quietly； politely stepping aside
to let the visitor enter； the stinking corridor first。 〃But it
also happens that they lie。 Here we are。〃
The doors of the cells were open； and some of the prisoners were
in the corridor。 The assistant nodded slightly to the jailers；
and cast a side glance at the prisoners； who； keeping close to
the wall； crept back to their cells； or stood like soldiers； with
their arms at their sides； following the official with their
eyes。 After passing through one corridor； the assistant showed
Nekhludoff into another to the left； separated from the first by
an iron door。 This corridor was darker； and smelt even worse than
the first。 The corridor had doors on both sides； with little
holes in them about an inch in diameter。 There was only an old
jailer； with an unpleasant face； in this corridor。
〃Where is Menshoff？〃 asked the inspector's assistant。
〃The eighth cell to the left。〃
〃And these？ Are they occupied？〃 asked Nekhludoff。
Yes； all but one。〃
CHAPTER LII。
NO。 21。
〃May I look in？〃 asked Nekhludoff。
〃Oh； certainly；〃 answered the assistant； smiling； and turned to
the jailer with some question。
Nekhludoff looked into one of the little holes； and saw a tall
young man pacing up and down the cell。 When the man heard some
one at the door he looked up with a frown； but continued walking
up and down。
Nekhludoff looked into another hole。 His eye met another large
eye looking out of the hole at him； and he quickly stepped aside。
In the third cell he saw a very small man asleep on the bed；
covered； head and all； with his prison cloak。 In the fourth a
broad…faced man was sitting with his elbows on his knees and his
head low down。 At the sound of footsteps this man raised his head
and looked up。 His face； especially his large eyes； bore the
expression of hopeless dejection。 One could see that it did not
even interest him to know who was looking into his cell。 Whoever
it might be； he evidently hoped for nothing good from him。
Nekhludoff was seized with dread； and went to Menshoff's cell；
No。 21； without stopping to look through any more holes。 The
jailer unlocked the door and opened it。 A young man； with long
neck； well…developed muscles； a small head； and kind； round eyes；
stood by the bed； hastily putting on his cloak； and looking at
the newcomers with a frightened face。 Nekhludoff was specially
struck by the kind； round eyes that were throwing frightened and
inquiring glances in turns at him； at the jailer； and at the
assistant； and back again。
〃Here's a gentleman wants to inquire into your affair。〃
〃Thank you kindly。〃
〃Yes； I was told about you；〃 Nekhludoff said； going through the
cell up to the dirty grated window； 〃and I should like to hear
all about it from yourself。〃
Menshoff also came up to the window； and at once started telling
his story； at first looking shyly at the inspector's assistant；
but growing gradually bolder。 When the assistant left the cell
and went into the corridor to give some order the man grew quite
bold。 The story was told with the accent and in the manner common
to a most ordinary good peasant lad。 To hear it told by a
prisoner dressed in this degrading clothing； and inside a prison；
seemed very strange to Nekhludoff。 Nekhludoff listened； and at
the same time kept looking around himat the low bedstead with
its straw mattress； the window and the dirty； damp wall； and the
piteous face and form of this unfortunate； disfigured peasant in
his prison cloak and shoes； and he felt sadder and sadder； and
would have liked not to believe what this good…natured fellow was
saying。 It seemed too dreadful to think that men could do such a
thing as to take a man； dress him in convict clothes； and put him
in this horrible place without any reason only because he himself
had been injured。 And yet the thought that this seemingly true
story； told with such a good…natured expression on the face；
might be an invention and a lie was still more dreadful。 This was
the story： The village public…house keeper had enticed the young
fellow's wife。 He tried to get justice by all sorts of means。 But
everywhere the public…house keeper managed to bribe the
officials； and was acquitted。 Once； he took his wife back by
force； but she ran away next day。 Then he came to demand her
back； but； though he saw her when he came in； the public…house
keeper told him she was not there； and ordered him to go away。 He
would not go； so the public…house keeper and his servant beat him
so that they drew blood。 The next day a fire broke out in the
public…house； and the young man and his mother were accused of
having set the house on fire。 He had not set it on fire； but was
visiting a friend at the time。
〃And it is true that you did not set it on fire？〃
〃It never entered my head to do it； sir。 It must be my enemy that
did it himself。 They say he had only just insured it。 Then they
said it was mother and I that did it； and that we had threatened
him。 It is true I once did go for him； my heart couldn't stand it
any longer。〃
〃Can this be true？〃
〃God is my witness it is true。 Oh； sir； be so good〃 and
Nekhludoff had some difficulty to prevent him from bowing down to
the ground。 〃You see I am perishing without any reason。〃 His face
quivered and he turned up the sleeve of his cloak and began to
cry； wiping the tears with the sleeve of his dirty shirt。
〃Are you ready？〃 asked the assistant。
〃Yes。 Well； cheer up。 We will consult a good lawyer； and will do
what we can；〃 said Nekhludoff； and went out。 Menshoff stood close
to the door； so that the jailer knocked him in shutting it； and
while the jailer was locking it he remained looking out through
the little hole。
CHAPTER LIII。
VICTIMS OF GOVERNMENT。
Passing back along the broad corridor （it was dinner time； and
the cell doors were open）； among the men dressed in their light
yellow cloaks； short； wide trousers； and prison shoes； who were
looking eagerly at him； Nekhludoff felt a strange mixture of
sympathy for them； and horror and perplexity at the conduct of
those who put and kept them here； and； besides； he felt； he knew
not why； ashamed of himself calmly examining it all。
In one of the corridors； some one ran； clattering with his shoes；
in at the door of a cell。 Several men came out from here； and
stood in Nekhludoff's way； bowing to him。
〃Please； your honour （we don't know what to call you）； get our
affair settled somehow。〃
〃I am not an official。 I know nothing about it。〃
〃Well； anyhow； you come from outside； tell somebodyone of the
authorities； if need be；〃 said an indignant voice。 〃Show some
pity on us； as a human being。 Here we are suffering the second
month for nothing。〃
〃What do you mean？ Why？〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃Why？ We ourselves don't know why； but are sittin