why she had been doing all these strange things； and why she was
now telling all this to him。 He pitied her； but not as he had
pitied Menshoff； the peasant； kept for no fault of his own in the
stinking prison。 She was pitiable because of the confusion that
filled her mind。 It was clear that she considered herself a
heroine； and was ready to give her life for a cause； though she
could hardly have explained what that cause was and in what its
success would lie。
The business that Vera Doukhova wanted to see Nekhludoff about
was the following： A friend of hers； who had not even belonged to
their 〃sub…group；〃 as she expressed it； had been arrested with
her about five months before； and imprisoned in the
Petropavlovsky fortress because some prohibited books and papers
（which she had been asked to keep） had been found in her
possession。 Vera Doukhova felt herself in some measure to blame
for her friend's arrest； and implored Nekhludoff； who had
connections among influential people； to do all he could in order
to set this friend free。
Besides this； Doukhova asked him to try and get permission for
another friend of hers； Gourkevitch （who was also imprisoned in
the Petropavlovsky fortress）； to see his parents； and to procure
some scientific books which he required for his studies。
Nekhludoff promised to do what he could when he went to
Petersburg。
As to her own story； this is what she said： Having finished a
course of midwifery； she became connected with a group of
adherents to the Nardovolstvo； and made up her mind to agitate in
the revolutionary movement。 At first all went on smoothly。 She
wrote proclamations and occupied herself with propaganda work in
the factories； then； an important member having been arrested；
their papers were seized and all concerned were arrested。 〃I was
also arrested； and shall be exiled。 But what does it matter？ I
feel perfectly happy。〃 She concluded her story with a piteous
smile。
Nekhludoff made some inquiries concerning the girl with the
prominent eyes。 Vera Doukhova told him that this girl was the
daughter of a general； and had been long attached to the
revolutionary party； and was arrested because she had pleaded
guilty to having shot a gendarme。 She lived in a house with some
conspirators； where they had a secret printing press。 One night；
when the police came to search this house； the occupiers resolved
to defend themselves； put out the light； and began destroying the
things that might incriminate them。 The police forced their way
in； and one of the conspirators fired； and mortally wounded a
gendarme。 When an inquiry was instituted； this girl said that it
was she who had fired； although she had never had a revolver in
her hands； and would not have hurt a fly。 And she kept to it； and
was now condemned to penal servitude in Siberia。
〃An altruistic； fine character；〃 said Vera Doukhova； approvingly。
The third business that Vera Doukhova wanted to talk about
concerned Maslova。 She knew； as everybody does know in prison；
the story of Maslova's life and his connection with her； and
advised him to take steps to get her removed into the political
prisoner's ward； or into the hospital to help to nurse the sick；
of which there were very many at that time； so that extra nurses
were needed。
Nekhludoff thanked her for the advice； and said he would try to
act upon it。
CHAPTER LVI。
NEKHLUDOFF AND THE PRISONERS。
Their conversation was interrupted by the inspector； who said
that the time was up； and the prisoners and their friends must
part。 Nekhludoff took leave of Vera Doukhova and went to the
door； where he stopped to watch what was going on。
The inspector's order called forth only heightened animation
among the prisoners in the room； but no one seemed to think of
going。 Some rose and continued to talk standing； some went on
talking without rising。 A few began crying and taking leave of
each other。 The mother and her consumptive son seemed especially
pathetic。 The young fellow kept twisting his bit of paper and his
face seemed angry； so great were his efforts not to be infected
by his mother's emotion。 The mother； hearing that it was time to
part； put her head on his shoulder and sobbed and sniffed aloud。
The girl with the prominent eyesNekhludoff could not help
watching herwas standing opposite the sobbing mother； and was
saying something to her in a soothing tone。 The old man with the
blue spectacles stood holding his daughter's hand and nodding in
answer to what she said。 The young lovers rose； and； holding each
other's hands； looked silently into one another's eyes。
〃These are the only two who are merry；〃 said a young man with a
short coat who stood by Nekhludoff's side； also looking at those
who were about to part； and pointed to the lovers。 Feeling
Nekhludoff's and the young man's eyes fixed on them； the lovers
the young man with the rubber coat and the pretty girlstretched
out their arms； and with their hands clasped in each other's；
danced round and round again。 〃To…night they are going to be
married here in prison； and she will follow him to Siberia；〃 said
the young man。
〃What is he？〃
〃A convict； condemned to penal servitude。 Let those two at least
have a little joy； or else it is too painful；〃 the young man
added； listening to the sobs of the consumptive lad's mother。
〃Now； my good people！ Please； please do not oblige me to have
recourse to severe measures；〃 the inspector said； repeating the
same words several times over。 〃Do； please；〃 he went on in a
weak； hesitating manner。 〃It is high time。 What do you mean by
it？ This sort of thing is quite impossible。 I am now asking you
for the last time；〃 he repeated wearily； now putting out his
cigarette and then lighting another。
It was evident that； artful； old； and common as were the devices
enabling men to do evil to others without feeling responsible for
it； the inspector could not but feel conscious that he was one of
those who were guilty of causing the sorrow which manifested
itself in this room。 And it was apparent that this troubled him
sorely。 At length the prisoners and their visitors began to
gothe first out of the inner； the latter out of the outer door。
The man with the rubber jacket passed out among them； and the
consumptive youth and the dishevelled man。 Mary Pavlovna went out
with the boy born in prison。
The visitors went out too。 The old man with the blue spectacles；
stepping heavily； went out； followed by Nekhludoff。
〃Yes； a strange state of things this；〃 said the talkative young
man； as if continuing an interrupted conversation； as he
descended the stairs side by side with Nekhludoff。 〃Yet we have
reason to be grateful to the inspector who does not keep strictly
to the rules； kind…hearted fellow。 If they can get a talk it does
relieve their hearts a bit； after all！〃
While talking to the young man； who introduced himself as
Medinzeff； Nekhludoff reached the hall。 There the inspector came
up to them with weary step。
〃If you wish to see Maslova；〃 he said； apparently desiring to be
polite to Nekhludoff； 〃please come to…morrow。〃
〃Very well；〃 answered Nekhludoff； and hurried away； experiencing
more than ever that sensation of moral nausea which he always
felt on entering the prison。
The sufferings of the evidently innocent Menshoff seemed
terrible； and not so much his physical suffering as the
perplexity； the distrust in the good and in God which he must
feel； seeing the cruelty of the people who tormented him without
any reason。
Terrible were the disgrace and sufferings cast on these hundreds
of guiltless people simply because something was not written on
paper as it should have been。 Terrible were the brutalised
jailers； whose occupation is to torment their brothers； and who
were certain that they were fulfilling an important and useful
duty； but most terrible of all seemed this sickly； elderly；
kind…hearted inspector； who was obliged to part mother and son；
father and daughter； who were just the same sort of people as he
and his own children。
〃What is it all for？〃 Nekhludoff asked himself； and could not
find an answer。
CHAPTER LVII。
THE VICE…GOVERNOR'S 〃AT…HOME〃。
The next day Nekhludoff went to see the advocate； and spoke to
him about the Menshoffs' case； begging him to undertake their
defence。 The advocate promised to look into the case； and if it
turned out to be as Nekhludoff said he would in all probability
undertake the defence free of charge。 Then Nekhludoff told him of
the 130 men who were kept in prison owing to a mistake。 〃On whom
did it depend？ Whose fault was it？〃
The advocate was silent for a moment； evidently anxious to give a
correct reply。
〃Whose fault is it？ No one's；〃 he said； decidedly。 〃Ask the
Procureur； he'll say it is the Governor's； ask the Governor；
he'll say it is the Procureur's fault。 No one is in fault。〃
〃I am just going to see the Vice…Governor。 I shall tell him。〃
〃Oh； that's quite useless；〃 said the advocate； with a smile。 〃He
is such ahe is not a relation or friend of yours？such a
blockhead； if I may say so； and yet a crafty animal at the same
time。〃
Nekhludoff remembered what Maslennikoff had said about the
advocate； and did not answer； but took leave and went on to
Maslennikoff's。 He had to ask Maslennikoff two things： about
Maslova's removal to the prison hospital； and about the 130
passportless men innocently imprisoned。 Though it was very hard
to petition a man whom he did not respect； and by whose orders
men were flogged； yet it was the only means of gaining his end；
and he had to go through with it。
As he drove up to Maslennikoff's house Nekhludoff saw a number of
different carriages by the front door； and remembered that it was
Maslennikoff's wife's 〃at…home〃 day； to which he had been
invited。 At the moment Nekhludoff drove up there was a carriage
in front of the door； and a footman in livery； with a cockade in
his hat； was helping a lady down the doorstep。 She was holding up
her train； and showing her thin ankles； black stockings； and
slippered feet。 Among the carriages was a closed landau； which he
knew to be the Korchagins'。
The grey…haired； red…checked coachman took off his