would be to keep away froth the advocate's literary evening； and
the circle of the men of science； art； and literature。
The laugh with which the advocate met Nekhludoff's remark that
trials could have no meaning if the judges might enforce the laws
or not； according to their notion； and the tone with which he
pronounced the words 〃philosophy〃 and 〃general questions〃 proved
to Nekhludoff how very differently he and the advocate and；
probably； the advocate's friends； looked at things； and he felt
that in spite of the distance that now existed between himself
and his former companions； Schonbock； etc。； the difference
between himself and the circle of the advocate and his friends
was still greater。
CHAPTER XII。
WHY THE PEASANTS FLOCK TO TOWN。
The prison was a long way off and it was getting late； so
Nekhludoff took an isvostchik。 The isvostchik； a middle…aged man
with an intelligent and kind face； turned round towards
Nekhludoff as they were driving along one of the streets and
pointed to a huge house that was being built there。
〃Just see what a tremendous house they have begun to build；〃 he
said； as if he was partly responsible for the building of the
house and proud of it。 The house was really immense and was being
built in a very original style。 The strong pine beams of the
scaffolding were firmly fixed together with iron bands and a
plank wall separated the building from the street。
On the boards of the scaffolding workmen； all bespattered with
plaster； moved hither and thither like ants。 Some were laying
bricks； some hewing stones； some carrying up the heavy hods and
pails and bringing them down empty。 A fat and finely…dressed
gentlemanprobably the architectstood by the scaffolding；
pointing upward and explaining something to a contractor； a
peasant from the Vladimir Government； who was respectfully
listening to him。 Empty carts were coming out of the gate by
which the architect and the contractor were standing； and loaded
ones were going in。 〃And how sure they all arethose that do the
work as well as those that make them do itthat it ought to be；
that while their wives at home； who are with child； are labouring
beyond their strength； and their children with the patchwork
caps； doomed soon to the cold grave； smile with suffering and
contort their little legs； they must be building this stupid and
useless palace for some stupid and useless personone of those
who spoil and rob them；〃 Nekhludoff thought； while looking at the
house。
〃Yes； it is a stupid house；〃 he said； uttering his thought out
aloud。
〃Why stupid？〃 replied the isvostchik； in an offended tone。
〃Thanks to it； the people get work； it's not stupid。〃
〃But the work is useless。〃
〃It can't be useless； or why should it be done？〃 said the
isvostchik。 〃The people get bread by it。〃
Nekhludoff was silent； and it would have been difficult to talk
because of the clatter the wheels made。
When they came nearer the prison； and the isvostchik turned off
the paved on to the macadamised road； it became easier to talk；
and he again turned to Nekhludoff。
〃And what a lot of these people are flocking to the town
nowadays； it's awful；〃 he said； turning round on the box and
pointing to a party of peasant workmen who were coming towards
them； carrying saws； axes； sheepskins； coats； and bags strapped
to their shoulders。
〃More than in other years？〃 Nekhludoff asked。
〃By far。 This year every place is crowded； so that it's just
terrible。 The employers just fling the workmen about like chaff。
Not a job to be got。〃
〃Why is that？〃
〃They've increased。 There's no room for them。〃
〃Well； what if they have increased？ Why do not they stay in the
village？〃
〃There's nothing for them to do in the villageno land to be
had。〃
Nekhludoff felt as one does when touching a sore place。 It feels
as if the bruised part was always being hit； yet it is only
because the place is sore that the touch is felt。
〃Is it possible that the same thing is happening everywhere？〃 he
thought； and began questioning the isvostchik about the quantity
of land in his village； how much land the man himself had； and
why he had left the country。
〃We have a desiatin per man； sir；〃 he said。 〃Our family have
three men's shares of the land。 My father and a brother are at
home； and manage the land； and another brother is serving in the
army。 But there's nothing to manage。 My brother has had thoughts
of coming to Moscow； too。〃
〃And cannot land be rented？
〃How's one to rent it nowadays？ The gentry； such as they were；
have squandered all theirs。 Men of business have got it all into
their own hands。 One can't rent it from them。 They farm it
themselves。 We have a Frenchman ruling in our place； he bought
the estate from our former landlord； and won't let itand
there's an end of it。〃
〃Who's that Frenchman？〃
〃Dufour is the Frenchman's name。 Perhaps you've heard of him。 He
makes wigs for the actors in the big theatre； it is a good
business； so he's prospering。 He bought it from our lady； the
whole of the estate； and now he has us in his power； he just
rides on us as he pleases。 The Lord be thanked； he is a good man
himself； only his wife； a Russian； is such a brute thatGod have
mercy on us。 She robs the people。 It's awful。 Well； here's the
prison。 Am I to drive you to the entrance？ I'm afraid they'll not
let us do it； though。〃
CHAPTER XIII。
NURSE MASLOVA。
When he rang the bell at the front entrance Nekhludoff's heart
stood still with horror as he thought of the state he might find
Maslova in to…day； and at the mystery that he felt to be in her
and in the people that were collected in the prison。 He asked the
jailer who opened the door for Maslova。 After making the
necessary inquiry the jailer informed him that she was in the
hospital。 Nekhludoff went there。 A kindly old man； the hospital
doorkeeper； let him in at once and； after asking Nekhludoff whom
he wanted； directed him to the children's ward。 A young doctor
saturated with carbolic acid met Nekhludoff in the passage and
asked him severely what he wanted。 This doctor was always making
all sorts of concessions to the prisoners； and was therefore
continually coming into conflict with the prison authorities and
even with the head doctor。 Fearing lest Nekhludoff should demand
something unlawful； and wishing to show that he made no
exceptions for any one； he pretended to be cross。 〃There are no
women here； it is the children's ward；〃 he said。
〃Yes； I know； but a prisoner has been removed here to be an
assistant nurse。〃
〃Yes； there are two such here。 Then whom do you want？〃
〃I am closely connected with one of them； named Maslova；〃
Nekhludoff answered； 〃and should like to speak to her。 I am going
to Petersburg to hand in an appeal to the Senate about her case
and should like to give her this。 It is only a photo；〃 Nekhludoff
said； taking an envelope out of his pocket。
〃All right； you may do that；〃 said the doctor； relenting； and
turning to an old woman with a white apron； he told her to call
the prisonerNurse Maslova。
〃Will you take a seat； or go into the waiting…room？
〃Thanks；〃 said Nekhludoff； and profiting by the favourable change
in the manner of the doctor towards him asked how they were
satisfied with Maslova in the hospital。
〃Oh； she is all right。 She works fairly well； if you the
conditions of her former life into account。 But here she is。〃
The old nurse came in at one of the doors； followed by Maslova；
who wore a blue striped dress； a white apron； a kerchief that
quite covered her hair。 When she saw Nekhludoff her face flushed；
and she stopped as if hesitating； then frowned； and with downcast
eyes went quickly towards him along the strip of carpet in the
middle of the passage。 When she came up to Nekhludoff she did not
wish to give him her hand； and then gave it； growing redder
still。 Nekhludoff had not seen her since the day when she begged
forgiveness for having been in a passion； and he expected to find
her the same as she was then。 But to…day she quite different。
There was something new in the expression of her face； reserve
and shyness； and； as it seemed to him； animosity towards him。 He
told her what he had already said to the doctor； i。e。； that he
was going to Petersburg； and he handed her the envelope with the
photograph which he had brought from Panovo。
〃I found this in Panovoit's an old photo； perhaps you would like
it。 Take it。〃
Lifting her dark eyebrows； she looked at him with surprise in her
squinting eyes； as if asking； 〃What is this for？〃 took the photo
silently and put it in the bib of her apron
〃I saw your aunt there；〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃Did you？〃 she said； indifferently。
〃Are you all right here？〃 Nekhludoff asked。
〃Oh； yes； it's all right；〃 she said。
〃Not too difficult？〃
〃Oh； no。 But I am not used to it yet。〃
〃I am glad； for your sake。 Anyhow； it is better than there。〃
〃Than wherethere？〃 she asked； her face flushing again。
〃Therein the prison；〃 Nekhludoff hurriedly answered。
〃Why better？〃 she asked。
〃I think the people are better。 Here are none such as there must
be there。〃
〃There are many good ones there；〃 she said。
〃I have been seeing about the Menshoffs； and hope they will be
liberated；〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃God grant they may。 Such a splendid old woman；〃 she said； again
repeating her opinion of the old woman； and slightly smiling。
〃I am going to Petersburg to…day。 Your case will come on soon；
and I hope the sentence will be repealed。〃
〃Whether it is repealed or not won't matter now；〃 she said。
〃Why not now？〃
〃So；〃 she said； looking with a quick； questioning glance into his
eyes。
Nekhludoff understood the word and the look to mean that she
wished to know whether he still kept firm to his decision or had
accepted her refusal。
〃I do not know why it does not matter to you；〃 he said。 〃It
certainly does not matter as far as I am concerned whether you
are acquitted or not。 I am ready to do what I told you in any
case；〃 he said decidedly。
She lifted her head and her black squinting eyes remained fixed
on him and beyond him； and her face beamed with joy。 But the
words she spoke were very different fr