resurrection(复活)- 第84部分

〃I　have　been　allowed　to　go　in　several　times。　If　there　is　any
danger　of　my　passing　anything　in　to　them　I　could　do　it　through
her　just　as　well。'

〃Oh；　no；　she　would　be　searched；〃　said　the　officer；　and　laughed　in
an　unpleasant　manner。

〃Well；　why　not　search　me？〃

〃All　right；　we'll　manage　without　that；〃　said　the　officer；　opening
the　decanter；　and　holding　it　out　towards　Nekhludoff's　tumbler　of
tea。　〃May　I？　No？　Well；　just　as　you　like。　When　you　are　living　here
in　Siberia　you　are　too　glad　to　meet　an　educated　person。　Our　work；
as　you　know；　is　the　saddest；　and　when　one　is　used　to　better
things　it　is　very　hard。　The　idea　they　have　of　us　is　that　convoy
officers　are　coarse；　uneducated　men；　and　no　one　seems　to　remember
that　we　may　have　been　born　for　a　very　different　position。〃

This　officer's　red　face；　his　scents；　his　rings；　and　especially
his　unpleasant　laughter　disgusted　Nekhludoff　very　much；　but
to…day；　as　during　the　whole　of　his　journey；　he　was　in　that
serious；　attentive　state　which　did　not　allow　him　to　behave
slightingly　or　disdainfully　towards　any　man；　but　made　him　feel
the　necessity　of　speaking　to　every　one　〃entirely；〃　as　he
expressed　to　himself；　this　relation　to　men。　When　he　had　heard　the
officer　and　understood　his　state　of　mind；　he　said　in　a　serious
manner：

〃I　think　that　in　your　position；　too；　some　comfort　could　be　found
in　helping　the　suffering　people；〃　he　said。

〃What　are　their　sufferings？　You　don't　know　what　these　people
are。〃

〃They　are　not　special　people；〃　said　Nekhludoff　；　〃they　are　just
such　people　as　others；　and　some　of　them　are　quite　innocent。〃

〃Of　course；　there　are　all　sorts　among　them；　and　naturally　one
pities　them。　Others　won't　let　anything　off；　but　I　try　to　lighten
their　condition　where　I　can。　It's　better　that　I　should　suffer；
but　not　they。　Others　keep　to　the　law　in　every　detail；　even　as　far
as　to　shoot；　but　I　show　pity。　May　I？Take　another；〃　he　said；　and
poured　out　another　tumbler　of　tea　for　Nekhludoff。

〃And　who　is　she；　this　woman　that　you　want　to　see？〃　he　asked。

〃It　is　an　unfortunate　woman　who　got　into　a　brothel；　and　was　there
falsely　accused　of　poisoning；　and　she　is　a　very　good　woman；〃
Nekhludoff　answered。

The　officer　shook　his　head。　〃Yes；　it　does　happen。　I　can　tell　you
about　a　certain　Ernma　who　lived　in　Kasan。　She　was　a　Hungarian　by
birth；　but　she　had　quite　Persian　eyes；〃　he　continued；　unable　to
restrain　a　smile　at　the　recollection；　〃there　was　so　much　chic
about　her　that　a　countess〃

Nekhludoff　interrupted　the　officer　and　returned　to　the　former
topic　of　conversation。

〃I　think　that　you　could　lighten　the　condition　of　the　people　while
they　are　in　your　charge。　And　in　acting　that　way　I　am　sure　you
would　find　great　joy！〃　said　Nekhludoff；　trying　to　pronounce　as
distinctly　as　possible；　as　he　might　if　talking　to　a　foreigner　or
a　child。

The　officer　looked　at　Nekhludoff　impatiently；　waiting　for　him　to
stop　so　as　to　continue　the　tale　about　the　Hungarian　with　Persian
eyes；　who　evidently　presented　herself　very　vividly　to　his
imagination　and　quite　absorbed　his　attention。

〃Yes；　of　course；　this　is　all　quite　true；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　do　pity
them；　but　I　should　like　to　tell　you　about　Emma。　What　do　you　think
she　did？〃

〃It　does　not　interest　me；〃　said　Nekhludoff；　〃and　I　will　tell　you
straight；　that　though　I　was　myself　very　different　at　one　time；　I
now　hate　that　kind　of　relation　to　women。〃

The　officer　gave　Nekhludoff　a　frightened　look。

〃Won't　you　take　some　more　tea？〃　he　said。

〃No；　thank　you。〃

〃Bernoff！〃　the　officer　called；　〃take　the　gentleman　to　Vakouloff。
Tell　him　to　let　him　into　the　separate　political　room。　He　may
remain　there　till　the　inspection。〃


CHAPTER　IX。

THE　POLITICAL　PRISONERS。

Accompanied　by　the　orderly；　Nekhludoff　went　out　into　the
courtyard；　which　was　dimly　lit　up　by　the　red　light　of　the　lamps。

〃Where　to？〃　asked　the　convoy　sergeant；　addressing　the　orderly。

〃Into　the　separate　cell；　No。　5。〃

〃You　can't　pass　here；　the　boss　has　gone　to　the　village　and　taken
the　keys。〃

〃Well；　then；　pass　this　way。〃

The　soldier　led　Nekhludoff　along　a　board　to　another　entrance。
While　still　in　the　yard　Nekhludoff　could　hear　the　din　of　voices
and　general　commotion　going　on　inside　as　in　a　beehive　when　the
bees　are　preparing　to　swarm；　but　when　he　came　nearer　and　the　door
opened　the　din　grew　louder；　and　changed　into　distinct　sounds　of
shouting；　abuse　and　laughter。　He　heard　the　clatter　of　chairs　and
smelt　the　well…known　foul　air。　This　din　of　voices　and　the　clatter
of　the　chairs；　together　with　the　close　smell；　always　flowed　into
one　tormenting　sensation；　and　produced　in　Nekhludoff　a　feeling　of
moral　nausea　which　grew　into　physical　sickness；　the　two　feelings
mingling　with　and　heightening　each　other。

The　first　thing　Nekhludoff　saw；　on　entering；　was　a　large；
stinking　tub。　A　corridor　into　which　several　doors　opened　led　from
the　entrance。　The　first　was　the　family　room；　then　the　bachelors'
room；　and　at　the　very　end　two　small　rooms　were　set　apart　for　the
political　prisoners。

The　buildings；　which　were　arranged　to　hold　one　hundred　and　fifty
prisoners；　now　that　there　were　four　hundred　and　fifty　inside；
were　so　crowded　that　the　prisoners　could　not　all　get　into　the
rooms；　but　filled　the　passage；　too。　Some　were　sitting　or　lying　on
the　floor；　some　were　going　out　with　empty　teapots；　or　bringing
them　back　filled　with　boiling　water。　Among　the　latter　was　Taras。
He　overtook　Nekhludoff　and　greeted　him　affectionately。　The　kind
face　of　Taras　was　disfigured　by　dark　bruises　on　his　nose　and
under　his　eye。

〃What　has　happened　to　you？〃　asked　Nekhludoff。

〃Yes；　something　did　happen；〃　Taras　said；　with　a　smile。

〃All　because　of　the　woman；〃　added　a　prisoner；　who　followed　Taras；
〃he's　had　a　row　with　Blind　Fedka。〃

〃And　how's　Theodosia？〃

〃She's　all　right。　Here　I　am　bringing　her　the　water　for　her　tea；〃
Taras　answered；　and　went　into　the　family　room。

Nekhludoff　looked　in　at　the　door。　The　room　was　crowded　with　women
and　men；　some　of　whom　were　on　and　some　under　the　bedsteads；　it
was　full　of　steam　from　the　wet　clothes　that　were　drying；　and　the
chatter　of　women's　voices　was　unceasing。　The　next　door　led　into
the　bachelors'　room。　This　room　was　still　more　crowded；　even　the
doorway　and　the　passage　in　front　of　it　were　blocked　by　a　noisy
crowd　of　men；　in　wet　garments；　busy　doing　or　deciding　something
or　other。

The　convoy　sergeant　explained　that　it　was　the　prisoner　appointed
to　buy　provisions；　paying　off　out　of　the　food　money　what　was
owing　to　a　sharper　who　had　won　from　or　lent　money　to　the
prisoners；　and　receiving　back　little　tickets　made　of　playing
cards。　When　they　saw　the　convoy　soldier　and　a　gentleman；　those
who　were　nearest　became　silent；　and　followed　them　with　looks　of
ill…will。　Among　them　Nekhludoff　noticed　the　criminal　Fedoroff；
whom　he　knew；　and　who　always　kept　a　miserable　lad　with　a　swelled
appearance　and　raised　eyebrows　beside　him；　and　also　a　disgusting；
noseless；　pock…marked　tramp；　who　was　notorious　among　the
prisoners　because　he　killed　his　comrade　in　the　marshes　while
trying　to　escape；　and　had；　as　it　was　rumoured；　fed　on　his　flesh。
The　tramp　stood　in　the　passage　with　his　wet　cloak　thrown　over　one
shoulder；　looking　mockingly　and　boldly　at　Nekhludoff；　and　did　not
move　out　of　the　way。　Nekhludoff　passed　him　by。

Though　this　kind　of　scene　had　now　become　quite　familiar　to　him；
though　he　had　during　the　last　three　months　seen　these　four
hundred　criminal　prisoners　over　and　over　again　in　many　different
circumstances；　in　the　heat；　enveloped　in　clouds　of　dust　which
they　raised　as　they　dragged　their　chained　feet　along　the　road；
and　at　the　resting　places　by　the　way；　where　the　most　horrible
scenes　of　barefaced　debauchery　had　occurred；　yet　every　time　he
came　among　them；　and　felt　their　attention　fixed　upon　him　as　it
was　now；　shame　and　consciousness　of　his　sin　against　them
tormented　him。　To　this　sense　of　shame　and　guilt　was　added　an
unconquerable　feeling　of　loathing　and　horror。　He　knew　that；
placed　in　a　position　such　as　theirs；　they　could　not　he　other　than
they　were；　and　yet　he　was　unable　to　stifle　his　disgust。

〃It's　well　for　them　do…nothings；〃　Nekhludoff　heard　some　one　say
in　a　hoarse　voice　as　he　approached　the　room　of　the　political
prisoners。　Then　followed　a　word　of　obscene　abuse；　and　spiteful；
mocking　laughter。


CHAPTER　X。

MAKAR　DEVKIN。

When　they　had　passed　the　bachelors'　room　the　sergeant　who
accompanied　Nekhludoff　left　him；　promising　to　come　for　him　before
the　inspection　would　take　place。　As　soon　as　the　sergeant　was　gone
a　prisoner；　quickly　stepping　with　his　bare　feet　and　holding　up
the　chains；　came　close　up　to　Nekhludoff；　enveloping　him　in　the
strong；　acid　smell　of　perspiration；　and　said　in　a　mysterious
whisper：

〃Help　the　lad；　sir；　he's　got　into　an　awful　mess。　Been　drinking。
To…day　he's　given　his　name　as　Karmanoff　at　the　inspection。　Take
his　part；　sir。　We　dare　not；　or　they'll　kill　us；〃　and　looking
uneasily　round　he　turned　away。

This　is　what　had　happened。　The　criminal　Kalmanoff　had　persuaded　a
young　fellow　who　resembled　him　in　appearance　and　was　sentenced　to
exile　to　change　names　with　him　and　go　to　the　mines　instead　of
him；　while　he　only　went　to　exile。　Nekhludoff　knew　all　this。　Some
convict　had　told　him　about　this　exchange　the　week　before。　He
nodded　as　a　sign　that　he　understood　and　would　do　what　was　in　his
power；　and　continued　his　way　without　looking　round。

Nekhludoff　knew　this　convict；　and　was　surprised　by　his　action。
When　in　Ekaterinburg　the　convict　had　asked　Nekhludoff　to　get　a
permission　for　his　wife　to　follow　him。　The　convict　was　a　man　of
medium　size　and　of　the　most　ordinary　peasant　type；　about　thirty
years　old。　He　was　condemned　to　hard　labour　for　an　attempt　to
murder　and　rob。　His　name　was　Makar　Devkin。　His　crime　was　a　very
curious　one。　In　the　account　he　gave　of　it　to　Nekhludoff；　he　said
it　was　not　his　but　his　devil's　doing。　He　said　that　a　traveller
had　come　to　his　father's　house　and　hired　his　sledge　to　drive　him
to　a　village　thirty　miles　off　for　two　roubles。　Makar's　father
told　him　to　drive　the　stranger。　Makar　harnessed　the　horse；
dressed；　and　sat　down　to　drink　tea　with　the　stranger。　The
stranger　related　at　the　tea…table　that　he　was　going　to　be　married
and　had