and up a staircase into the office。 He offered them a seat and
asked what he could do for them； and when he heard that
Nekhludoff would like to see Maslova at once； he sent a jailer to
fetch her。 Then he prepared himself to answer the questions which
the Englishman began to put to him； Nekhludoff acting as
interpreter。
〃How many persons is the prison built to hold？〃 the Englishman
asked。 〃How many are confined in it？ How many men？ How many
women？ Children？ How many sentenced to the mines？ How many
exiles？ How many sick persons？〃
Nekhludoff translated the Englishman's and the inspector's words
without paying any attention to their meaning； and felt an
awkwardness he had not in the least expected at the thought of
the impending interview。 When； in the midst of a sentence he was
translating for the Englishman； he heard the sound of approaching
footsteps； and the office door opened； and； as had happened many
times before； a jailer came in； followed by Katusha； and he saw
her with a kerchief tied round her head； and in a prison jacket a
heavy sensation came over him。 〃I wish to live； I want a family；
children； I want a human life。〃 These thoughts flashed through
his mind as she entered the room with rapid steps and blinking
her eyes。
He rose and made a few steps to meet her； and her face appeared
hard and unpleasant to him。 It was again as it had been at the
time when she reproached him。 She flushed and turned pale； her
fingers nervously twisting a corner of her jacket。 She looked up
at him； then cast down her eyes。
〃You know that a mitigation has come？〃
〃Yes； the jailer told me。〃
〃So that as soon as the original document arrives you may come
away and settle where you like。 We shall consider〃
She interrupted him hurriedly。 〃What have I to consider？ Where
Valdemar Simonson goes； there I shall follow。〃 In spite of the
excitement she was in she raised her eyes to Nekhludoff's and
pronounced these words quickly and distinctly； as if she had
prepared what she had to say。
〃Indeed！〃
〃Well； Dmitri Ivanovitch； you see he wishes me to live with
him〃 and she stopped； quite frightened； and corrected herself。
〃He wishes me to be near him。 What more can I desire？ I must look
upon it as happiness。 What else is there for me〃
〃One of two things；〃 thought he。 〃Either she loves Simonson and
does not in the least require the sacrifice I imagined I was
bringing her； or she still loves me and refuses me for my own
sake； and is burning her ships by uniting her fate with
Simonson。〃 And Nekhludoff felt ashamed and knew that he was
blushing。
〃And you yourself； do you love him？〃 he asked。
〃Loving or not loving； what does it matter？ I have given up all
that。 And then Valdemar Simonson is quite an exceptional man。〃
〃Yes； of course；〃 Nekhludoff began。 〃He is a splendid man； and I
think〃
But she again interrupted him； as if afraid that he might say too
much or that she should not say all。 〃No； Dmitri Ivanovitch； you
must forgive me if I am not doing what you wish；〃 and she looked
at him with those unfathomable； squinting eyes of hers。 〃Yes； it
evidently must be so。 You must live； too。〃
She said just what he had been telling himself a few moments
before； but he no longer thought so now and felt very
differently。 He was not only ashamed； but felt sorry to lose all
he was losing with her。 〃I did not expect this；〃 he said。
〃Why should you live here and suffer？ You have suffered enough。〃
〃I have not suffered。 It was good for me； and I should like to go
on serving you if I could。〃
〃We do not want anything；〃 she said； and looked at him。
〃You have done so much for me as it is。 If it had not been for
you〃 She wished to say more； but her voice trembled。
〃You certainly have no reason to thank me；〃 Nekhludoff said。
〃Where is the use of our reckoning？ God will make up our
accounts；〃 she said； and her black eyes began to glisten with the
tears that filled them。
〃What a good woman you are；〃 he said。
〃I good？〃 she said through her tears； and a pathetic smile lit up
her face。
〃Are you ready？〃 the Englishman asked。
〃Directly；〃 replied Nekhludoff and asked her about Kryltzoff。
She got over her emotion and quietly told him all she knew。
Kryltzoff was very weak and had been sent into the infirmary。
Mary Pavlovna was very anxious； and had asked to be allowed to go
to the infirmary as a nurse； but could not get the permission。
〃Am I to go？〃 she asked； noticing that the Englishman was
waiting。
〃I will not say good…bye； I shall see you again；〃 said
Nekhludoff； holding out his hand。
〃Forgive me；〃 she said so low that he could hardly hear her。
Their eyes met； and Nekhludoff knew by the strange look of her
squinting eyes and the pathetic smile with which she said not
〃Good…bye〃 but 〃Forgive me；〃 that of the two reasons that might
have led to her resolution； the second was the real one。 She
loved him； and thought that by uniting herself to him she would
be spoiling his life。 By going with Simonson she thought she
would be setting Nekhludoff free； and felt glad that she had done
what she meant to do； and yet she suffered at parting from him。
She pressed his hand； turned quickly and left the room。
Nekhludoff was ready to go； but saw that the Englishman was
noting something down； and did not disturb him； but sat down on a
wooden seat by the wall； and suddenly a feeling of terrible
weariness came over him。 It was not a sleepless night that had
tired him； not the journey； not the excitement； but he felt
terribly tired of living。 He leaned against the back of the
bench； shut his eyes and in a moment fell into a deep； heavy
sleep。
〃Well； would you like to look round the cells now？〃 the inspector
asked。
Nekhludoff looked up and was surprised to find himself where he
was。 The Englishman had finished his notes and expressed a wish
to see the cells。
Nekhludoff； tired and indifferent； followed him。
CHAPTER XXVI。
THE ENGLISH VISITOR。
When they had passed the anteroom and the sickening； stinking
corridor； the Englishman and Nekhludoff； accompanied by the
inspector； entered the first cell； where those sentenced to hard
labour were confined。 The beds took up the middle of the cell and
the prisoners were all in bed。 There were about 70 of them。 When
the visitors entered all the prisoners jumped up and stood beside
the beds； excepting two； a young man who was in a state of high
fever； and an old man who did nothing but groan。
The Englishman asked if the young man had long been ill。 The
inspector said that he was taken ill in the morning； but that the
old man had long been suffering with pains in the stomach； but
could not be removed； as the infirmary had been overfilled for a
long time。 The Englishman shook his head disapprovingly； said he
would like to say a few words to these people； asking Nekhludoff
to interpret。 It turned out that besides studying the places of
exile and the prisons of Siberia； the Englishman had another
object in view； that of preaching salvation through faith and by
the redemption。
〃Tell them；〃 he said； 〃that Christ died for them。 If they believe
in this they shall be saved。〃 While he spoke； all the prisoners
stood silent with their arms at their sides。 〃This book； tell
them；〃 he continued； 〃says all about it。 Can any of them read？〃
There were more than 20 who could。
The Englishman took several bound Testaments out of a hang…bag；
and many strong hands with their hard； black nails stretched out
from beneath the coarse shirt…sleeves towards him。 He gave away
two Testaments in this cell。
The same thing happened in the second cell。 There was the same
foul air； the same icon hanging between the windows； the same tub
to the left of the door； and they were all lying side by side
close to one another； and jumped up in the same manner and stood
stretched full length with their arms by their sides； all but
three； two of whom sat up and one remained lying； and did not
even look at the newcomers； these three were also ill。 The
Englishman made the same speech and again gave away two books。
In the third room four were ill。 When the Englishman asked why
the sick were not put all together into one cell； the inspector
said that they did not wish it themselves； that their diseases
were not infectious； and that the medical assistant watched them
and attended to them。
〃He has not set foot here for a fortnight；〃 muttered a voice。
The inspector did not say anything and led the way to the next
cell。 Again the door was unlocked； and all got up and stood
silent。 Again the Englishman gave away Testaments。 It was the
same in the fifth and sixth cells； in those to the right and
those to the left。
From those sentenced to hard labour they went on to the exiles。
From the exiles to those evicted by the Commune and those who
followed of their own free will。
Everywhere men； cold； hungry； idle； infected； degraded；
imprisoned； were shown off like wild beasts。
The Englishman； having given away the appointed number of
Testaments； stopped giving any more； and made no speeches。 The
oppressing sight； and especially the stifling atmosphere； quelled
even his energy； and he went from cell to cell； saying nothing
but 〃All right〃 to the inspector's remarks about what prisoners
there were in each cell。
Nekhludoff followed as in a dream； unable either to refuse to go
on or to go away； and with the same feelings of weariness and
hopelessness。
CHAPTER XXVII。
KRYLTZOFF AT REST。
In one of the exiles' cells Nekhludoff； to his surprise；
recognised the strange old man he had seen crossing the ferry
that morning。 This old man was sitting on the floor by the beds；
barefooted； with only a dirty cinder…coloured shirt on； torn on
one shoulder； and similar trousers。 He looked severely and
enquiringly at the newcomers。 His emaciated body； visible through
the holes of his shirt； looked miserably weak； but in his face
was even more concentrated seriousness and animation than when
Nekhludoff saw him crossing the ferry。 As in all the other cells；
so here also the prisoners jumped up and stood erect when the
official entered； but the old man remained sitting。 His eyes
glittered