resurrection(复活)-第3章
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could revenge herself on her betrayer and the shopman and all
those who had injured her。 One of the things that tempted her；
and was the cause of her decision； was the woman telling her she
might order her own dressesvelvet； silk； satin； low…necked ball
dresses； anything she liked。 A mental picture of herself in a
bright yellow silk trimmed with black velvet with low neck and
short sleeves conquered her； and she gave up her passport。 On the
same evening the procuress took an isvostchik and drove her to
the notorious house kept by Carolina Albertovna Kitaeva。
From that day a life of chronic sin against human and divine laws
commenced for Katusha Maslova； a life which is led by hundreds of
thousands of women； and which is not merely tolerated but
sanctioned by the Government； anxious for the welfare of its
subjects； a life which for nine women out of ten ends in painful
disease； premature decrepitude； and death。
Katusha Maslova lived this life for seven years。 During these
years she twice changed houses； and had once been to the
hospital。 In the seventh year of this life； when she was
twenty…six years old； happened that for which she was put in
prison and for which she was now being taken to be tried； after
more than three months of confinement with thieves and murderers
in the stifling air of a prison。
CHAPTER III。
NEKHLUDOFF。
When Maslova； wearied out by the long walk； reached the building；
accompanied by two soldiers； Prince Dmitri Ivanovitch Nekhludoff；
who had seduced her； was still lying on his high bedstead； with a
feather bed on the top of the spring mattress； in a fine； clean；
well…ironed linen night shirt； smoking a cigarette； and
considering what he had to do to…day； and what had happened
yesterday。
Recalling the evening he had spent with the Korchagins； a wealthy
and aristocratic family； whose daughter every one expected he
would marry； he sighed； and； throwing away the end of his
cigarette； was going to take another out of the silver case； but；
changing his mind； he resolutely raised his solid frame； and；
putting down his smooth； white legs； stepped into his slippers；
threw his silk dressing gown over his broad shoulders； and passed
into his dressing…room； walking heavily and quickly。 There he
carefully cleaned his teeth； many of which were filled； with
tooth powder； and rinsed his mouth with scented elixir。 After
that he washed his hands with perfumed soap； cleaned his long
nails with particular care； then； from a tap fixed to his marble
washstand； he let a spray of cold water run over his face and
stout neck。 Having finished this part of the business； he went
into a third room； where a shower bath stood ready for him。
Having refreshed his full； white； muscular body； and dried it
with a rough bath sheet； he put on his fine undergarments and his
boots； and sat down before the glass to brush his black beard and
his curly hair； that had begun to get thin above the forehead。
Everything he used； everything belonging to his toilet； his
linen； his clothes； boots； necktie； pin； studs； was of the best
quality； very quiet； simple； durable and costly。
Nekhludoff dressed leisurely； and went into the dining…room。 A
table； which looked very imposing with its four legs carved in
the shape of lions' paws； and a huge side…board to match； stood
in the oblong room； the floor of which had been polished by three
men the day before。 On the table； which was covered with a fine；
starched cloth； stood a silver coffeepot full of aromatic coffee；
a sugar basin； a jug of fresh cream； and a bread basket filled
with fresh rolls； rusks； and biscuits； and beside the plate lay
the last number of the Revue des Deux Mondes； a newspaper； and
several letters。
Nekhludoff was just going to open his letters； when a stout；
middle…aged woman in mourning； a lace cap covering the widening
parting of her hair； glided into the room。 This was Agraphena
Petrovna； formerly lady's maid to Nekhludoff's mother。 Her
mistress had died quite recently in this very house； and she
remained with the son as his housekeeper。 Agraphena Petrovna had
spent nearly ten years； at different times； abroad with
Nekhludoff's mother； and had the appearance and manners of a
lady。 She had lived with the Nekhludoffs from the time she was a
child； and had known Dmitri Ivanovitch at the time when he was
still little Mitinka。
〃Good…morning； Dmitri Ivanovitch。〃
〃Good…morning； Agraphena Petrovna。 What is it you want？〃
Nekhludoff asked。
〃A letter from the princess； either from the mother or the
daughter。 The maid brought it some time ago； and is waiting in my
room；〃 answered Agraphena Petrovna； handing him the letter with a
significant smile。
〃All right！ Directly！〃 said Nekhludoff； taking the letter and
frowning as he noticed Agraphena Petrovna's smile。
That smile meant that the letter was from the younger Princess
Korchagin； whom Agraphena Petrovna expected him to marry。 This
supposition of hers annoyed Nekhludoff。
〃Then I'll tell her to wait？〃 and Agraphena Petrovna took a crumb
brush which was not in its place； put it away； and sailed out of
the room。
Nekhludoff opened the perfumed note； and began reading it。
The note was written on a sheet of thick grey paper； with rough
edges； the writing looked English。 It said：
Having assumed the task of acting as your memory； I take the
liberty of reminding you that on this the 28th day of April you
have to appear at the Law Courts； as juryman； and； in
consequence； can on no account accompany us and Kolosoff to the
picture gallery； as； with your habitual flightiness； you promised
yesterday； a moins que vous ne soyez dispose a payer la cour
d'assise les 300 roubles d'amende que vous vous refusez pour
votre cheval； for not appearing in time。 I remembered it last
night after you were gone； so do not forget。
Princess M。 Korchagin。
On the other side was a postscript。
Maman vous fait dire que votre convert vous attendra jusqu'a la
nuit。 Venez absolument a quelle heure que cela soit。
M。 K。
Nekhludoff made a grimace。 This note was a continuation of that
skilful manoeuvring which the Princess Korchagin had already
practised for two months in order to bind him closer and closer
with invisible threads。 And yet； beside the usual hesitation of
men past their youth to marry unless they are very much in love；
Nekhludoff had very good reasons why； even if he did make up his
mind to it； he could not propose at once。 It was not that ten
years previously he had betrayed and forsaken Maslova； he had
quite forgotten that； and he would not have considered it a
reason for not marrying。 No！ The reason was that he had a liaison
with a married woman； and； though he considered it broken off；
she did not。
Nekhludoff was rather shy with women； and his very shyness
awakened in this married woman； the unprincipled wife of the
marechal de noblesse of a district where Nekhludoff was present
at an election； the desire of vanquishing him。 This woman drew
him into an intimacy which entangled him more and more； while it
daily became more distasteful to him。 Having succumbed to the
temptation； Nekhludoff felt guilty； and had not the courage to
break the tie without her consent。 And this was the reason he did
not feel at liberty to propose to Korchagin even if he had wished
to do so。 Among the letters on the table was one from this
woman's husband。 Seeing his writing and the postmark； Nekhludoff
flushed； and felt his energies awakening； as they always did when
he was facing any kind of danger。
But his excitement passed at once。 The marechal do noblesse； of
the district in which his largest estate lay； wrote only to let
Nekhludoff know that there was to be a special meeting towards
the end of May； and that Nekhludoff was to be sure and come to
〃donner un coup d'epaule；〃 at the important debates concerning
the schools and the roads； as a strong opposition by the
reactionary party was expected。
The marechal was a liberal； and was quite engrossed in this
fight； not even noticing the misfortune that had befallen him。
Nekhludoff remembered the dreadful moments
