resurrection(复活)-第43章
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velvet and silk； something yellow and green； and her thin hair
was crimped。
She stepped out triumphantly into the ante…room； followed by a
tall； smiling man； with a greenish complexion； dressed in a coat
with silk facings； and a white tie。 This was an author。
Nekhludoff knew him by sight。
She opened the cabinet door and said； 〃Anatole； you must come to
me。 Here is Simeon Ivanovitch； who will read his poems； and you
must absolutely come and read about Garshin。〃
Nekhludoff noticed that she whispered something to her husband；
and； thinking it was something concerning him； wished to go away；
but she caught him up and said： 〃I beg your pardon； Prince； I
know you； and； thinking an introduction superfluous； I beg you to
stay and take part in our literary matinee。 It will be most
interesting。 M。 Fanarin will read。〃
〃You see what a lot I have to do；〃 said Fanarin； spreading out
his hands and smilingly pointing to his wife； as if to show how
impossible it was to resist so charming a creature。
Nekhludoff thanked the advocate's wife with extreme politeness
for the honour she did him in inviting him； but refused the
invitation with a sad and solemn look； and left the room。
〃What an affected fellow！〃 said the advocate's wife； when he had
gone out。
In the ante…room the assistant handed him a ready…written
petition； and said that the fees； including the business with the
Senate and the commission； would come to 1；000 roubles； and
explained that M。 Fanarin did not usually undertake this kind of
business； but did it only to oblige Nekhludoff。
〃And about this petition。 Who is to sign it？〃
〃The prisoner may do it herself； or if this is inconvenient； M。
Fanarin can； if he gets a power of attorney from her。〃
Oh； no。 I shall take the petition to her and get her to sign it；〃
said Nekhludoff； glad of the opportunity of seeing her before the
appointed day。
CHAPTER XLVI。
A PRISON FLOGGING。
At the usual time the jailer's whistle sounded in the corridors of
the prison； the iron doors of the cells rattled； bare feet
pattered； heels clattered； and the prisoners who acted as
scavengers passed along the corridors； filling the air with
disgusting smells。 The prisoners washed； dressed； and came out
for revision； then went to get boiling water for their tea。
The conversation at breakfast in all the cells was very lively。
It was all about two prisoners who were to be flogged that day。
One； Vasiliev； was a young man of some education； a clerk； who
had killed his mistress in a fit of jealousy。 His
fellow…prisoners liked him because he was merry and generous and
firm in his behaviour with the prison authorities。 He knew the
laws and insisted on their being carried out。 Therefore he was
disliked by the authorities。 Three weeks before a jailer struck
one of the scavengers who had spilt some soup over his new
uniform。 Vasiliev took the part of the scavenger； saying that it
was not lawful to strike a prisoner。
〃I'll teach you the law；〃 said the jailer； and gave Vasiliev a
scolding。 Vasiliev replied in like manner； and the jailer was
going to hit him； but Vasiliev seized the jailer's hands； held
them fast for about three minutes； and； after giving the hands a
twist； pushed the jailer out of the door。 The jailer complained
to the inspector； who ordered Vasiliev to be put into a solitary
cell。
The solitary cells were a row of dark closets； locked from
outside； and there were neither beds； nor chairs； nor tables in
them； so that the inmates had to sit or lie on the dirty floor；
while the rats； of which there were a great many in those cells；
ran across them。 The rats were so bold that they stole the bread
from the prisoners； and even attacked them if they stopped
moving。 Vasiliev said he would not go into the solitary cell；
because he had not done anything wrong； but they used force。 Then
he began struggling； and two other prisoners helped him to free
himself from the jailers。 All the jailers assembled； and among
them was Petrov； who was distinguished for his strength。 The
prisoners got thrown down and pushed into the solitary cells。
The governor was immediately informed that something very like a
rebellion had taken place。 And he sent back an order to flog the
two chief offenders； Vasiliev and the tramp； Nepomnishy； giving
each thirty strokes with a birch rod。 The flogging was appointed
to take place in the women's interviewing…room。
All this was known in the prison since the evening； and it was
being talked about with animation in all the cells。
Korableva； Khoroshevka； Theodosia； and Maslova sat together in
their corner； drinking tea； all of them flushed and animated by
the vodka they had drunk； for Maslova； who now had a constant
supply of vodka； freely treated her companions to it。
〃He's not been a…rioting； or anything；〃 Korableva said； referring
to Vasiliev； as she bit tiny pieces off a lump of sugar with her
strong teeth。 〃He only stuck up for a chum； because it's not
lawful to strike prisoners nowadays。〃
〃And he's a fine fellow； I've heard say；〃 said Theodosia； who sat
bareheaded； with her long plaits round her head； on a log of wood
opposite the shelf bedstead on which the teapot stood。
〃There； now； if you were to ask HIM；〃 the watchman's wife said to
Maslova （by him she meant Nekhludoff）。
〃I shall tell him。 He'll do anything for me；〃 Maslova said；
tossing her head； and smiling。
〃Yes； but when is he coming？ and they've already gone to fetch
them；〃 said Theodosia。 〃It is terrible；〃 she added； with a sigh。
〃I once did see how they flogged a peasant in the village。
Father…in…law； he sent me once to the village elder。 Well； I
went； and there〃 。 。 。 The watchman's wife began her long story；
which was interrupted by the sound of voices and steps in the
corridor above them。
The women were silent； and sat listening。
〃There they are； hauling him along； the devils！〃 Khoroshavka
said。 〃They'll do him to death； they will。 The jailers are so
enraged with him because he never would give in to them。〃
All was quiet again upstairs； and the watchman's wife finished
her story of how she was that frightened when she went into the
barn and saw them flogging a peasant； her inside turned at the
sight； and so on。 Khoroshevka related how Schegloff had been
flogged； and never uttered a sound。 Then Theodosia put away the
tea things； and Korableva and the watchman's wife took up their
sewing。 Maslova sat down on the bedstead； with her arms round her
knees； dull and depressed。 She was about to lie down and try to
sleep； when the woman warder called her into the office to see a
visitor。
〃Now； mind； and don't forget to tell him about us；〃 the old woman
（Menshova） said； while Maslova was arranging the kerchief on her
head before the dim looking…glass。 〃We did not set fire to the
house； but he himself； the fiend； did it； his workman saw him do
it； and will not damn his soul by denying it。 You just tell to
ask to see my Mitri。 Mitri will tell him all about it； as plain
as can be。 just think of our being locked up in prison when we
never dreamt of any ill； while he； the fiend； is enjoying himself
at the pub； with another man's wife。〃
〃That's not the law；〃 remarked Korableva。
〃I'll tell himI'll tell him；〃 answered Maslova。 〃Suppose I have
another drop； just to keep up courage；〃 she added； with a wink；
and Korableva poured out half a cup of vodka； which Maslova
drank。 Then； having wiped her mouth and repeating the words 〃just
to keep up courage；〃 tossing her head and smiling gaily； she
followed the warder along the corridor。
CHAPTER XLVII。
NEKHLUDOFF AGAIN VISITS MASLOVA。
Nekhludoff had to wait in the hall for a long time。 When he had
arrived at the prison and rung at the entrance door； he handed
the permission of the Procureur to the jailer on duty who met
him。
〃No； no；〃 the jailer on duty said hurriedly； 〃the inspector is
engaged。〃
〃In the office？〃 asked Nekhludoff。
〃No； here in the interviewing…room。〃。
〃Why； is it a visiting day to…day？
〃No； it's special business。〃
〃I should like to see him。 What am I to do？〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃When the inspector comes out you'll tell himwait a bit；
