按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 and his brows frowned with wrath。
〃Get up；〃 the inspector called out to him。
The old man did not rise and only smiled contemptuously。
〃Thy servants are standing before thee。 I am not thy servant。
Thou bearest the seal〃 The old man pointed to the inspector's
forehead。
〃Wha…a…t？〃 said the inspector threateningly； and made a step
towards him。
〃I know this man；〃 Nekhludoff hastened to say； 〃what is he
imprisoned for？〃
〃The police have sent him here because he has no passport。 We ask
them not to send such； but they will do it；〃 said the inspector；
casting an angry side look at the old man。
〃And so it seems thou； too； art one of Antichrist's army？〃 the
old man said to Nekhludoff。
〃No； I am a visitor；〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃What； hast thou come to see how Antichrist tortures men？ There；
look； he has locked them up in a cage； a whole army of them。 Men
should cat bread in the sweat of their brow。 And he has locked
them up with no work to do； and feeds them like swine； so that
they should turn into beasts。〃
〃What is he saying？〃 asked the Englishman。
Nekhludoff told him the old man was blaming the inspector for
keeping men imprisoned。
〃Ask him how he thinks one should treat those who do not keep to
the laws；〃 said the Englishman。
Nekhludoff translated the question。 The old man laughed in a
strange manner； showing his teeth。
〃The laws？〃 he repeated with contempt。 〃He first robbed
everybody； took all the earth； all the rights away from men；
killed all those who were against him； and then wrote laws；
forbidding robbery and murder。 He should have written these laws
before。〃
Nekhludoff translated。 The Englishman smiled。 〃Well； anyhow； ask
him how one should treat thieves and murderers at present？〃
Nekhludoff again translated his question。
〃Tell him he should take the seal of Antichrist off himself；〃 the
old man said； frowning severely； 〃then there will he no thieves
and murderers。 Tell him so。〃
〃He is crazy；〃 said the Englishman； when Nekhludoff had
translated the old man's words； and； shrugging his shoulders； he
left the cell。
〃Do thy business and leave them alone。 Every one for himself。 God
knows whom to execute； whom to forgive； and we do not know；〃 said
the old man。 〃Every man be his own chief； then the chiefs will
not be wanted。 Go； go！〃 he added； angrily frowning and looking
with glittering eyes at Nekhludoff； who lingered in the cell。
〃Hast thou not looked on long enough how the servants of
Antichrist feed lice on men？ Go； go！〃
When Nekhludoff went out he saw the Englishman standing by the
open door of an empty cell with the inspector； asking what the
cell was for。 The inspector explained that it was the mortuary。
〃Oh；〃 said the Englishman when Nekhludoff had translated； and
expressed the wish to go in。
The mortuary was an ordinary cell； not very large。 A small lamp
hung on the wall and dimly lit up sacks and logs of wood that
were piled up in one corner； and four dead bodies lay on the
bedshelves to the right。 The first body had a coarse linen shirt
and trousers on； it was that of a tall man with a small beard and
half his head shaved。 The body was quite rigid； the bluish hands；
that had evidently been folded on the breast； had separated； the
legs were also apart and the bare feet were sticking out。 Next to
him lay a bare…footed old woman in a white petticoat； her head；
with its thin plait of hair； uncovered； with a little； pinched
yellow face and a sharp nose。 Beyond her was another man with
something lilac on。 This colour reminded Nekhludoff of something。
He came nearer and looked at the body。 The small； pointed beard
sticking upwards； the firm； well…shaped nose； the high； white
forehead； the thin； curly hair； he recognised the familiar
features and could hardly believe his eyes。 Yesterday he had seen
this face； angry； excited； and full of suffering； now it was
quiet； motionless； and terribly beautiful。 Yes； it was Kryltzoff；
or at any rate the trace that his material existence had left