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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；〃 said
the jailer。
At this moment a sergeant…major； with a smooth； shiny face and
moustaches impregnated with tobacco smoke； came out of a side
door； with the gold cords of his uniform glistening； and
addressed the jailer in a severe tone。
〃What do you mean by letting any one in here？ The office。 。 。 。〃
〃I was told the inspector was here；〃 said Nekhludoff； surprised
at the agitation he noticed in the sergeant…major's manner。
At this moment the inner door opened； and Petrov came out； heated
and perspiring。
〃He'll remember it；〃 he muttered； turning to the sergeant major。
The latter pointed at Nekhludoff by a look； and Petrov knitted
his brows and went out through a door at the back。
〃Who will remember it？ Why do they all seem so confused？ Why did
the sergeant…major make a sign to him？ Nekhludoff thought。
The sergeant…major； again addressing Nekhludoff； said： 〃You
cannot meet here； please step across to the office。〃 And
Nekhludoff was about to comply when the inspector came out of the
door at the back； looking even more confused than his
subordinates； and sighing continually。 When he saw Nekhludoff he
turned to the jailer。
〃Fedotoff； have Maslova； cell 5； women's ward； taken to the
office。〃
〃Will you come this way； please；〃 he said； turning to Nekhludoff。
They ascended a steep staircase and entered a little room with
one window； a writing…table； and a few chairs in it。 The
inspector sat down。
〃Mine are heavy； heavy duties；〃 he remarked； again addressing
Nekhludoff； and took out a cigarette。
〃You are tired； evidently；〃 said Nekhludoff。
Tired of the whole of the servicethe duties are very trying。
One tries to lighten their lot and only makes it worse； my only
thought is how to get away。 Heavy； heavy duties！〃
Nekhludoff did not know what the inspector's particular
difficulties were； but he saw that to…day he was in a peculiarly
dejected and hopeless condition； calling for pity。〃
〃Yes； I should think the duties were heavy for a kind…hearted
man；〃 he said。 〃Why do you serve in this capacity？
〃I have a family。〃
〃But； if it is so hard〃
〃Well； still you know it is possible to be of use in some
measure； I soften down all I can。 Another in my place would
conduct the affairs quite differently。 Why； we have more than
2；000 persons here。 And what persons！ One must know how to manage
them。 It is easier said than done； you know。 After all； they are
also men； one cannot help pitying them。〃 The inspector began
telling Nekhludoff of a fight that had lately taken place among
the convicts； which had ended by one man being killed。
The story was interrupted by the entrance of Maslova； who was
accompanied by a jailer。
Nekhludoff saw her through the doorway before she had noticed the
inspector。 She was following the warder briskly； smiling and
tossing her head。 When she saw the inspector she suddenly
changed； and gazed at him with a frightened look； but； quickly
recovering； she addressed Nekhludoff boldly and gaily。
〃How d'you do？〃 she said； drawling out her words； and
Resurrection smilingly took his hand and shook it vigorously； not
like the first time。
〃Here； I've brought you a petition to sign；〃 said Nekhludoff；
rather surprised by the boldness with which she greeted him
to…day。
〃The advocate has written out a petition which you will have to
sign； and then we shall send it to Petersburg。〃
〃All right！ That can be done。 Anything you like；〃 she said； with
a wink and a smile。
And Nekhludoff drew a folded paper from his pocket and went up to
the table。
〃May she sign it here？〃 asked Nekhludoff； turning to the
inspector。
〃It's all right； it's all right！ Sit down。 Here's a pen； you can
write？〃 said the inspector。
〃I could at one time；〃 she said； and； after arranging her skirt
and the sleeves of her jacket； she sat down at the table； smiled
awkwardly； took the pen with her small； energetic hand； and
glanced at Nekhludoff with a laugh。
Nekhludoff told her what to write and pointed out the place where
to sign。
Sighing deeply as she dipped her pen into the ink； and carefully
shaking some drops off the pen； she wrote her name。
〃Is it all？〃 she asked； looking from Nekhludoff to the inspector；
and putting the pen now on the inkstand； now on the papers。
〃I have a few words to tell you；〃 Nekhludoff said； taking the pen
from her。
〃All right； tell me；〃 she said。 And suddenly； as if remembering
something； or feeling sleepy； she grew serious。
The inspector rose and left the room； and Nekhludoff remained
with her。
CHAPTER XLVIII。
MASLOVA REFUSES TO MARRY。
The jailer who had brought Maslova in sat on a windowsill at some
distance from them。
The decisive moment had come for Nekhludoff。 He had been
incessantly blaming himself for not having told her the principal
thing at the first interview； and was now determined to tell her
that he would marry her。 She was sitting at the further side of
the table。 Nekhludoff sat down opposite her。 It was light in the
room； and Nekhludoff for the first time saw her face quite near。
He distinctly saw the crowsfeet round her eyes； the wrinkles
round her mouth； and the swollen eyelids。 He felt more sorry than
before。 Leaning over the table so as not to be beard by the
jailera man of Jewish type with grizzly whiskers； who sat by
the windowNekhludoff said：
〃Should this petition come to nothing we shall appeal to the
Emperor。 All that is possible shall be done。〃
〃There； now； if we had had a proper advocate from the first；〃 she
interrupted。 〃My defendant was quite a silly。 He did nothing but
pay me compliments；〃 she said； and laughed。 〃If it had then been
known that I was acquainted with you； it would have been another
matter。 They think every one's a thief。〃
〃How strange she is to…day；〃 Nekhludoff thought； and was just
going to say what he had on his mind when she began again：
〃There's something I want to say。 We have here an old woman； such
a fine one； d'you know； she just surprises every one； she is
imprisoned for nothing； and her son； too； and everybody knows
they are innocent； though they are accused of having set fire to
a house。 D'you know； hearing I was acquainted with you； she says：
'Tell him to ask to see my son； he'll tell him all about it。〃'
Thus spoke Maslova； turning her head from side to side； and
glancing at Nekhludoff。 〃Their name's Menshoff。 Well； will you do
it？ Such a fine old thing； you know； you can see at once she's
innocent。 You'll do it； there's a dear；〃 and she smiled； glanced
up at him； and then cast down her eyes。
〃All right。 I'll find out about them；〃 Nekhludoff said； more and
more astonished by her free…and…easy manner。 〃But I was going to
speak to you about myself。 Do you remember what I told you last
time？〃
〃You said a lot last time。 What was it you told me？〃 she said；
continuing to smile and to turn her head from side to side。
〃I said I had come to ask you to forgive me；〃 he began。
〃What's the use of that？ Forgive； forgive； where's the good of〃
〃To atone for my sin； not by me