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snow； caked in heavy lumps on their branches。 A red light flashes
in the dark； some one lights an aromatic cigarette。 Joseph； a
bear driver； keeps running from sledge to sledge； up to his knees
in snow； and while putting things to rights he speaks about the
elk which are now going about on the deep snow and gnawing the
bark off the aspen trees； of the bears that are lying asleep in
their deep hidden dens； and his breath comes warm through the
opening in the sledge cover。 All this came back to Nekhludoff's
mind； but； above all； the joyous sense of health； strength； and
freedom from care： the lungs breathing in the frosty air so
deeply that the fur cloak is drawn tightly on his chest； the fine
snow drops off the low branches on to his face； his body is warm；
his face feels fresh； and his soul is free from care；
self…reproach； fear； or desire。 How beautiful it was。 And now； O
God！ what torment； what trouble！
Evidently Vera Doukhova was a revolutionist and imprisoned as
such。 He must see her； especially as she promised to advise him
how to lighten Maslova's lot。
CHAPTER L。
THE VICE…GOVERNOR OF THE PRISON。
Awaking early the next morning； Nekhludoff remembered what he had
done the day before； and was seized with fear。
But in spite of this fear； he was more determined than ever to
continue what he had begun。
Conscious of a sense of duty； he left the house and went to see
Maslennikoff in order to obtain from him a permission to visit
Maslova in prison； and also the Menshoffsmother and sonabout
whom Maslova had spoken to him。 Nekhludoff had known this
Maslennikoff a long time； they had been in the regiment together。
At that time Maslennikoff was treasurer to the regiment。
He was a kind…hearted and zealous officer； knowing and wishing to
know nothing beyond the regiment and the Imperial family。 Now
Nekhludoff saw him as an administrator； who had exchanged the
regiment for an administrative office in the government where he
lived。 He was married to a rich and energetic woman； who had
forced him to exchange military for civil service。 She laughed at
him； and caressed him； as if he were her own pet animal。
Nekhludoff had been to see them once during the winter； but the
couple were so uninteresting to him that he had not gone again。
At the sight of Nekhludoff Maslennikoff's face beamed all over。
He had the same fat red face； and was as corpulent and as well
dressed as in his military days。 Then； he used to be always
dressed in a well…brushed uniform； made according to the latest
fashion； tightly fitting his chest and shoulders； now； it was a
civil service uniform he wore； and that； too； tightly fitted his
well…fed body and showed off his broad chest； and was cut
according to the latest fashion。 In spite of the difference in
age （Maslennikoff was 40）； the two men were very familiar with
one another。
〃Halloo； old fellow！ How good of you to come！ Let us go and see
my wife。 I have just ten minutes to spare before the meeting。 My
chief is away； you know。 I am at the head of the Government
administration；〃 he said； unable to disguise his satisfaction。
〃I have come on business。〃
〃What is it？〃 said Maslennikoff； in an anxious and severe tone；
putting himself at once on his guard。
〃There is a person； whom I am very much interested in； in prison〃
（at the word 〃prison〃 Maslennikoff's face grew stern）； 〃and I
should like to have an interview in the office； and not in the
common visiting…room。 I have been told it depended on you。〃
〃Certainly； mon cher；〃 said Maslennikoff； putting both hands on
Nekhludoff's knees； as if to tone down his grandeur； 〃but
remember； I am monarch only for an hour。〃
〃Then will you give me an order that will enable me to see her？〃
〃It's a woman？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What is she there for？〃
〃Poisoning； but she has been unjustly condemned。〃
〃Yes； there you have it； your justice administered by jury； ils
n'en font point d'autres；〃 he said； for some unknown reason； in
French。 〃I know you do not agree with me； but it can't be helped；
c'est mon opinion bien arretee；〃 he added； giving utterance to an
opinion he had for the last twelve months been reading in the
retrograde Conservative paper。 〃I know you are a Liberal。〃
〃I don't know whether I am a Liberal or something else；〃
Nekhludoff said； smiling； it always surprised him to find himself
ranked with a political party and called a Liberal； when he
maintained that a man should be heard before he was judged； that
before being tried all men were equal； that nobody at all ought
to be ill…treated and beaten； but especially those who had not
yet been condemned by law。 〃I don't know whether I am a Liberal
or not； but I do know that however had the present way of
conducting a trial is； it is better than the old。〃
〃And whom have you for an advocate？〃
〃I have spoken to Fanarin。〃
〃Dear me； Fanarin！〃 said Meslennikoff； with a grimace；
recollecting how this Fanarin had examined him as a witness at a
trial the year before and had； in the politest manner； held him
up to ridicule for half an hour。
〃I should not advise you to have anything to do with him。
Fanarin est un homme tare。〃
〃I have one more request to make；〃 said Nekhludoff； without
answering him。 〃There's a girl whom I knew long ago； a teacher；
she is a very pitiable little thing； and is now also imprisoned；
and would like to see me。 Could you give me a permission to visit
her？〃
Meslennikoff bent his head on one side and considered。
〃She's a political one？〃
〃Yes； I have been told so。〃
〃Well； you see； only relatives get permission to visit political
prisoners。 Still； I'll give you an open order。 Je sais que vous
n'abuserez pas。 What's the name of your protegee？ Doukhova？ Elle
est jolie？〃
〃Hideuse。〃
Maslennikoff shook his head disapprovingly； went up to the table；
and wrote on a sheet of paper； with a printed heading： 〃The
bearer； Prince Dmitri Ivanovitch Nekhludoff； is to be allowed to
interview in the prison office the meschanka Maslova； and also
the medical assistant； Doukhova；〃 and he finished with an
elaborate flourish。
〃Now you'll be able to see what order we have got there。 And it
is very difficult to keep order； it is so crowded； especially
with people condemned to exile； but I watch strictly； and love
the work。 You will see they are very comfortable and contented。
But one must know how to deal with them。 Only a few days ago we
had a little troubleinsubordination； another would have called
it mutiny； and would have made many miserable； but with us it all
passed quietly。 We must have solicitude on one hand； firmness and
power on the other；〃 and he clenched the fat； white；
turquoise…ringed fist； which issued out of the starched cuff of
his shirt sleeve； fastened with a gold stud。 〃Solicitude and firm
power。〃
〃Well； I don't know about that；〃 said Nekhludoff。 〃I went there
twice； and felt very much depressed。〃
〃Do you know； you ought to get acquainted with the Countess
Passek；〃 continued Maslennikoff； growing talkative。 〃She has
given herself up entirely to this sort of work。 Elle fait
beaucoup de bien。 Thanks to herand； perhaps I may add without
false modesty； to meeverything has been changed； changed in
such a way that the former horrors no longer exist； and they are
really quite comfortable there。 Well； you'll see。 There's
Fanarin。 I do not know him personally； besides； my social
position keeps our ways apart； but he is positively a bad man；
and besides； he takes the liberty of saying such things in the
courtsuch things！〃
〃Well； thank you；〃 Nekhludoff said； taking the paper； and without
listening further he bade good…day to his former comrade。
〃And won't you go in to see my wife？〃
〃No； pray excuse me； I have no time now。〃
〃Dear me； why she will never forgive me；〃 said Maslennikoff；
accompanying his old acquaintance down to the first landing； as
he was in the habit of doing to persons of not the greatest； but
the second greatest importance； with whom he classed Nekhludoff；
〃now do go in； if only for a moment。〃
But Nekhludoff remained firm； and while the footman and the
door…keeper rushed to give him his stick and overcoat； and opened
the door； outside of which there stood a policeman； Nekhludoff
repeated that he really could not come in。
〃Well； then； on Thursday； please。 It is her 'at…home。' I will
tell her you will come；〃 shouted Maslennikoff from the stairs。
CHAPTER LI。
THE CELLS。
Nekhludoff drove that day straight from Maslennikoff's to the
prison； and went to the inspector's lodging； which he now knew。
He was again struck by the sounds of the same piano of inferior
quality； but this time it was not a rhapsody that was being
played； but exercises by Clementi； again with the same vigour；
distinctness； and quickness。 The servant with the bandaged eye
said the inspector was in； and showed Nekhludoff to a small
drawing…room； in which there stood a sofa and； in front of it； a
table； with a large lamp； which stood on a piece of crochet work；
and the paper shade of which was burnt on one side。 The chief
inspector entered； with his usual sad and weary look。
〃Take a seat； please。 What is it you want？〃 he said； button