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inspector entered； with his usual sad and weary look。
〃Take a seat； please。 What is it you want？〃 he said； buttoning up
the middle button of his uniform。
〃I have just been to the vice…governor's； and got this order from
him。 I should like to see the prisoner Maslova。〃
〃Markova？〃 asked the inspector； unable to bear distinctly because
of the music。
〃Maslova！〃
〃Well； yes。〃 The inspector got up and went to the door whence
proceeded Clementi's roulades。
〃Mary； can't you stop just a minute？〃 he said； in a voice that
showed that this music was the bane of his life。 〃One can't hear
a word。〃
The piano was silent； but one could hear the sound of reluctant
steps； and some one looked in at the door。
The inspector seemed to feel eased by the interval of silence；
lit a thick cigarette of weak tobacco； and offered one to
Nekhludoff。
Nekhludoff refused。
〃What I want is to see Maslova。〃
〃Oh； yes； that can be managed。 Now； then； what do you want？〃 he
said； addressing a little girl of five or six； who came into the
room and walked up to her father with her head turned towards
Nekhludoff； and her eyes fixed on him。
〃There； now； you'll fall down；〃 said the inspector； smiling； as
the little girl ran up to him； and； not looking where she was
going； caught her foot in a little rug。
〃Well； then； if I may； I shall go。〃
〃It's not very convenient to see Maslova to…day；〃 said the
inspector。
〃How's that？〃
〃Well； you know； it's all your own fault；〃 said the inspector；
with a slight smile。 〃Prince； give her no money into her hands。
If you like； give it me。 I will keep it for her。 You see； you
gave her some money yesterday； she got some spirits （it's an evil
we cannot manage to root out）； and to…day she is quite tipsy；
even violent。〃
〃Can this be true？〃
〃Oh； yes； it is。 I have even been obliged to have recourse to
severe measures； and to put her into a separate cell。 She is a
quiet woman in an ordinary way。 But please do not give her any
money。 These people are so〃 What had happened the day before
came vividly back to Nekhludoff's mind； and again he was seized
with fear。
〃And Doukhova； a political prisoner； might I see her？〃
〃Yes； if you like；〃 said the inspector。 He embraced the little
girl； who was still looking at Nekhludoff； got up； and； tenderly
motioning her aside； went into the ante…room。 Hardly had he got
into the overcoat which the maid helped him to put on； and before
he had reached the door； the distinct sounds of Clementi's
roulades again began。
〃She entered the Conservatoire； but there is such disorder there。
She has a great gift；〃 said the inspector； as they went down the
stairs。 〃She means to play at concerts。〃
The inspector and Nekhludoff arrived at the prison。 The gates
were instantly opened as they appeared。 The jailers； with their
fingers lifted to their caps； followed the inspector with their
eyes。 Four men； with their heads half shaved； who were carrying
tubs filled with something； cringed when they saw the inspector。
One of them frowned angrily； his black eyes glaring。
〃Of course a talent like that must be developed； it would not do
to bury it； but in a small lodging； you know； it is rather hard。〃
The inspector went on with the conversation； taking no notice of
the prisoners。
〃Who is it you want to see？〃
〃Doukhova。〃
〃Oh； she's in the tower。 You'll have to wait a little；〃 he said。
〃Might I not meanwhile see the prisoners Menshoff； mother and
son； who are accused of incendiarism？〃
〃Oh； yes。 Cell No。 21。 Yes； they can be sent for。〃
〃But might I not see Menshoff in his cell？〃
〃Oh； you'll find the waiting…room more pleasant。〃
〃No。 I should prefer the cell。 It is more interesting。〃
Well； you have found something to be interested in！〃
Here the assistant； a smartly…dressed officer； entered the side
door。
〃Here； see the Prince into Menshoff's cell； No。 21；〃 said the
inspector to his assistant； 〃and then take him to the office。 And
I'll go and callWhat's her name？〃 Vera Doukhova。〃
The inspector's assistant was young； with dyed moustaches； and
diffusing the smell of eau…de…cologne。 〃This way； please；〃 he
said to Nekhludoff； with a pleasant smile。 〃Our establishment
interests you？〃
〃Yes； it does interest me； and； besides； I look upon it as a duty
to help a man who I heard was confined here； though innocent。〃
The assistant shrugged his shoulders。
〃Yes； that may happen；〃 he said quietly； politely stepping aside
to let the visitor enter； the stinking corridor first。 〃But it
also happens that they lie。 Here we are。〃
The doors of the cells were open； and some of the prisoners were
in the corridor。 The assistant nodded slightly to the jailers；
and cast a side glance at the prisoners； who； keeping close to
the wall； crept back to their cells； or stood like soldiers； with
their arms at their sides； following the official with their
eyes。 After passing through one corridor； the assistant showed
Nekhludoff into another to the left； separated from the first by
an iron door。 This corridor was darker； and smelt even worse than
the first。 The corridor had doors on both sides； with little
holes in them about an inch in diameter。 There was only an old
jailer； with an unpleasant face； in this corridor。
〃Where is Menshoff？〃 asked the inspector's assistant。
〃The eighth cell to the left。〃
〃And these？ Are they occupied？〃 asked Nekhludoff。
Yes； all but one。〃
CHAPTER LII。
NO。 21。
〃May I look in？〃 asked Nekhludoff。
〃Oh； certainly；〃 answered the assistant； smiling； and turned to
the jailer with some question。
Nekhludoff looked into one of the little holes； and saw a tall
young man pacing up and down the cell。 When the man heard some
one at the door he looked up with a frown； but continued walking
up and down。
Nekhludoff looked into another hole。 His eye met another large
eye looking out of the hole at him； and he quickly stepped aside。
In the third cell he saw a very small man asleep on the bed；
covered； head and all； with his prison cloak。 In the fourth a
broad…faced man was sitting with his elbows on his knees and his
head low down。 At the sound of footsteps this man raised his head
and looked up。 His face； especially his large eyes； bore the
expression of hopeless dejection。 One could see that it did not
even interest him to know who was looking into his cell。 Whoever
it might be； he evidently hoped for nothing good from him。
Nekhludoff was seized with dread； and went to Menshoff's cell；
No。 21； without stopping to look through any more holes。 The
jailer unlocked the door and opened it。 A young man； with long
neck； well…developed muscles； a small head； and kind； round eyes；
stood by the bed； hastily putting on his cloak； and looking at
the newcomers with a frightened face。 Nekhludoff was specially
struck by the kind； round eyes that were throwing frightened and
inquiring glances in turns at him； at the jailer； and at the
assistant； and back again。
〃Here's a gentleman wants to inquire into your affair。〃
〃Thank you kindly。〃
〃Yes； I was told about you；〃 Nekhludoff said； going through the
cell up to the dirty grated window； 〃and I should like to hear
all about it from yourself。〃
Menshoff also came up to the window； and at once started telling
his story； at first looking shyly at the inspector's assistant；
but growing gradually bolder。 When the assistant left the cell
and went into the corridor to give some order the man grew quite
bold。 The story was told with the accent and in the manner common
to a most ordinary good peasant lad。 To hear it told by a
prisoner dressed in this degrading clothing； and inside a prison；
seemed very strange to Nekhludoff。 Nekhludoff listened； and at
the same time kept looking around himat the low bedstead with
its straw mattress； the window and the dirty； damp wall； and the
piteous face and form of this unfortunate； disfigured peasant in
his prison cloak and shoes； and he felt sadder and sadder； and
would have liked not to believe what this good…natured fellow was
saying。 It seemed too dreadful to think that men could do such a
thing as to take a man； dress him in convict clothes； and put him
in this horrible place without any reason only because he himself
had been injured。 And yet the thought that this seemingly true
story； told with such a good…natured expression on the face；
might be an invention and a lie was still more dreadful。 This was
the story： The village public…house keeper had enticed the young
fellow's wife。 He tried to get justice by all sorts of means。 But
everywhere the public…house keeper managed to bribe the
officials； and was acquitted。 Once； he took his wife back by
force； but she ran away next day。 Then he came to demand her
back； but； though he saw her when he came in； the public…house
keeper told him she was not there； and ordered him to go away。 He
would not go； so the public…house keeper and his servant beat him
so that they drew blood。 The next day a fire broke out in the
public…house； and the young man and his mother were accused of
having set the house on fire。 He had not set it on fire； but was
visiting a friend at the time。
〃And it is true that you did n