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severe tone that the Baron could not be seen except on his
reception days； that he was with His Majesty the Emperor to…day；
and the next day he would again have to deliver a report。
Nekhludoff left his uncle's letter with the doorkeeper and went
on to see the Senator Wolf。 Wolf had just had his lunch； and was
as usual helping digestion by smoking a cigar and pacing up and
down the room； when Nekhludoff came in。 Vladimir Vasilievitch
Wolf was certainly un homme tres comme il faut； and prized this
quality very highly； and from that elevation he looked down at
everybody else。 He could not but esteem this quality of his very
highly； because it was thanks to it alone that he had made a
brilliant career； the very career he desired； i。e。； by marriage
he obtained a fortune which brought him in 18；000 roubles a year；
and by his own exertions the post of a senator。 He considered
himself not only un homme tres comme il faut； but also a man of
knightly honour。 By honour he understood not accepting secret
bribes from private persons。 But he did not consider it dishonest
to beg money for payment of fares and all sorts of travelling
expenses from the Crown； and to do anything the Government might
require of him in return。 To ruin hundreds of innocent people； to
cause them to be imprisoned； to be exiled because of their love
for their people and the religion of their fathers； as he had
done in one of the governments of Poland when he was governor
there。 He did not consider it dishonourable； but even thought it
a noble； manly and patriotic action。 Nor did he consider it
dishonest to rob his wife and sister…in…law； as he had done； but
thought it a wise way of arranging his family life。 His family
consisted of his commonplace wife； his sister…in…law； whose
fortune he had appropriated by selling her estate and putting the
money to his account； and his meek； frightened； plain daughter；
who lived a lonely； weary life； from which she had lately begun
to look for relaxation in evangelicism； attending meetings at
Aline's； and the Countess Katerina Ivanovna。 Wolf's son； who had
grown a beard at the age of 15； and had at that age begun to
drink and lead a depraved life； which he continued to do till the
age of 20； when he was turned out by his father because he never
finished his studies； moved in a low set and made debts which
committed the father。 The father had once paid a debt of 250
roubles for his son； then another of 600 roubles； but warned the
son that he did it for the last time； and that if the son did not
reform he would be turned out of the house and all further
intercourse between him and his family would he put a stop to。
The son did not reform； but made a debt of a thousand roubles；
and took the liberty of telling his father that life at home was
a torment anyhow。 Then Wolf declared to his son that he might go
where he pleasedthat he was no son of his any longer。 Since
then Wolf pretended he had no son； and no one at home dared speak
to him about his son； and Vladimir Vasilievitch Wolf was firmly
convinced that he had arranged his family life in the best way。
Wolf stopped pacing up and down his study； and greeted Nekhludoff
with a friendly though slightly ironical smile。 This was his way
of showing how comme il faut he was； and how superior to the
majority of men。 He read the note which Nekhludoff handed to him。
〃Please take a seat； and excuse me if I continue to walk up and
down； with your permission；〃 he said； putting his hands into his
coat pockets； and began again to walk with light； soft steps
across his large； quietly and stylishly furnished study。 〃Very
pleased to make your acquaintance and of course very glad to do
anything that Count Ivan Michaelovitch wishes；〃 he said； blowing
the fragrant blue smoke out of his mouth and removing his cigar
carefully so as not to drop the ash。
〃I should only like to ask that the case might come on soon； so
that if the prisoner has to go to Siberia she might set off
early；〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃Yes； yes； with one of the first steamers from Nijni。 I know；〃
said Wolf； with his patronising smile； always knowing in advance
whatever one wanted to tell him。
〃What is the prisoner's name？〃
〃Maslova。〃
Wolf went up to the table and looked at a paper that lay on a
piece of cardboard among other business papers。
〃Yes； yes。 Maslova。 All right； I will ask the others。 We shall
hear the case on Wednesday。〃
〃Then may I telegraph to the advocate？〃
〃The advocate！ What's that for？ But if you like； why not？〃
〃The causes for appeal may be insufficient；〃 said Nekhludoff；
〃but I think the case will show that the sentence was passed
owing to a misunderstanding。〃
〃Yes； yes； it may be so； but the Senate cannot decide the case on
its merits；〃 said Wolf； looking seriously at the ash of his
cigar。 〃The Senate only considers the exactness of the
application of the laws and their right interpretation。〃
〃But this seems to me to be an exceptional case。〃
〃I know； I know！ All cases are exceptional。 We shall do our duty。
That's all。〃 The ash was still holding on； but had began
breaking； and was in danger of falling。
〃Do you often come to Petersburg？〃 said Wolf； holding his cigar
so that the ash should not fall。 But the ash began to shake； and
Wolf carefully carried it to the ashpan； into which it fell。
〃What a terrible thing this is with regard to Kaminski；〃 he said。
〃A splendid young man。 The only son。 Especially the mother's
position；〃 he went on； repeating almost word for word what every
one in Petersburg was at that time saying about Kaminski。 Wolf
spoke a little about the Countess Katerina Ivanovna and her
enthusiasm for the new religious teaching； which he neither
approved nor disapproved of； but which was evidently needless to
him who was so comme il faut； and then rang the bell。
Nekhludoff bowed。
〃If it is convenient； come and dine on Wednesday； and I will give
you a decisive answer；〃 said Wolf； extending his hand。
It was late； and Nekhludoff returned to his aunt's。
CHAPTER XVII。
COUNTESS KATERINA IVANOVNA'S DINNER PARTY。
Countess Katerina Ivanovna's dinner hour was half…past seven； and
the dinner was served in a new manner that Nekhludoff had not yet
seen anywhere。 After they had placed the dishes on the table the
waiters left the room and the diners helped themselves。 The men
would not let the ladies take the trouble of moving； and； as
befitted the stronger sex； they manfully took on themselves the
burden of putting the food on the ladies' plates and of filling
their glasses。 When one course was finished； the Countess pressed
the button of an electric bell fitted to the table and the
waiters stepped in noiselessly and quickly carried away the
dishes； changed the plates； and brought in the next course。 The
dinner was very refined； the wines very costly。 A French chef was
working in the large； light kitchens； with two white…clad
assistants。 There were six persons at dinner； the Count and
Countess； their son （a surly officer in the Guards who sat with
his elbows on the table）； Nekhludoff； a French lady reader； and
the Count's chief steward； who had come up from the country。
Here； too； the conversation was about the duel； and opinions were
given as to how the Emperor regarded the case。 It was known that
the Emperor was very much grieved for the mother's sake； and all
were grieved for her； and as it was also known that the Emperor
did not mean to be very severe to the murderer； who defended the
honour of his uniform； all were also lenient to the officer who
had defended the honour of his uniform。 Only the Countess
Katerina Ivanovna； with her free thoughtlessness； expresses her
disapproval。
〃They get drunk； and kill unobjectionable young men。 I should not
forgive them on any account；〃 she said。
〃Now； that's a thing I cannot understand；〃 said the Count。
〃I know that you never can understand what I say；〃 the Countess
began； and turning to Nekhludoff； she added：
〃Everybody understands except my husband。 I say I am sorry for
the mother； and I do not wish him to be contented； having killed
a man。〃 Then her son； who had been silent up to then； took the
murderer's part； and rudely attacked his mother； arguing that an
officer could not behave in any other way； because his
fellow…officers would condemn him and turn him out of the
regiment。 Nekhludoff listened to the conversation without joining
in。 Having been an officer himself； he understood； though he did
not agree with； young Tcharsky's arguments； and at the same time
he could not help contrasting the fate of the officer with that
of a beautiful young convict whom he had seen in the prison； and
who was condemned to the mines for having killed another in a
fight。 Both had turned murderers through drunkenness。 The peasant
had killed a man in a moment of irritation； and he was parted
from his wife and family； had chains on his legs； and his head
shaved； and was going to hard labour in Siberia； while the
officer was sitting in a fine room in the guardhouse； eating a
good dinner； drinking good wine； and reading books； and would be
set free in a day or two to live as he had done before； having
only becom