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Maslova。 The warder knew Nekhludoff； and told him of an important
change that had taken place in the prison。 The old inspector had
been discharged； and a new； very severe official appointed in his
place。
〃They are so strict nowadays； it's just awful；〃 said the jailer。
〃He is in here； they will let him know directly。〃
The new inspector was in the prison and soon came to Nekhludoff。
He was a tall； angular man； with high cheek bones； morose； and
very slow in his movements。
〃Interviews are allowed in the visiting room on the appointed
days；〃 he said； without looking at Nekhludoff。
〃But I have a petition to the Emperor； which I want signed。〃
〃You can give it to me。〃
〃I must see the prisoner myself。 I was always allowed to before。〃
〃That was so； before；〃 said the inspector； with a furtive glance
at Nekhludoff。
〃I have a permission from the governor；〃 insisted Nekhludoff； and
took out his pocket…book。
〃Allow me；〃 said the inspector； taking the paper from Nekhludoff
with his long； dry； white fingers； on the first of which was a
gold ring； still without looking him in the eyes。 He read the
paper slowly。 〃Step into the office； please。〃
This time the office was empty。 The inspector sat down by the
table and began sorting some papers that lay on it； evidently
intending to be present at the interview。
When Nekhludoff asked whether he might see the political
prisoner； Doukhova； the inspector answered； shortly； that he
could not。 〃Interviews with political prisoners are not
permitted；〃 he said； and again fixed his attention on his papers。
With a letter to Doukhova in his pocket； Nekhludoff felt as if he
had committed some offence； and his plans had been discovered and
frustrated。
When Maslova entered the room the inspector raised his head； and；
without looking at either her or Nekhludoff； remarked： 〃You may
talk；〃 and went on sorting his papers。 Maslova had again the
white jacket； petticoat and kerchief on。 When she came up to
Nekhludoff and saw his cold； hard look； she blushed scarlet； and
crumbling the hem of her jacket with her hand； she cast down her
eyes。 Her confusion； so it seemed to Nekhludoff； confirmed the
hospital doorkeeper's words。
Nekhludoff had meant to treat her in the same way as before； but
could not bring himself to shake hands with her； so disgusting
was she to him now。
〃I have brought you had news；〃 he said； in a monotonous voice；
without looking at her or taking her hand。 〃The Senate has
refused。〃
〃I knew it would；〃 she said； in a strange tone； as if she were
gasping for breath。
Formerly Nekhludoff would have asked why she said she knew it
would； now he only looked at her。 Her eyes were full of tears。
But this did not soften him； it roused his irritation against her
even more。
The inspector rose and began pacing up and down the room。
In spite of the disgust Nekhludoff was feeling at the moment； he
considered it right to express his regret at the Senate's
decision。
〃You must not despair；〃 he said。 〃The petition to the Emperor may
meet with success； and I hope…〃
〃I'm not thinking of that；〃 she said； looking piteously at him
with her wet； squinting eyes。
〃What is it； then？〃
〃You have been to the hospital； and they have most likely told
you about me〃
〃What of that？ That is your affair；〃 said Nekhludoff coldly； and
frowned。 The cruel feeling of wounded pride that had quieted down
rose with renewed force when she mentioned the hospital。
〃He； a man of the world； whom any girl of the best families would
think it happiness to marry； offered himself as a husband to this
woman； and she could not even wait； but began intriguing with the
medical assistant；〃 thought he； with a look of hatred。
〃Here； sign this petition；〃 he said； taking a large envelope from
his pocket； and laying the paper on the table。 She wiped the
tears with a corner of her kerchief； and asked what to write and
where。
He showed her； and she sat down and arranged the cuff of her
right sleeve with her left hand； he stood behind her； and
silently looked at her back； which shook with suppressed emotion；
and evil and good feelings were fighting in his breastfeelings
of wounded pride and of pity for her who was sufferingand the
last feeling was victorious。
He could not remember which came first； did the pity for her
first enter his heart； or did he first remember his own sinshis
own repulsive actions； the very same for which he was condemning
her？ Anyhow； he both felt himself guilty and pitied her。
Having signed the petition and wiped her inky finger on her
petticoat； she got up and looked at him。
〃Whatever happens； whatever comes of it； my resolve remains
unchanged；〃 said Nekhludoff。 The thought that he had forgiven her
heightened his feeling of pity and tenderness for her； and he
wished to comfort her。 〃I will do what I have said； wherever they
take you I shall be with you。〃
〃What's the use？〃 she interrupted hurriedly； though her whole
face lighted up。
Think what you will want on the way〃
〃I don't know of anything in particular； thank you。〃
The inspector came up； and without waiting for a remark from him
Nekhludoff took leave； and went out with peace； joy； and love
towards everybody in his heart such as he had never felt before。
The certainty that no action of Maslova could change his love for
her filled him with joy and raised him to a level which he had
never before attained。 Let her intrigue with the medical
assistant； that was her business。 He loved her not for his own
but for her sake and for God's。
And this intrigue； for which Maslova was turned out of the
hospital； and of which Nekhludoff believed she was really guilty；
consisted of the following：
Maslova was sent by the head nurse to get some herb tea from the
dispensary at the end of the corridor； and there； all alone； she
found the medical assistant； a tall man； with a blotchy face； who
had for a long time been bothering her。 In trying to get away
from him Maslova gave him such a push that he knocked his head
against a shelf； from which two bottles fell and broke。 The head
doctor； who was passing at that moment； heard the sound of
breaking glass； and saw Maslova run out； quite red； and shouted
to her：
〃Ah； my good woman； if you start intriguing here； I'll send you
about your business。 What is the meaning of it？〃 he went on；
addressing the medical assistant； and looking at him over his
spectacles。
The assistant smiled； and began to justify himself。 The doctor
gave no heed to him； but； lifting his head so that he now looked
through his spectacles； he entered the ward。 He told the
inspector the same day to send another more sedate
assistant…nurse in Maslova's place。 And this was her 〃intrigue〃
with the medical assistant。
Being turned out for a love intrigue was particularly painful to
Maslova； because the relations with men； which had long been
repulsive to her； had become specially disgusting after meeting
Nekhludoff。 The thought that； judging her by her past and present
position； every man； the blotchy assistant among them； considered
he had a right to offend her； and was surprised at her refusal；
hurt her deeply； and made her pity herself and brought tears to
her eyes。
When she went out to Nekhludoff this time she wished to clear
herself of the false charge which she knew he would certainly
have heard about。 But when she began to justify herself she felt
he did not believe her； and that her excuses would only
strengthen his suspicions； tears choked her； and she was silent。
Maslova still thought and continued to persuade herself that she
had never forgiven him； and hated him； as she told him at their
second interview； but in reality she loved him again； and loved
him so that she did all he wished her to do； left off drinking；
smoking； coquetting； and entered the hospital because she knew he
wished it。 And if every time he reminded her of it； she refused
so decidedly to accept his sacrifice and marry him； it was
because she liked repeating the proud words she had once uttered；
and because she knew that a marriage with her would be a
misfortune for him。
She had resolutely made up her mind that she would not accept his
sacrifice； and yet the thought that he despised her and believed
that she still was what she had been； and did not notice the
change that had taken place in her； was very painful。 That he
could still think she had done wrong while in the hospital
tormented her more than the news that her sentence was confirmed。
CHAPTER XXX。
THE ASTONISHING INSTITUTION CALLED CRIMINAL LAW。
Maslova might be sent off with the first gang of prisoners；
therefore Nekhludoff got ready for his departure。 But there was
so much to be done that he felt that he could not finish it；
however much time he might have。 It was quite different now from
what it had been。 Formerly he used to be obliged to look for an
occupation； the interest of which always centred in one person；
i。e。； Dmitri Ivanovitch Nekhludoff； and yet； though every
interest of his life was thus centred； all these occupations were
very wearisome。 Now all his occupations related to other people
and not to Dmitri Ivanovitch； an