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remains of his dinner and two bottles； there was a strong smell
of tobacco and some very strong； cheap scent in the warm room。 On
seeing Nekhludoff the officer rose and gazed ironically and
suspiciously； as it seemed； at the newcomer。
〃What is it you want？〃 he asked； and； not waiting for a reply；
he shouted through the open door：
〃Bernoff； the somovar！ What are you about？〃
〃Coming at once。〃
〃You'll get it 'at once' so that you'll remember it；〃 shouted the
officer； and his eyes flashed。
〃I'm coming；〃 shouted the soldier； and brought in the somovar。
Nekhludoff waited while the soldier placed the somovar on the
table。 When the officer had followed the soldier out of the room
with his cruel little eyes looking as if they were aiming where
best to hit him； he made the tea； got the four…cornered decanter
out of his travelling case and some Albert biscuits； and having
placed all this on the cloth he again turned to Nekhludoff。
〃Well； how can I he of service to you？〃
〃I should like to be allowed to visit a prisoner；〃 said
Nekhludoff； without sitting down。
〃A political one？ That's forbidden by the law；〃 said the officer。
〃The woman I mean is not a political prisoner；〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃Yes。 But pray take a scat；〃 said the officer。 Nekhludoff sat
down。
〃She is not a political one； but at my request she has been
allowed by the higher authorities to join the political
prisoners〃
〃Oh； yes； I know；〃 interrupted the other； 〃a little dark one？
Well； yes； that can be managed。 Won't you smoke？〃 He moved a box
of cigarettes towards Nekhludoff； and； having carefully poured
out two tumblers of tea； he passed one to Nekhludoff。 〃If you
please；〃 he said。
〃Thank you； I should like to see〃
〃The night is long。 You'll have plenty of time。 I shall order her
to be sent out to you。〃
〃But could I not see her where she is？ Why need she be sent for？〃
Nekhludoff said。
〃In to the political prisoners？ It is against the law。〃
〃I have been allowed to go in several times。 If there is any
danger of my passing anything in to them I could do it through
her just as well。'
〃Oh； no； she would be searched；〃 said the officer； and laughed in
an unpleasant manner。
〃Well； why not search me？〃
〃All right； we'll manage without that；〃 said the officer； opening
the decanter； and holding it out towards Nekhludoff's tumbler of
tea。 〃May I？ No？ Well； just as you like。 When you are living here
in Siberia you are too glad to meet an educated person。 Our work；
as you know； is the saddest； and when one is used to better
things it is very hard。 The idea they have of us is that convoy
officers are coarse； uneducated men； and no one seems to remember
that we may have been born for a very different position。〃
This officer's red face； his scents； his rings； and especially
his unpleasant laughter disgusted Nekhludoff very much； but
to…day； as during the whole of his journey； he was in that
serious； attentive state which did not allow him to behave
slightingly or disdainfully towards any man； but made him feel
the necessity of speaking to every one 〃entirely；〃 as he
expressed to himself； this relation to men。 When he had heard the
officer and understood his state of mind； he said in a serious
manner：
〃I think that in your position； too； some comfort could be found
in helping the suffering people；〃 he said。
〃What are their sufferings？ You don't know what these people
are。〃
〃They are not special people；〃 said Nekhludoff ； 〃they are just
such people as others； and some of them are quite innocent。〃
〃Of course； there are all sorts among them； and naturally one
pities them。 Others won't let anything off； but I try to lighten
their condition where I can。 It's better that I should suffer；
but not they。 Others keep to the law in every detail； even as far
as to shoot； but I show pity。 May I？Take another；〃 he said； and
poured out another tumbler of tea for Nekhludoff。
〃And who is she； this woman that you want to see？〃 he asked。
〃It is an unfortunate woman who got into a brothel； and was there
falsely accused of poisoning； and she is a very good woman；〃
Nekhludoff answered。
The officer shook his head。 〃Yes； it does happen。 I can tell you
about a certain Ernma who lived in Kasan。 She was a Hungarian by
birth； but she had quite Persian eyes；〃 he continued； unable to
restrain a smile at the recollection； 〃there was so much chic
about her that a countess〃
Nekhludoff interrupted the officer and returned to the former
topic of conversation。
〃I think that you could lighten the condition of the people while
they are in your charge。 And in acting that way I am sure you
would find great joy！〃 said Nekhludoff； trying to pronounce as
distinctly as possible； as he might if talking to a foreigner or
a child。
The officer looked at Nekhludoff impatiently； waiting for him to
stop so as to continue the tale about the Hungarian with Persian
eyes； who evidently presented herself very vividly to his
imagination and quite absorbed his attention。
〃Yes； of course； this is all quite true；〃 he said； 〃and I do pity
them； but I should like to tell you about Emma。 What do you think
she did？〃
〃It does not interest me；〃 said Nekhludoff； 〃and I will tell you
straight； that though I was myself very different at one time； I
now hate that kind of relation to women。〃
The officer gave Nekhludoff a frightened look。
〃Won't you take some more tea？〃 he said。
〃No； thank you。〃
〃Bernoff！〃 the officer called； 〃take the gentleman to Vakouloff。
Tell him to let him into the separate political room。 He may
remain there till the inspection。〃
CHAPTER IX。
THE POLITICAL PRISONERS。
Accompanied by the orderly； Nekhludoff went out into the
courtyard； which was dimly lit up by the red light of the lamps。
〃Where to？〃 asked the convoy sergeant； addressing the orderly。
〃Into the separate cell； No。 5。〃
〃You can't pass here； the boss has gone to the village and taken
the keys。〃
〃Well； then； pass this way。〃
The soldier led Nekhludoff along a board to another entrance。
While still in the yard Nekhludoff could hear the din of voices
and general commotion going on inside as in a beehive when the
bees are preparing to swarm； but when he came nearer and the door
opened the din grew louder； and changed into distinct sounds of
shouting； abuse and laughter。 He heard the clatter of chairs and
smelt the well…known foul air。 This din of voices and the clatter
of the chairs； together with the close smell； always flowed into
one tormenting sensation； and produced in Nekhludoff a feeling of
moral nausea which grew into physical sickness； the two feelings
mingling with and heightening each other。
The first thing Nekhludoff saw； on entering； was a large；
stinking tub。 A corridor into which several doors opened led from
the entrance。 The first was the family room； then the bachelors'
room； and at the very end two small rooms were set apart for the
political prisoners。
The buildings； which were arranged to hold one hundred and fifty
prisoners； now that there were four hundred and fifty inside；
were so crowded that the prisoners could not all get into the
rooms； but filled the passage； too。 Some were sitting or lying on
the floor； some were going out with empty teapots； or bringing
them back filled with boiling water。 Among the latter was Taras。
He overtook Nekhludoff and greeted him affectionately。 The kind
face of Taras was disfigured by dark bruises on his nose and
under his eye。
〃What has happened to you？〃 asked Nekhludoff。
〃Yes； something did happen；〃 Taras said； with a smile。
〃All because of the woman；〃 added a prisoner； who followed Taras；
〃he's had a row with Blind Fedka。〃
〃And how's Theodosia？〃
〃She's all right。 Here I am bringing her the water for her tea；〃
Taras answered； and went into the family room。
Nekhludoff looked in at the door。 The room was crowded with women
and men； some of whom were on and some under the bedsteads； it
was full of steam from the wet clothes that were drying； and the
chatter of women's voices was unceasing。 The next door led into
the bachelors' room。 This room was still more crowded； even the
doorway and the passage in front of it were blocked by a noisy
crowd of men； in wet garments； busy doing or deciding something
or other。
The convoy sergeant explained that it was the prisoner appointed
to buy provisions； paying off out of the food money what was
owing to a sharper who had won from or lent money to the
prisoners； and receiving back little tickets made of playing
cards。 When they saw the convoy soldier and a gentleman； those
who were nearest became silent； and followed them with looks of
ill…will。 Among them Nekhludoff noticed the criminal Fedoroff；
whom he knew； and who always kept a miserable lad with a swelled
appearance and raised eyebrows beside him； and also a disgusting；
noseless； pock…marked tramp； who was notorious among the
prisoners because he killed his comrade in the marshes while
trying to escape； and had； as it was rumoured； fed on his flesh。
The tramp stood in the passage with his wet cloak thrown over one
shoulder； looking mockingly and boldly at Nekhludoff； and did not
m