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The tramp stood in the passage with his wet cloak thrown over one
shoulder； looking mockingly and boldly at Nekhludoff； and did not
move out of the way。 Nekhludoff passed him by。
Though this kind of scene had now become quite familiar to him；
though he had during the last three months seen these four
hundred criminal prisoners over and over again in many different
circumstances； in the heat； enveloped in clouds of dust which
they raised as they dragged their chained feet along the road；
and at the resting places by the way； where the most horrible
scenes of barefaced debauchery had occurred； yet every time he
came among them； and felt their attention fixed upon him as it
was now； shame and consciousness of his sin against them
tormented him。 To this sense of shame and guilt was added an
unconquerable feeling of loathing and horror。 He knew that；
placed in a position such as theirs； they could not he other than
they were； and yet he was unable to stifle his disgust。
〃It's well for them do…nothings；〃 Nekhludoff heard some one say
in a hoarse voice as he approached the room of the political
prisoners。 Then followed a word of obscene abuse； and spiteful；
mocking laughter。
CHAPTER X。
MAKAR DEVKIN。
When they had passed the bachelors' room the sergeant who
accompanied Nekhludoff left him； promising to come for him before
the inspection would take place。 As soon as the sergeant was gone
a prisoner； quickly stepping with his bare feet and holding up
the chains； came close up to Nekhludoff； enveloping him in the
strong； acid smell of perspiration； and said in a mysterious
whisper：
〃Help the lad； sir； he's got into an awful mess。 Been drinking。
To…day he's given his name as Karmanoff at the inspection。 Take
his part； sir。 We dare not； or they'll kill us；〃 and looking
uneasily round he turned away。
This is what had happened。 The criminal Kalmanoff had persuaded a
young fellow who resembled him in appearance and was sentenced to
exile to change names with him and go to the mines instead of
him； while he only went to exile。 Nekhludoff knew all this。 Some
convict had told him about this exchange the week before。 He
nodded as a sign that he understood and would do what was in his
power； and continued his way without looking round。
Nekhludoff knew this convict； and was surprised by his action。
When in Ekaterinburg the convict had asked Nekhludoff to get a
permission for his wife to follow him。 The convict was a man of
medium size and of the most ordinary peasant type； about thirty
years old。 He was condemned to hard labour for an attempt to
murder and rob。 His name was Makar Devkin。 His crime was a very
curious one。 In the account he gave of it to Nekhludoff； he said
it was not his but his devil's doing。 He said that a traveller
had come to his father's house and hired his sledge to drive him
to a village thirty miles off for two roubles。 Makar's father
told him to drive the stranger。 Makar harnessed the horse；
dressed； and sat down to drink tea with the stranger。 The
stranger related at the tea…table that he was going to be married
and had five hundred roubles； which he had earned in Moscow； with
him。 When he had heard this； Makar went out into the yard and put
an axe into the sledge under the straw。 〃And I did not myself
know why I was taking the axe；〃 he said。 〃'Take the axe；' says
HE； and I took it。 We got in and started。 We drove along all
right； I even forgot about the axe。 Well； we were getting near
the village； only about four miles more to go。 The way from the
cross…road to the high road was up hill； and I got out。 I walked
behind the sledge and HE whispers to me； 'What are you thinking
about？ When you get to the top of the hill you will meet people
along the highway； and then there will be the village。 He will
carry the money away。 If you mean to do it； now's the time。' I
stooped over the sledge as if to arrange the straw； and the axe
seemed to jump into my hand of itself。 The man turned round。
'What are you doing？' I lifted the axe and tried to knock him
down； but he was quick； jumped out； and took hold of my hands。
'What are you doing； you villain？' He threw me down into the
snow； and I did not even struggle； but gave in at once。 He bound
my arms with his girdle； and threw me into the sledge； and took
me straight to the police station。 I was imprisoned and tried。
The commune gave me a good character； said that I was a good man；
and that nothing wrong had been noticed about me。 The masters for
whom I worked also spoke well of me； but we had no money to
engage a lawyer； and so I was condemned to four years' hard
labour。〃
It was this man who； wishing to save a fellow…villager； knowing
that he was risking his life thereby； told Nekhludoff the
prisoner's secret； for doing which （if found out） he should
certainly be throttled。
CHAPTER XI。
MASLOVA AND HER COMPANIONS。
The political prisoners were kept in two small rooms； the doors
of which opened into a part of the passage partitioned off from
the rest。 The first person Nekhludoff saw on entering into this
part of the passage was Simonson in his rubber jacket and with a
log of pine wood in his hands； crouching in front of a stove； the
door of which trembled； drawn in by the heat inside。
When he saw Nekhludoff he looked up at him from under his
protruding brow； and gave him his hand without rising。
〃I am glad you have come； I want to speak to you；〃 he said；
looking Nekhludoff straight in the eyes with an expression of
importance。
〃Yes； what is it？〃 Nekhludoff asked。
〃It will do later on； I am busy just now；〃 and Simonson turned
again towards the stove； which he was heating according to a
theory of his own； so as to lose as little heat energy as
possible。
Nekhludoff was going to enter in at the first door； when Maslova；
stooping and pushing a large heap of rubbish and dust towards the
stove with a handleless birch broom； came out of the other。 She
had a white jacket on； her skirt was tucked up； and a kerchief；
drawn down to her eyebrows； protected her hair from the dust。
When she saw Nekhludoff； she drew herself up； flushing and
animated； put down the broom； wiped her hands on her skirt； and
stopped right in front of him。 〃You are tidying up the
apartments； I see；〃 said Nekhludoff； shaking hands。
〃Yes； my old occupation；〃 and she smiled。 〃But the dirt！ You
can't imagine what it is。 We have been cleaning and cleaning。
Well； is the plaid dry？〃 she asked； turning to Simonson。
〃Almost；〃 Simonson answered； giving her a strange look； which
struck Nekhludoff。
〃All right； I'll come for it； and will bring the cloaks to dry。
Our people are all in here；〃 she said to Nekhludoff； pointing to
the first door as she went out of the second。
Nekhludoff opened the door and entered a small room dimly lit by
a little metal lamp； which was standing low down on the shelf
bedstead。 It was cold in the room； and there was a smell of the
dust； which had not had time to settle； damp and tobacco smoke。
Only those who were close to the lamp were clearly visible； the
bedsteads were in the shade and wavering shadows glided over the
walls。 Two men； appointed as caterers； who had gone to fetch
boiling water and provisions； were away； most of the political
prisoners were gathered together in the small room。 There was
Nekhludoff's old acquaintance； Vera Doukhova； with her large；
frightened eyes； and the swollen vein on her forehead； in a grey
jacket with short hair； and thinner and yellower than ever。。 She
had a newspaper spread out in front of her； and sat rolling
cigarettes with a jerky movement of her hands。
Emily Rintzeva； whom Nekhludoff considered to be the pleasantest
of the political prisoners； was also here。 She looked after the
housekeeping； and managed to spread a feeling of home comfort
even in the midst of the most trying surroundings。 She sat beside
the lamp； with her sleeves rolled up； wiping cups and mugs； and
placing them； with her deft； red and sunburnt hands； on a cloth
that was spread on the bedstead。 Rintzeva was a plain…looking
young woman； with a clever and mild expression of face； which；
when she smiled； had a way of suddenly becoming merry； animated
and captivating。 It was with such a smile that she now welcomed
Nekhludoff。
〃Why； we thought you had gone back to Russia；〃 she said。
Here in a dark corner was also Mary Pavlovna； busy with a little；
fair…haired girl； who kept prattling in her sweet； childish
accents。
〃How nice that you have come；〃 she said to Nekhludoff。
Have you seen Katusha？ And we have a visitor here；〃 and she
pointed to the little girl。
Here was also Anatole Kryltzoff with felt boots on； sitting in a
far corner with his feet under him； doubled up and shivering； his
arms folded in the sleeves of his cloak； and looking at
Nekhludoff with feverish eyes。 Nekhludoff was going up to him；
but to the right of the door a man with spectacles and reddish
curls； dressed in a rubber jacket； sat talking to the pretty；
smiling Grabetz。 This was the celebrated revolutionist
Novodvoroff。 Nekhludoff hastened to greet him。 He was in a
particular hurry about it； because this man was the only one
among al