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Nabatoff's devoted and pure love touched and excited her。 This
moral； firm man； her husband's friend； tried to treat her as a
sister； but something more appeared in his behaviour to her； and
this something frightened them both； and yet gave colour to their
life of hardship。
So that in all this circle only Mary Pavlovna and Kondratieff
were quite free from love affairs。
CHAPTER XIV。
CONVERSATIONS IN PRISON。
Expecting to have a private talk with Katusha； as usual； after
tea； Nekhludoff sat by the side of Kryltzoff； conversing with
him。 Among other things he told him the story of Makar's crime
and about his request to him。 Kryltzoff listened attentively；
gazing at Nekhludoff with glistening eyes。
〃Yes；〃 said Kryltzoff suddenly； 〃I often think that here we are
going side by side with them； and who are they？ The same for
whose sake we are going； and yet we not only do not know them；
but do not even wish to know them。 And they； even worse than
that； they hate us and look upon us as enemies。 This is
terrible。〃
〃There is nothing terrible about it；〃 broke in Novodvoroff。 〃The
masses always worship power only。 The government is in power； and
they worship it and hate us。 To…morrow we shall have the power；
and they will worship us；〃 he said with his grating voice。 At
that moment a volley of abuse and the rattle of chains sounded
from behind the wall； something was heard thumping against it and
screaming and shrieking； some one was being beaten； and some one
was calling out； 〃Murder！ help！〃
〃Hear them； the beasts！ What intercourse can there be between us
and such as them？〃 quietly remarked Novodvoroff。
〃You call them beasts； and Nekhludoff was just telling me about
such an action！〃 irritably retorted Kryltzoff； and went on to say
how Makar was risking his life to save a fellow…villager。 〃That
is not the action of a beast； it is heroism。〃
〃Sentimentality！〃 Novodvoroff ejaculated ironically； 〃it is
difficult for us to understand the emotions of these people and
the motives on which they act。 You see generosity in the act； and
it may be simply jealousy of that other criminal。〃
〃How is it that you never wish to see anything good in
another？ 〃 Mary Pavlovna said suddenly； flaring up。
〃How can one see what does not exist！〃
〃How does it not exist； when a man risks dying a terrible
death？〃
〃I think；〃 said Novodvoroff； 〃that if we mean to do our
work； the first condition is that〃 （here Kondratieff put
down the book he was reading by the lamplight and began
to listen attentively to his master's words） 〃we should not
give way to fancy； but look at things as they are。 We should
do all in our power for the masses； and expect nothing in
return。 The masses can only be the object of our activity；
but cannot be our fellow…workers as long as they remain in
that state of inertia they are in at present；〃 he went on； as
if delivering a lecture。 〃Therefore； to expect help from
them before the process of developmentthat process which
we are preparing them forhas taken place is an illusion。〃
〃What process of development？ 〃 Kryltzoff began； flushing
all over。 〃We say that we are against arbitrary rule
and despotism； and is this not the most awful despotism？〃
〃No despotism whatever；〃 quietly rejoined Novodvoroff。 〃I am
only saying that I know the path that the people must travel； and
can show them that path。〃
〃But how can you be sure that the path you show is the true path？
Is this not the same kind of despotism that lay at the bottom of
the Inquisition； all persecutions； and the great revolution？
They； too； knew the one true way； by means of their science。〃
〃Their having erred is no proof of my going to err； besides；
there is a great difference between the ravings of idealogues and
the facts based on sound； economic science。〃 Novodvoroff's voice
filled the room； he alone was speaking； all the rest were silent。
〃They are always disputing；〃 Mary Pavlovna said； when there was a
moment's silence。
〃And you yourself； what do you think about it？〃 Nekhludoff asked her。
〃I think Kryltzoff is right when he says we should not force our
views on the people。〃
〃And you； Katusha？ 〃 asked Nekhludoff with a smile；
waiting anxiously for her answer； fearing she would say
something awkward。
I think the common people are wronged；〃 she said； and blushed
scarlet。 〃I think they are dreadfully wronged。〃
〃That's right； Maslova； quite right；〃 cried Nabatoff。 〃They are
terribly wronged； the people； and they must not he wronged； and
therein lies the whole of our task。〃
〃A curious idea of the object of revolution；〃 Novodvoroff
remarked crossly； and began to smoke。
〃I cannot talk to him；〃 said Kryltzoff in a whisper； and was
silent。
〃And it is much better not to talk；〃 Nekhludoff said。
CHAPTER XV。
NOVODVOROFF。
Although Novodvoroff was highly esteemed of all the
revolutionists； though he was very learned； and considered very
wise； Nekhludoff reckoned him among those of the revolutionists
who； being below the average moral level； were very far below it。
His inner life was of a nature directly opposite to that of
Simonson's。 Simonson was one of those people （of an essentially
masculine type） whose actions follow the dictates of their
reason； and are determined by it。 Novodvoroff belonged； on the
contrary； to the class of people of a feminine type； whose reason
is directed partly towards the attainment of aims set by their
feelings； partly to the justification of acts suggested by their
feelings。 The whole of Novodvoroff's revolutionary activity；
though he could explain it very eloquently and very convincingly；
appeared to Nekhludoff to be founded on nothing but ambition and
the desire for supremacy。 At first his capacity for assimilating
the thoughts of others； and of expressing them correctly； had
given him a position of supremacy among pupils and teachers in
the gymnasium and the university； where qualities such as his are
highly prized； and he was satisfied。 When he had finished his
studies and received his diploma he suddenly altered his views；
and from a modern liberal he turned into a rabid Narodovoletz； in
order （so Kryltzoff； who did not like him； said） to gain
supremacy in another sphere。
As he was devoid of those moral and aesthetic qualities which
call forth doubts and hesitation； he very soon acquired a
position in the revolutionary world which satisfied himthat of
the leader of a party。 Having once chosen a direction； he never
doubted or hesitated； and was therefore certain that he never
made a mistake。 Everything seemed quite simple； clear and
certain。 And the narrowness and one…sidedness of his views did
make everything seem simple and clear。 One only had to be
logical； as he said。 His self…assurance was so great that it
either repelled people or made them submit to him。 As he carried
on his work among very young people； his boundless self…assurance
led them to believe him very profound and wise； the majority did
submit to him； and he had a great success in revolutionary
circles。 His activity was directed to the preparation of a rising
in which he was to usurp the power and call together a council。 A
programme； composed by him； should he proposed before the
council； and he felt sure that this programme of his solved every
problem； and that it would he impossible not to carry it out。
His comrades respected but did not love him。 He did not love any
one； looked upon all men of note as upon rivals； and would have
willingly treated them as old male monkeys treat young ones if he
could have done it。 He would have torn all mental power； every
capacity； from other men； so that they should not interfere with
the display of his talents。 He behaved well only to those who
bowed before him。 Now； on the journey he behaved well to
Kondratieff； who was influenced by his propaganda； to Vera
Doukhova and pretty little Grabetz； who were both in love with
him。 Although in principle he was in favour of the woman's
movement； yet in the depth of his soul he considered all women
stupid and insignificant except those whom he was sentimentally
in love with （as he was now in love with Grabetz）； and such women
he considered to be exceptions； whose merits he alone was capable
of discerning。
The question of the relations of the sexes he also looked upon as
thoroughly solved by accepting free union。 He had one nominal and
one real wife； from both of whom he was separated； having come to
the conclusion that there was no real love between them； and now
he thought of entering on a free union with Grabetz。 He despised
Nekhludoff for 〃playing the fool；〃 as Novodvoroff termed it； with
Maslova； but especially for the freedom Nekhludoff took of
considering the defects of the existing system and the methods of
correcting those defects in a manner which was not only not
exactly the same as Novodvoroff's； but was Nekhludoff's owna
prince's； that is； a fool's manner。 Nekhludoff felt this relation
of Novodvoroff's towards him； and knew to his sorrow that in
spite of the state of good will in which he found himself on this
journey he could not help paying this man in his own coin； and
could not stifle the strong an