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from the criminals。 What Simonson had told him freed him from the
self…imposed duty； which had seemed hard and strange to him in
his weak moments； and yet now he felt something that was not
merely unpleasant but painful。
He had a feeling that this offer of Simonson's destroyed the
exceptional character of his sacrifice； and thereby lessened its
value in his own and others' eyes； if so good a man who was not
bound to her by any kind of tie wanted to join his fate to hers；
then this sacrifice was not so great。 There may have also been an
admixture of ordinary jealousy。 He had got so used to her love
that he did not like to admit that she loved another。
Then it also upset the plans he had formed of living near her
while she was doing her term。 If she married Simonson his
presence would be unnecessary； and he would have to form new
plans。
Before he had time to analyse his feelings the loud din of the
prisoners' voices came in with a rush （something special was
going on among them to…day） as the door opened to let Katusha in。
She stepped briskly close up to him and said； 〃Mary Pavlovna has
sent me。〃
〃Yes； I must have a talk with you。 Sit down。 Valdemar Simonson
has been speaking to me。〃
She sat down and folded her hands in her lap and seemed quite
calm； but hardly had Nekhludoff uttered Simonson's name when she
flushed crimson。
〃What did he say？〃 she asked。
〃He told me he wanted to marry you。〃
Her face suddenly puckered up with pain； but she said nothing and
only cast down her eyes。
〃He is asking for my consent or my advice。 I told him that it all
depends entirely on youthat you must decide。〃
〃Ah； what does it all mean？ Why？〃 she muttered； and looked in
his eyes with that peculiar squint that always strangely affected
Nekhludoff。
They sat silent for a few minutes looking into each other's eyes；
and this look told much to both of them。
〃You must decide；〃 Nekhludoff repeated。
〃What am I to decide？ Everything has long been decided。〃
〃No； you must decide whether you will accept Mr。 Simonson's
offer；〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃What sort of a wife can I beI； a convict？ Why should I ruin
Mr。 Simonson； too？〃 she said； with a frown。
〃Well； but if the sentence should be mitigated。〃
〃Oh； leave me alone。 I have nothing more to say；〃 she said； and
rose to leave the room。
CHAPTER XVIII。
NEVEROFF'S FATE。
When； following Katusha； Nekhludoff returned to the men's room；
he found every one there in agitation。 Nabatoff； who went about
all over the place； and who got to know everybody； and noticed
everything； had just brought news which staggered them all。 The
news was that he had discovered a note on a wall； written by the
revolutionist Petlin； who had been sentenced to hard labour； and
who； every one thought； had long since reached the Kara； and now
it turned out that he had passed this way quite recently； the
only political prisoner among criminal convicts。
〃On the 17th of August；〃 so ran the note； 〃I was sent off alone
with the criminals。 Neveroff was with me； but hanged himself in
the lunatic asylum in Kasan。 I am well and in good spirits and
hope for the best。〃
All were discussing Petlin's position and the possible reasons of
Neveroff's suicide。 Only Kryltzoff sat silent and preoccupied；
his glistening eyes gazing fixedly in front of him。
〃My husband told me that Neveroff had a vision while still in the
Petropavlovski prison；〃 said Rintzeva。
〃Yes； he was a poet； a dreamer； this sort of people cannot stand
solitary confinement；〃 said Novodvoroff。 〃Now； I never gave my
imagination vent when in solitary confinement； but arranged my
days most systematically； and in this way always bore it very
well。〃
〃What is there unbearable about it？ Why； I used to be glad when
they locked me up；〃 said Nabatoff cheerfully； wishing to dispel
the general depression。
〃A fellow's afraid of everything； of being arrested himself and
entangling others； and of spoiling the whole business； and then
he gets locked up； and all responsibility is at an end； and he
can rest； he can just sit and smoke。〃
〃You knew him well？〃 asked Mary Pavlovna； glancing anxiously at
the altered； haggard expression of Kryltzoff's face。
〃Neveroff a dreamer？〃 Kryltzoff suddenly began； panting for
breath as if he had been shouting or singing for a long time。
〃Neveroff was a man 'such as the earth bears few of；' as our
doorkeeper used to express it。 Yes； he had a nature like crystal；
you could see him right through； he could not lie； he could not
dissemble； not simply thin skinned； but with all his nerves laid
bare； as if he were flayed。 Yes； his was a complicated； rich
nature； not such a But where is the use of talking？〃 he added；
with a vicious frown。 〃Shall we first educate the people and then
change the forms of life； or first change the forms and then
struggle； using peaceful propaganda or terrorism？ So we go on
disputing while they kill； they do not disputethey know their
business； they don't care whether dozens； hundreds of men
perishand what men！ No； that the best should perish is just
what they want。 Yes； Herzen said that when the Decembrists were
withdrawn from circulation the average level of our society sank。
I should think so； indeed。 Then Herzen himself and his fellows
were withdrawn； now is the turn of the Neveroffs。〃
〃They can't all be got rid off；〃 said Nabatoff； in his cheerful
tones。〃 There will always be left enough to continue the breed。
No； there won't； if we show any pity to THEM there；〃 Nabatoff
said； raising his voice； and not letting himself be interrupted；
〃Give me a cigarette。〃
〃Oh； Anatole； it is not good for you；〃 said Mary Pavlovna。
〃Please do not smoke。〃
〃Oh； leave me alone；〃 he said angrily； and lit a cigarette； but
at once began to cough and to retch； as if he were going to be
sick。 Having cleared his throat though； he went on：
〃What we have been doing is not the thing at all。 Not to argue；
but for all to uniteto destroy themthat's it。〃
〃But they are also human beings；〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃No； they are not human； they who can do what they are doing
No There； now； I heard that some kind of bombs and balloons
have been invented。 Well； one ought to go up in such a balloon
and sprinkle bombs down on them as if they were bugs； until they
are all exterminated Yes。 Because〃 he was going to continue；
but； flushing all over； he began coughing worse than before； and
a stream of blood rushed from his mouth。
Nabatoff ran to get ice。 Mary Pavlovna brought valerian drops and
offered them to him； but he； breathing quickly and heavily；
pushed her away with his thin； white hand； and kept his eyes
closed。 When the ice and cold water had eased Kryltzoff a little；
and he had been put to bed； Nekhludoff； having said good…night to
everybody； went out with the sergeant； who had been waiting for
him some time。
The criminals were now quiet； and most of them were asleep。
Though the people were lying on and under the bed shelves and in
the space between； they could not all be placed inside the rooms；
and some of them lay in the passage with their sacks under their
heads and covered with their cloaks。 The moans and sleepy voices
came through the open doors and sounded through the passage。
Everywhere lay compact heaps of human beings covered with prison
cloaks。 Only a few men who were sitting in the bachelors' room by
the light of a candle end； which they put out when they noticed
the sergeant； were awake； and an old man who sat naked under the
lamp in the passage picking the vermin off his shirt。 The foul
air in the political prisoners' rooms seemed pure compared to the
stinking closeness here。 The smoking lamp shone dimly as through
a mist； and it was difficult to breathe。 Stepping along the
passage； one had to look carefully for an empty space； and having
put down one foot had to find place for the other。 Three persons；
who had evidently found no room even in the passage； lay in the
anteroom； close to the stinking and leaking tub。 One of these was
an old idiot； whom Nekhludoff had often seen marching with the
gang； another was a boy about twelve； he lay between the two
other convicts； with his head on the leg of one of them。
When he had passed out of the gate Nekhludoff took a deep breath
and long continued to breathe in deep draughts of frosty air。
CHAPTER XIX。
WHY IS IT DONE？
It had cleared up and was starlight。 Except in a few places the
mud was frozen hard when Nekhludoff returned to his inn and
knocked at one of its dark windows。 The broad…shouldered labourer
came barefooted to open the door for him and let him in。 Through
a door on the right； leading to the back premises； came the loud
snoring of the carters； who slept there； and the sound of many
horses chewing oats came from the yard。 The front room； where a
red lamp was burning in front of the icons； smelt of wormwood and
perspiration； and some one with mighty lungs was snoring behind a
partition。 Nekhludoff undressed； put his leather travelling
pillow on the oilcloth sofa； spread out his rug and lay down；
thinking over all he had seen and heard that day； the boy
sleeping on the liquid that oozed from the stinking