 Book 1, Chapter 38 of Resurrection—Sunday in prison, preparing for mass. On Sunday morning at five o'clock, when a whistle sounded in the corridor of the women's ward of the prison, Korbleva, who was already awake, called Maslova. Oh, dear, life again, thought Maslova with horror, involuntarily breathing in the air that had become terribly noisome towards the morning. She wished to fall asleep again, to enter into the region of Oblivion, but the habit of fear overcame sleepiness, and she sat up and looked round, drawing her feet under her. When she had all got up, only the elder children were still asleep. The spirit trader was carefully drawing a cloak from under the children, so as not to wake them. The watchman's wife was hanging up the rags to dry that served the baby as swaddling clothes, while the baby was screaming desperately in Theodosha's arms, who was trying to quiet it. The consumptive woman was coughing with her hands pressed to her chest, while the blood rushed to her face, and she sighed loudly, almost screaming in the intervals of coughing. The fat, red-haired woman was lying on her back, with knees drawn up, and loudly relating a dream. The old woman, accused of incendiarism, was standing in front of the image, crossing herself and bowing, and repeating the same words over and over again. The deacon's daughter sat on the bedstead, looking before her with a dull, sleepy face. Koroshavka was twisting her black, oily, coarse hair round her fingers. The sound of slip-shot feet was heard in the passage, and the door opened to lead in two convicts, dressed in jackets and gray trousers that did not reach to their ankles. With serious cross-faces, they lifted the stinking tub and carried it out of the cell. The women went out to the taps in the corridor to wash. There, the red-haired woman again began a quarrel with a woman from another cell. "'Is it the solitary cell you want?' shouted an old jailer, slapping the red-haired woman on her bare fat back, so that it sounded through the corridor. "'You be quiet!' "'The old one's playful!' said the woman, taking his action for a caress. "'Now then, be quick. Get ready for the mass.' Maslova had hardly time to do her hair and dress when the inspector came with his assistance. "'Come out for inspection!' cried a jailer. Some more prisoners came out of other cells and stood in two rows along the corridor. Each woman had to place her hand on the shoulder of the woman in front of her. They were all counted. After the inspection, the woman water led the prisoners to church. Maslova and Theodosia were in the middle of a column over a hundred women who had come out of different cells. All were dressed in white skirts, white jackets, and wore white kerchiefs on their heads, except a few who had their own colored clothes on. These were wives who, with their children, were following their convict husbands to Siberia. The whole flight of stairs was filled by the procession. The patter of softly shod feet mingled with the voices, and now and then a laugh. When turning on the landing, Maslova saw her enemy Bačková in front and pointed out her angry face to Theodosia. At the bottom of the stairs, the women stopped talking. Bowing and crossing themselves, they entered the empty church, which glistened with gilding, crowding, and pushing one another they took their places on the right. After the women came the men condemned to banishment, those serving their term in the prison, and those exiled by their communes. And, coughing loudly, they took their stand, crowding the left side and the middle of the church. On one side of the gallery above stood the men sentenced to penal servitude in Siberia, who had been led into the church before the others. Each of them had half his head shaved, and their presence was indicated by the clanking of the chains on their feet. On the other side of the gallery stood those in preliminary confinement without chains, their heads not shaved. The prison church had been rebuilt and ornamented by a rich merchant who spent several tens of thousands of roubles on it, and it glittered with gay colors in gold. For a time there was silence in the church, and only coughing, blowing of noses, the crying of babies, and now and then the rattling of chains was heard. But at last the convicts that stood in the middle moved, pressed against each other, leaving a passage in the center of the church, down which the prison inspector passed to take his place in front of everyone in the nave. CHAPTER XXXIX THE PRISON CHURCH BLIND LEADERS OF THE BLIND THE SERVICE BEGAN IT CONSISTED OF THE FOLLOWING THE PRIEST, having dressed in a strange and very inconvenient garb made of goldcloth, cut and arranged little bits of bread on a saucer, and then put them into a cup with wine, repeating at the same time different names and prayers. Meanwhile the deacon first read Slavonic prayers, difficult to understand in themselves, and rendered still more incomprehensible by being read very fast, and then sang them turn and turn about with the convicts. The contents of the prayers were chiefly the desire for the welfare of the emperor and his family. These petitions were repeated many times, separately and together with other prayers, the people kneeling. Besides this, several verses from the Acts of the Apostles were read by the deacon in a peculiarly strained voice, which made it impossible to understand what he read. And then the priest read, very distinctly, a part of the Gospel according to St. Mark, in which it is said that Christ, having risen from the dead before flying up to heaven to sit down at his father's right hand, first showed himself to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven devils, and then to eleven of his disciples, and ordered them to preach the Gospel to the whole creation. And the priest added that if anyone did not believe this he would perish, but he that believed it, and was baptized, should be saved, and should, besides, drive out devils and cure people by laying his hands on them, should talk in strange tongues, should take up serpents, and if he drank poison, should not die, but remain well. The essence of the service consisted in the supposition that the bits cut up by the priest and put by him into the wine, when manipulated and prayed over in a certain way, turned into the flesh and blood of God. These manipulations consisted in the priests regularly lifting and holding up his arms, though hampered by the gold clothsack that he had on, then sinking on to his knees and kissing the table and all that was on it, but chiefly in his taking a cloth by two of its corners and waving it regularly and softly over the silver saucer and golden cup. It was supposed that at this point the bread and the wine turned into flesh and blood, therefore this part of the service was performed with the greatest solemnity. Now to the blessed, most pure and most holy mother of God. The priest cried from the golden partition which divided part of the church from the rest, and the choir began solemnly to sing that it was very right to glorify the Virgin Mary, who had borne Christ without losing her virginity, and was therefore worthy of greater honor than some kind of cherubim, and greater glory than some kind of seraphim. After this the transformation was considered accomplished, and the priest, having taken the napkin off the saucer, cut the middle bit of bread in four and put it into the wine and then into his mouth. He was supposed to have eaten a bit of God's flesh and swallowed a little of his blood. Then the priest drew a curtain, opened the middle door in the partition, and taking the gold cup in his hands came out of the door. Inviting those who wished to do so also to come and eat some of God's flesh and blood that was contained in the cup. A few children appeared to wish to do so. After having asked the children their names, the priest carefully took out of the cup with a spoon and shoved a bit of bread soaked in wine deep into the mouth of each child in turn, and the deacon, while wiping the children's mouths, sang in the merry voice that the children were eating the flesh and drinking the blood of God. After this the priest carried the cup back behind the partition and there drank all the remaining blood and ate up all the bits of flesh, and after having carefully sucked his moustache and wiped his mouth he stepped briskly from behind the partition, the soles of his calfskin boots creaking. The principal part of this Christian service was now finished. But the priest, wishing to comfort the unfortunate prisoners, added to the ordinary service another. This consisted of his going up to the guilt hammered out image with black face and hands, supposed to represent the very God he had been eating, illuminated by a dozen wax candles and proceeding in a strange discordant voice, to hum or sing the following words. Jezu, sweetest, glorified of the apostles, Jezu, lauded by the martyrs, Almighty Monarch, save me, Jezu, my Saviour, Jezu, most beautiful, have mercy on him who cries to thee, Saviour, Jezu, born of prayer, Jezu, all thy saints, all thy prophets, save and find them worthy of the joys of heaven, Jezu, lover of men. Then he stopped, drew breath, crossed himself, bowed to the ground, and everyone did the same, the inspector, the warders, the prisoners. And from above, the clinking of the chains sounded more unintermittently. Then he continued, Of angels the Creator and Lord of powers, Jezu, most wonderful, the angels' amazement, Jezu, most powerful, of our forefathers, the redeemer, Jezu, sweetest of patriarchs, the praise, Jezu, most glorious of kings, the strength, Jezu, most good of prophets, the fulfillment, Jezu, most amazing of martyrs, the strength, Jezu, most humble amongst the joy, Jezu, most merciful of priests, the sweetness, Jezu, most charitable of the fasting, the continents, Jezu, most sweet of the just, the joy, Jezu, most pure of the celibates, the chastity, Jezu, before all ages of sinners, the salvation, Jezu, Son of God, have mercy on me. Every time he repeated the word Jezu, his voice became more and more wheezy. At last he came to a stop, and holding up his silk-lined cassock and kneeling down on one knee, he stooped down to the ground, and the choir began to sing, repeating the words Jezu, Son of God, have mercy on me. And the convicts fell down and rose again, shaking back the hair that was left on their heads, and rattling with the chains that were bruising their thin ankles. This continued for a long time. First came the glorification which ended with the words, have mercy on me. Then more glorifications, ending with alleluia. And the convicts made the sign of the cross and bowed, first at each sentence, then after every two, and then after every three. But all were very glad when the glorification ended and the priest shut the book with a sigh of relief and retired behind the partition. One last act remained. The priest took a large guilt cross with enamel medallions at the ends from a table and came out into the center of the church with it. First the inspector came up and kissed the cross, then the jailers, then the convicts, pushing and abusing each other in whispers. The priest, talking to the inspector, pushed the cross and his hand now against the mouths and now against the noses of the convicts who were trying to kiss both the cross and the hand of the priest. And thus ended the Christian service intended for the comfort and the teaching of these strayed brothers. End of book 1 chapter 39 book 1 chapter 40 of resurrection. Read by Bob Neufeld Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy Translated by Louise Maud Book 1 chapter 40 The Hossks of Religion And none of those present from the inspector down to Maslova seemed conscious of the fact that this Jesus, whose name the priest repeated such a great number of times and whom he praised with all these curious expressions, had forbidden the very things that were being done there. That he had prohibited not only this meaningless much-speaking and the blasphemous incantation over the bread and wine, but had also, in the clearest words, forbidden men to call other men their master, and to pray in temples, and had ordered that everyone should pray in solitude, had forbidden to erect temples, saying that he had come to destroy them, and that one should worship not in a temple, but in spirit and in truth, and above all, that he had forbidden not only to judge, to imprison, to torment, and to execute men, as was being done here, but had prohibited any kind of violence, saying that he had come to give freedom to the captives. No one present seemed conscious that all that was going on here was the greatest blasphemy, and a supreme mockery of that same Christ in whose name it was being done. No one seemed to realize that the guilt cross with the enamel medallions of the ends, which the priest held out to the people to be kissed, was nothing but the emblem of that gallows on which Christ had been executed for denouncing just what was going on here, that these priests, who imagined they were eating and drinking the body and blood of Christ in the form of bread and wine, did in reality eat and drink his flesh and his blood, but not as wine and bits of bread, but by ensnaring these little ones with whom he identified himself, by depriving them of the greatest blessings, and submitting them to most cruel torments, and by hiding from men the tidings of great joy which he had brought. That thought did not enter into the mind of any one present. The priest did his part with a quiet conscience, because he was brought up from childhood to consider that the only true faith was the faith which had been held by all the holy men of olden times, and was still held by the church and demanded by the state authorities. He did not believe that the bread turned into flesh, that it was useful for the soul to repeat so many words, or that he had actually swallowed a bit of God. No one could believe that, but he believed that one ought to hold this faith. What strengthened him most in this faith was the fact that for fulfilling the demands of his faith he had for the last fifteen years been able to draw an income, which enabled him to keep his family, send his son to a gymnasium, and his daughter to a school for the daughters of the clergy. That Deacon believed in the same manner, and even more firmly than the priest. For he had forgotten the substance of the dogmas of this faith, and knew only that the prayers for the dead, the masses, with or without the acophistsus, all had a definite price, which real Christians readily paid, and therefore he called out his have mercy, have mercy very willingly, and read and said what was appointed, with the same quiet certainty of its being necessary to do so with which other men sell faggots, flour, or potatoes. The prison inspector and the warders, though they had never understood or gone into the meaning of these dogmas, and of all that went on in the church, believed that they must believe, because the higher authorities and the czar himself believed in it. Besides, though faintly, and themselves unable to explain why, they felt that this faith defended their cruel occupations. If this faith did not exist, it would have been more difficult, perhaps impossible, for them to use all their powers to torment people as they were now doing with a quiet conscience. The inspector was such a kind-hearted man that he could not have lived as he was now living unsupported by his faith. Therefore he stood motionless, bowed and crossed himself zealously, tried to feel touched when the song about the cherry-bimbs was being sung, and when the children received communion, he lifted one of them and held him up to the priests with his own hands. The great majority of the prisoners believed that there lay a mystic power in these guilt images, these vestments, candles, cups, crosses, and this repetition of incomprehensible words, Jesus sweetest and have mercy, a power through which might be obtained much convenience in this and in the future life. Only a few clearly saw the deception that was practiced on the people who adhered to this faith and laughed at it in their hearts. But the majority, having made several attempts to get the conveniences they desired by means of prayers, masses, and candles, and not having got them, their prayers remaining unanswered, were each of them convinced that their want of success was accidental, and that this organization, approved by the educated and by Archbishop's, is very important and necessary, if not for this, at any rate for the next life. Maslova also believed in this way. She felt, like the rest, a mixed sensation of piety and dullness. She stood at first in a crowd behind a railing, so that she could see no one but her companions. But when those to receive communion moved on, she and Theodosia stepped to the front, and they saw the inspector, and behind him, standing among the wardens, a little peasant, with a very light beard and fair hair. This was Theodosia's husband, and he was gazing with fixed eyes at his wife. During the Akifistus Maslova occupied herself in scrutinizing him and talking to Theodosia in whispers, and bowed and made the sign of the cross only when everyone else did. Nekliudov left home early. A peasant from the country was still driving along the side street, and calling out in the voice peculiar to his trade, Milk, Milk, Milk. The first warm spring rain had fallen the day before, and now, wherever the ground was not paved, the grass shone green. The birch trees in the gardens looked as if they were strewn with green fluff. The wild cherry in the poplars unrolled their long, balmy buds, and in shops and in dwelling houses the double window frames were being removed and the windows cleaned. In the Tolkuchi market, which Nekliudov had to pass on his way, a dense crowd was surging along the row of booths, and tattered men walked about selling top boots, which they carried under their arms, and renovated trousers and waistcoats, which hung over their shoulders. Men in clean coats and shining boots, liberated from the factories, yet being Sunday, and women with bright silk kerchiefs on their heads and cloth jackets trimmed with jet, were already thronging at the door of the track-tier. Policemen with yellow cords to their uniforms and carrying pistols were on duty, looking out for some disorder which might distract the ennui that oppressed them. On the paths of the boulevards and on the newly revived grass, children and dogs ran about playing, and the nurses sat merrily chattering on the benches. Along the streets, still fresh and damp on the shady side, but dry in the middle, heavy carts rumbled unceasingly, cabs rattled, and tram cars passed bringing by. The air vibrated with the peeling and clanging of church bells that were calling the people to attend a service like that which was now being conducted in the prison, and the people dressed in their Sunday best were passing on their way to their different parish churches. The Esvostchik did not drive Nekliudov up to the prison itself, but to the last turning that led to the prison. Several persons, men and women, most of them carrying small bundles, stood at this turning about a hundred steps from the prison. To the right there were several low wooden buildings, to the left a two-storied house with a signboard. The huge brick building, the prison proper, was just in front, and the visitors were not allowed to come up to it. A sentinel was pacing up and down in front of it, and shouted at anyone who tried to pass him. At the gate of the wooden buildings to the right, opposite the sentinel, sat a warder on a bench, dressed in uniform with gold cords, a notebook in his hands. The visitors came up to him and named the persons they wanted to see, and he put the names down. Nekliudov also went up and named Katharina Mazlova. The warder wrote down the name. Why don't they admit us yet? asked Nekliudov. Ah, the service is going on. When the mass is over, you'll be admitted. Nekliudov stepped aside from the waiting crowd. A man in tattered clothes, crumpled hat, with bare feet and red stripes all over his face, detached himself from the crowd and turned towards the prison. Now then, where are you going? shouted the sentinel with the gun. And you hold your row, answered the tramp, not in the least abashed by the sentinel's words, and turned back. Well, if you'll not let me in, I'll wait. But no, must needs shout, as if he were a general. The crowd laughed approvingly. The visitors were, for the greater part, badly dressed people. Some were ragged, but there were also some respectable-looking men and women. Next to Nekliudov stood a clean-shaven, stout and red-cheeked man, holding a bundle apparently containing undergarments. This was the doorkeeper of a bank. He had come to see his brother, who was arrested for forgery. The good-natured fellow told Nekliudov the whole story of his life, and was going to question him in turn when their attention was aroused by a student and a veiled lady, who drove up in a trap with rubber tires drawn by a large, thoroughbred horse. The student was holding a large bundle. He came up to Nekliudov and asked if and how he could give the roles he had brought in alms to the prisoners. His fiancée wished it, this lady was his fiancée, and her parents had advised them to take some roles to the prisoners. I myself am here for the first time," said Nekliudov, and don't know, but I think you had better asked this man, and he pointed to the water with the gold cords on the book sitting on the right. As they were speaking, the large iron door with a window in it opened, and an officer in uniform, followed by another water, stepped out. The water with the notebook proclaimed that the admittance of visitors would now commence. The sentinel stepped aside, and all the visitors rushed in the door as if afraid of being too late. Some even ran. At the door there stood a water who counted the visitors as they came in, saying aloud, sixteen, seventeen, and so on. Another water stood inside the building and also counted the visitors as they entered a second door, touching each one with his hand so that when they went away again not one visitor should be able to remain inside the prison and not one prisoner might get out. The water, without looking at whom he was touching, slapped Nekliudov on the back, and Nekliudov felt hurt by the touch of the water's hand, but remembering what he had come about he felt ashamed of feeling dissatisfied and taking offence. The first apartment behind the entrance doors was a large vaulted room with iron bars to the small window. In this room, which was called the meeting room, Nekliudov was startled by the sight of a large picture of the crucifixion. What's that for, he thought, his mind involuntarily connecting the subject of the picture with liberation and not with imprisonment. He went on, slowly letting the hurrying visitors pass before, and experiencing a mingled feeling of horror at the evil doers locked up in this building, compassion for those who, like Ketusha and the boy they tried the day before, must be here, though guiltless, and shyness and tender emotion at the thought of the interview before him. The warder at the other end of the meeting room said something as they passed, but Nekliudov, absorbed by his own thoughts, paid no attention to him, and continued to follow the majority of the visitors, and so got into the men's part of the prison instead of the women. Letting the hurrying visitors pass before him, he was the last to get into the interviewing room. As soon as Nekliudov opened the door of this room, he was struck by the deafening roar of a hundred voices shouting at once, the reason of which he did not at once understand. But when he came nearer to the people, he saw that they were all pressing against a net that divided the room in two, like flies settling on sugar, and he understood what it meant. The two halves of the room, the windows of which were opposite the door he had come in by, were separated not by one, but by two nets reaching from the floor to the ceiling. The wire nets were stretched seven feet apart, and soldiers were walking up and down the space between them. On the further side of the nets were the prisoners, on the nearer the visitors. Between them was a double row of nets and a space of seven feet wide so that they could not hand anything to one another, and any one whose sight was not very good could not even distinguish the face on the other side. It was also difficult to talk. One had to scream in order to be heard. On both sides were faces pressed close to the nets, faces of wives, husbands, fathers, mothers, children, trying to see each other's features and to say what was necessary in such a way as to be understood. But as each one tried to be heard by the one he was talking to, and his neighbor tried to do the same, they did their best to drown each other's voices, and that was the cause of the din and shouting which struck Nekliudov when he first came in. It was impossible to understand what was being said, and what were the relations between the different people. Next to Nekliudov, an old woman with a curd-chief on her head stood trembling. Her chin pressed close to the net and shouting something to a young fellow, half of whose head was shaved, who listened attentively with Ray's brows. By the side of the old woman was a young man in a peasant's coat, who listened, shaking his head to a boy very like himself. Next was a man in rags who shouted, waving his arm and laughing. Next to him, a woman with a good woolen shawl on her shoulders, sat on the floor, holding a baby in her lap and crying bitterly. This was apparently the first time she saw the gray-headed man on the other side in prison clothes and with his head shaved. Beyond her was the doorkeeper, who had spoken to Nekliudov outside. He was shouting with all his might to a gray-haired convict on the other side. When Nekliudov found that he would have to speak in similar conditions, a feeling of indignation against those who were able to make and enforce these conditions arose in him. He was surprised that, placed in such a dreadful position, no one seemed offended at this outrage on human feelings. The soldiers, the inspector, the prisoners themselves acted as if acknowledging all this to be necessary. Nekliudov remained in this room for about five minutes, feeling strangely depressed, conscious of how powerless he was and at variance with all the world. He was seized with a curious moral sensation, like sea sickness. Visiting day, the women's ward. Well, but I must do what I came here for, he said, trying to pick up courage. What is to be done now? He looked round for an official and, seeing a thin little man in the uniform of an officer going up and down behind the people, he approached him. Can you tell me, sir, he said, with exceedingly strained politeness of manner, where the women are kept and where one is allowed to interview them? Is it the women's ward you want to go to? Yes, I should like to see one of the women prisoners, Nekliudov said, with the same strained politeness. You should have said so when you were in the hall. Who is it then that you want to see? I want to see a prisoner called Katarina Mazlova. Is she a political one? No, she is simply— What? Is she sentenced? Yes, the day before yesterday she was sentenced. Meekly answered Nekliudov, fearing to spoil the inspector's good humor, which seemed to incline in his favor. If you want to go to the women's ward, please, to step this way, said the officer, having decided from Nekliudov's appearance that he was worthy of attention. Siderov, conduct the gentleman to the women's ward, he said, turning to a moustached corporal with medals on his breast. Yes, sir. At this moment, heart-rending sobs were heard coming from someone near the net. Everything here seemed strange to Nekliudov, but strangest of all was that he should have to thank and feel obligation towards the inspector and the chief warders, the very men who were performing the cruel deeds that were done in this house. The corporal showed Nekliudov through the corridor, out of the men's, into the women's interviewing room. This room, like that of the men, was divided by two wire nets, but it was much smaller, and there were fewer visitors and fewer prisoners, so that there was less shouting than in the men's room. Yet the same thing was going on here. Only between the nets, instead of soldiers, there was a woman warder, dressed in a blue-edged, uniformed jacket, with gold cords on the sleeves and a blue belt. Here also, as in the men's room, the people were pressing close to the wire netting on both sides, on the nearer side the townspeople in varied attire, on the further side the prisoners, some in white prison clothes, others in their own colored dresses. The whole length of the net was taken up by the people standing close to it. Some rose on tiptoe to be heard across the heads of others, some sat talking on the floor. The most remarkable of the prisoners, both by her piercing screams and her appearance, was a thin, disheveled gypsy. Her kerchief had slipped off her curly hair, and she stood near a post in the middle of the prisoner's division, shouting something accompanied by quick gestures to a gypsy man in a blue coat, girdled tightly below the waist. Next to the gypsy man, a soldier sat on the ground talking to a prisoner. Next to the soldier, leaning close to the net, stood a young peasant, with a fair beard and a flushed face, keeping back his tears with difficulty. A pretty, fair-haired prisoner with bright blue eyes was speaking to him. These two were Theodosia and her husband. Next to them was a tramp, talking to a broad-faced woman, then two women, then a man, then again a woman, and in front of each a prisoner. Aslova was not among them, but someone stood by the window behind the prisoners, and Neclyudov knew it was she. His heart began to beat faster, and his breath stopped. The decisive moment was approaching. He went up to the part of the net where he could see the prisoner, and recognized her at once. She stood behind the blue-eyed Theodosia and smiled, listening to what Theodosia was saying. She did not wear the prison cloak now, but a white dress, tightly drawn in at the waist by a belt and very full in the bosom. From under her kerchief appeared the black ringlets of her fringe, just the same as in the court. Now in a moment it will be decided, he thought. How shall I call her? Or will she come herself? She was expecting Bertha, that this man had come to see her, never entered her head. Whom do you want? said the warder who was walking between the nets, coming up to Neclyudov. Katarina Mazlova? Neclyudov uttered with difficulty. Katarina Mazlova! Someone to see you! cried the warder. End of Book 1 Chapter 42 Book 1 Chapter 43 Of Resurrection This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Book 1 Chapter 43 Neclyudov Visits Mazlova Mazlova looked round, and with head thrown back and expanded chests came up to the net with the expression of readiness which he well knew, pushed in between two prisoners, and gazed at Neclyudov with a surprised and questioning look. But concluding from his clothing he was a rich man. She smiled. Is it me you want? she asked, bringing her smiling face with the slightly squinting eyes nearer the net. I... I wish to see... Neclyudov did not know how to address her. I... I wish to see you... I... then he was not speaking louder than usual. No nonsense, I tell you! shouted the tramp who stood next to him. Have you taken it or not? Dying, I tell you. What more do you want? someone else was screaming at his other side. Mazlova could not hear what Neclyudov was saying, but the expression of his face as he was speaking reminded her of him. She did not believe her own eyes. Still the smile vanished from her face, and a deep line of suffering appeared on her brow. I cannot hear what you're saying, she called out, wrinkling her brow and frowning more and more. I have come, said Neclyudov. Yes, I am doing my duty. I am confessing. And at this thought the tears came in his eyes, and he felt a choking sensation in his throat, and holding on with both hands to the net, he made efforts to keep from bursting into tears. I say, why do you shove yourself in where you're not wanted? Someone shouted at one side of him. God is my witness, I know nothing! screamed a prisoner from the other side. Noticing his excitement, Mazlova recognized him. You're like, but no, I don't know you. She shouted without looking at him and blushing while her face grew still more stern. I have come to ask you to forgive me, he said, in a loud but monotonous voice, like a lesson learnt by heart. Having said these words, he became confused. But immediately came the thought that, if he felt ashamed, it was all the better. He had to bear this shame, and he continued in a loud voice. Forgive me! I have wronged you terribly! She stood motionless, and without taking her squinting eyes off him. He could not continue to speak, and stepping away from the net, he tried to suppress the sobs that were choking him. The inspector, the same officer who had directed Nekliudov to the women's ward, and whose interest he seemed to have aroused, came into the room, and seeing Nekliudov at the net, asked him why he was not talking to her whom he wanted to see. Nekliudov blew his nose, gave himself a shake, and trying to appear calm, said, It's so inconvenient through these nets. Nothing can be heard. Again the inspector considered for a moment. Ah, well, she can be brought out here for a while. Mary Karlovna, turning to the water, laid Mazlava out. A minute later, Mazlava came out of the side door. Stepping softly, she came up close to Nekliudov, stopped, and looked up at him from under her brows. Her black hair was arranged in ringlets over her forehead in the same way as it had been two days ago. Her face, though unhealthy and puffy, was attractive and looked perfectly calm. Only the glittering black eyes glanced strangely from under the swollen lids. You may talk here, said the inspector, and shrugging his shoulders, he stepped aside with a look of surprise. Nekliudov moved towards a seat by the wall. Mazlava cast a questioning look at the inspector, and then, shrugging her shoulders in surprise, followed Nekliudov to the bench, and having arranged her skirt, sat down beside him. I know it is hard for you to forgive me, he began, but stopped. His tears were choking him. But though I can't undo the past, I shall now do what is in my power. Tell me, how have you managed to find me? She said, without answering his question, neither looking away from him nor quite at him, with her squinting eyes. Oh, God, help me! Teach me what to do! Nekliudov thought, looking at her changed face. I was on the jury the day before yesterday, he said. You did not recognize me? No, I did not. There was not time for recognitions. I did not even look, he said. There was a child. Was there not? he asked. Thank God he died at once! she answered, abruptly and viciously. What do you mean? Why? I was so ill myself, I nearly died. She said, in the same quiet voice, which Nekliudov had not expected, and could not understand. How could my aunts have let you go? Who keeps a servant that has a baby? They sent me off as soon as they noticed. But why speak of this? I remember nothing. That's all finished. No, it is not finished. I wish to redeem my sin. There's nothing to redeem. What's been has been and is past, she said. And what he never expected, she looked at him and smiled, in an unpleasantly luring yet piteous manner. Mazlova never expected to see him again, and certainly not here, and not now. Therefore, when she first recognised him, she could not keep back the memories which she never wished to revive. In the first moment she remembered dimly that new, wonderful world of feeling and of thought which had been opened to her by the charming young man who loved her and whom she loved. And then is incomprehensible cruelty and the whole string of humiliations and suffering which flowed from and followed that magic joy. This gave her pain, and unable to understand it, she did what she was always in the habit of doing. She got rid of these memories by enveloping them in the mist of a depraved life. In the first moment she associated the man now sitting beside her with the lad she had loved. But feeling that this gave her pain, she dissociated them again. Now, this well-dressed, carefully got-up gentleman with perfumed beard, was no longer the necklead of whom she had loved, but only one of the people who made use of creatures like herself when they needed them, and whom creatures like herself had to make use of in their turn as profitably as they could. And that is why she looked at him with a luring smile and considered silently how she could make best use of him. That's all at an end, she said. Now I'm condemned to Siberia, and her lip trembled as she was saying this dreadful word. I knew I was certain you were not guilty, said necklead of. Guilty, of course not, as if I could be a thief or a robber. She stopped, considering in what way she could best get something out of him. They say that here all that depends on the advocate, she began. A petition should be handed in. Only they say it's expensive. Yes, most certainly, said necklead of, I have already spoken to an advocate. No money ought to be spared. It should be a good one, she said. I shall do all that is possible. They were silent, and then she smiled again in the same way. And I should like to ask you a little money, if you can. Not much, ten rubles? I do not want more, he said, suddenly. Yes, yes, necklead of said with a sense of confusion and felt for his purse. She looked rapidly at the inspector who was walking up and down the room. Don't give it in front of him. He'd take it away. necklead of took out his purse as soon as the inspector had turned his back, but had no time to handle the note before the inspector faced them again, so he crushed it up in his hand. This woman is dead, necklead of thought, looking at this once sweet and now defiled puffy face, lit up by an evil glitter in the black, squinting eyes, which were now glancing at the hand in which he held the note, then following the inspector's movements, and for a moment he hesitated. The tempter that had been speaking to him in the night again raised its voice, trying to lead him out of the realm of his inner into the realm of his outer life, away from the question of what he should do to the question of what the consequences would be, and what would be practical. You can do nothing with this woman, said the voice. You will only tie a stone round your neck, which will help to drown you, and hinder you from being useful to others. Is it not better to give her all the money that is here, say good-bye, and finish with her forever? whispered the voice. But here he felt that now, at this very moment, something most important was taking place in his soul, that his inner life was, as it were, wavering in the balance. So that the slightest effort would make it sink to this side or the other. And he made this effort by calling to his assistance that God whom he had felt in his soul the day before, and that God instantly responded. He resolved to tell her everything, now, at once. Katusha, I have come to ask you to forgive me, and you have given me no answer. Have you forgiven me? Will you ever forgive me? he asked. She did not listen to him, but looked at his hand and at the inspector, and when the latter turned she hastily stretched out her hand, grasped the note, and hid it under her belt. That's odd what you were saying there, she said, with a smile of contempt, as it seemed to him. Nekliudov felt that there was in her soul one who was his enemy, and who was protecting her, such as she was now, and preventing him from getting at her heart. But, strange to say, this did not repel him, but drew him nearer to her by some fresh peculiar power. He knew that he must waken her soul, that this was terribly difficult, but that very difficulty attracted him. He now felt towards her as he had never felt towards her or anyone else before. There was nothing personal in this feeling. He wanted nothing from her for himself, but only wished that she might not remain as she now was, that she might awaken and become again what she had been. Ketusha, why do you speak like that? I know you, I remember you, and the old days in Papuvo. What's the use of recalling what's past? he remarked, derrily. I am recalling it in order to put it right, to atone for my sin, Ketusha. And he was going to say that he would marry her. But, meeting her eyes, he read in them something so dreadful, so coarse, so repellent, that he could not go on. At this moment the visitors began to go. The inspector came up to Nekliudov and said that the time was up. Goodbye, I still have much to say to you, but you see it is impossible to do so now, said Nekliudov, and held out his hand. I shall come again. I think you have said all. She took his hand, but did not press it. No. I shall try to see you again, somewhere where we can talk. And then I shall tell you what I have to say. Something very important. Well, then come. Why not? she answered, and smiled with that habitual inviting and promising smile which she gave to the men whom she wished to please. You are more than a sister to me, said Nekliudov. That's odd, she said again, and went behind the grading. Recorded by Ajay Kumar. Maslow's view of life. Before the first interview, Nekliudov thought that when she saw him and knew of his intentions to serve her, Katusha would be pleased and touched, and would be Katusha again. But to his horrib, he found that Katusha existed no more, and there was Maslow in her place. This astonished and horrified him. What astonished him most was that Katusha was not ashamed of her position, not the position of a prisoner. She was ashamed of that, but her position as a prostitute. She seemed satisfied, even proud of it. And yet, how could it be otherwise, everybody, in order to be able to act, has to consider his occupation important and good. Therefore, in whatever position a person is, he is certain to form such a view of the life of men in general, which would make his occupation seem important and good. It is usually imagined that a thief, a murderer, a spy, a prostitute, acknowledging his or her profession as evil, is ashamed of it. But the contrary is true. People whom fate and their sin mistakes have placed in a certain position, however false that position may be, form a view of life in general, which makes their position seem good and admissible. In order to keep up their view of life, these people instinctively keep to the circle of those people who share their views of life and their own beliefs in it. This surprises us, where the persons concerned are thieves, barking about their dexterity, prostitutes wanting their depravity or murderers boosting of their cruelty. This surprises us only because the circle, the atmosphere in which these people live, is limited and we are outside it. But can we not observe the same phenomena when the rich boost of their wealth, that is robbery, the commanders in the army pride themselves on victory, that is murderers and those in high places want their power, that is violence. We do not see the perversions in the views of life held by these people, only because the circle formed by them is more extensive and we, ourselves, are moving inside of it. And in this manner Maslow had formed her views of life and of her own position. She was a prostitute condemned to Siberia and yet she had a conception of life which made it possible for her to be satisfied with herself and even to pride herself on her position before others. According to this conception, the highest good for all men without exception, old, young, school boys, generals educated and uneducated, was connected with the relation of the sexes. Therefore all men, even when they pretended to be occupied with the other things, in reality took this view. She was an attractive woman and therefore she was an important and necessary person. The whole of her former and present life was a confirmation of the correctness of this conception. With such a view of life she was by no means the lowest but a very important person and Maslow prized this view of life more than anything. She could not but prize it for if she lost the importance of that such a view of life gave her among men she would lose the meaning of her life and in order not to lose the meaning of her life she instinctively clung to the set that looked at life in the same way as she did. Feeling that Nekledov wanted to lead her out into another world she resisted him forcing that she would have to lose her place in life. With the self-possession and self-respect it gave her. For this reason she drove from her the recollections of her early youth and her first relations with Nekledov. These recollections did not correspond with her present conception of the world and were therefore quite rubbed out of her mind or rather lay somewhere buried and untouched closed up and plastered over so that they should not escape as when peace in order to protect the result of their labor will sometimes plaster a nest of worms. Therefore the present Nekledov was not the man she had once loved with a pure love but only a rich gentleman whom she could and must make use of and with whom she could only have the same relations as with men in general. No I could not tell her the chief thing thought Nekledov moving towards the front doors with the rest of the people. I did not tell her that I would marry her I did not tell her so but I will he thought. The two waters at the door let out the visitors counting them again and touching each one with their hands so that no extra person should go out and none remain within the slap on his shoulder did not offend Nekledov this time he did not even notice it. Nekledov meant to rearrange the whole of his external life to let his large house and move to an hotel but Agrafina Petrovna pointed out that it was useless to change anything before the winter. No one would rent a townhouse for the summer anyhow he would have to live and keep his things somewhere and so all his efforts to change his manner of life he meant to live more simply as the students live led to nothing. Not I needed everything remain as it was but the house was suddenly filled with new activity all that was made of wool or fur was taken out to be aired and beaten. The gatekeeper the boy the cook and corny himself took part in this activity. All sorts of strange furs which no one ever used and various uniforms were taken out and hung on a line then the carpets and furniture were brought out and the gatekeeper and the boy rolled their sleeves up their muscular arms and stood beating these things keeping strict time while the rooms were filled with the smell of naphthalene. When Nekledov crossed the yard or looked out of the window and saw all this going on he was surprised at the great number of things there were all quite useless their only use Nekledov thought was the providing of exercise for Agrafina Petrovna corny the gatekeeper the boy and the cook but it's not worthwhile altering my manner of life now he thought while Maslovis case is not decided besides it is too difficult it will alter of itself when she will be set free or exiled and I follow her on the appointed day Nekledov drove up to the advocate for Naran's own splendid house which was decorated with huge palms and other plants and wonderful curtains in fact with all the expensive luxury witnessing to the possession of much idle money that is money acquired without labour which only those possess who grow rich suddenly in the waiting room just as in a doctor's waiting room he found many dejected looking people sitting around several tables on which lay illustrated papers meant to amuse them awaiting their turns to be admitted to the advocate the advocate's assistant sat in the room at a high desk and having recognized Nekledov he came up to him and said he would go and announce him at once but the assistant had not reached the door before it opened and the sounds of loud animated voices were heard the voice of a middle-aged sturdy merchant with a red face and thick moustaches and the voice of Fennaran himself Fennaran was also a middle-aged man of medium height with a worn look on his face both faces bore the expression which you see on the faces of those who have just concluded a profitable but not quite honest transaction your own fault you know my dear sir Fennaran said smiling would all be in heaven were it not for our sins oh yes yes we all know that and both laughed unnaturally oh Prince Nekledov pleased to step in said Fennaran seeing him and nodding once more to the merchant he led Nekledov into his business cabinet furnished in a severely corrected style won't you smoke said the advocate sitting down opposite Nekledov and trying to conceal a smile apparently still excited by the success of the accomplished transaction thanks I have come about my slovers case yes yes directly but oh what rogues these fat money bags are he said you saw this here fellow why he has about 12 million rubles and he cannot speak correctly and if he can get a 25 ruble no doubt of you he'll have it if he's to wrench it out with his teeth he says Evan an hour and you say this here fellow Nekledov thought with an unsurmountable feeling of aversion towards this man who wished to show by his free and easy manner that he and Nekledov belong to one in the same camp while his other clients belong to another he has worried me to death a fearful scoundrel I felt I must relieve my feelings said the advocate as if to excuse speaking about things that had no reference to business well how about your case I have read it attentively but do not approve of it I mean that greenhorn of an advocate has left no valid reason for an appeal well then what have you decided one moment tell him he said to his assistant who had just come in that I keep to what I have said if he can it's all right if not no matter but he won't agree well no matter and the advocate frowned there now and it said that we advocates get our money for nothing he remarked after a pause I have freed one insolvent debt from a totally false charge and now they all flock to me yet every such case costs enormous labour why don't we two lose bits of flesh in the ink stand as some writer or other has said well as to your case or rather the case you are taking an interest in it has been conducted abominably there is no good reason for appealing still he continued we can but try to get the sentence revoked this is what I have noted down he took up several sheets of paper covered with writing and began to read rapidly slurring over the uninteresting legal terms and laying particular stress on some sentences to the court of appeal criminal department etc etc according to the decisions etc the verdict etc so and so muscle over pronounced guilty of having caused the death through poison of the merchant smell cough and has according to the statute 1454 of the penal code been sentenced to Siberia etc etc he stopped evidently in spite of his being so used to it he still felt pleasure in listening to his own productions this sentence is the direct result of the most glaring judicial perversion and era he continued impressively and there are grounds for its revocation firstly the reading of the medical report of the examination of small coughs and testines was interrupted by the president at the very beginning this is point one but it was the prosecuting side that demanded this reading neckled off said with surprise that does not matter there might have been reasons for the defense to demand this reading too oh but there could have been no reason whatever for that it is a ground for appeal though to continue secondly he went on reading when my sliver's advocate in his speech for the defense wishing to characterize my sliver's personality referred to the causes of her fall he was interrupted by the president calling him to order for the alleged deviation from the direct subject yet as has been repeatedly pointed out by the senate the elicitation of the criminal's characteristics and his or her moral standpoint in general has a significance of the first importance in criminal cases even if only as a guide in the settling of the question of imputation that's point two he said with a look at neckled off but he spoke so badly that no one could make anything of it neckled off said still more astonished the fellow's quite a fool and of course could not be expected to say anything sensible finaran said laughing but all the same it will do as a reason for appeal thirdly the president in his summing up contrary to the direct decree of section one statute 801 of the criminal code omitted to inform the jury what the judicial points are that constitute guilt and did not mention that having admitted to the fact of my sliver having administered the poison to smell cough the jury had a right not to impute the guilt of murder to her since the proofs of willful intent to price smell cough of life were absent and only to pronounce her guilty of carelessness resulting in the death of the merchant which she did not desire this is the chief point yes but we ought to have known that ourselves it was our mistake and now the fourth point the advocate continued the form of the answer given by the jury contained an evident contradiction my sliver is accused of willfully poisoning smell cough her one object being that of cupidity the only motive to commit murder she could have had the jury in their verdict acquittal of the intent to rob or participation in the stealing of valuables from which it follows that they intended also to acquittal of the intent to murder and only through a misunderstanding which arose from the incompleteness of the president's summing up omitted to express it in due form in their answer therefore an answer of this kind by the jury absolutely demanded the application of statutes 816 and 808 of the criminal code of procedure that is an explanation by the president to the jury of the mistake made by them and another debate on the question of the prisoner's guilt then why did the president not do it i too should like to know why finara and said laughing then the senate will of course correct this error that will all depend on who will preside there at the time well now there it is i have further said he continued rapidly a verdict of this kind gave the court no right to condemn baselova to be punished as a criminal and to apply section 3 statute 771 of the penal code to her case this is a decided and gross violation of the basic principles of our criminal law in view of the reasons stated i have the honor of appealing to you etc etc the refutation according to 909 910 and section 2 912 and 928 statute of the criminal code etc etc to carry this case before another department of the same court for a further examination there all that can be done is done but to be frank i have little hope of success though of course it all depends on what members will be present at the senate if you have any influence there you can but try i do know some all right only be quick about it else they'll all go off for a change of air then you may have to wait three months before they return then in case of failure we still have the possibility of appealing to his majesty this too depends on the private influence you can bring to work in this case too i am at your service i mean as to the working of the petition not the influence thank you now as to your fees my assistant will hand you the petition and tell you one thing more the procurer gave me a pass for visiting this person in prison but they tell me i must also get permission from the governor in order to get an interview at another time and in another place than those appointed is this necessary yes i think so but the governor is away at present a vice governor is in his place and he is such an impenetrable fool that you'll scarcely be able to do anything with him is it meslennikov yes i know him said neckled off and got up to go at this moment a horribly ugly little bony snub-nosed yellow-faced woman flew into the room it was the advocate's wife who did not seem to be in the least bit troubled by her ugliness she was attired in the most original manner she seemed enveloped in something made of velvet and silk something yellow and green and her thin hair was crimped she stepped out triumphantly into the anti-room followed by a tall smiling man with a greenish complexion dressed in a coat with silk facings and a white tie this was an author neckled off knew him by sight she opened the cabinet door and said anatoly you must come to me here is simon ivanovich who will read his poems and you must absolutely come and read about gashin neckled off noticed that she whispered something to her husband and thinking it was something concerning him wished to go away but she caught him up and said i beg your pardon prince i know you and thinking an introduction superfluous i beg you to stay and take part in our literary matinee it will be most interesting m for now and will read you see what a lot i have to do said for now and spreading out his hands and smiling pointing to his wife as if to show how impossible it was to resist so charming a creature neckled off thanked the advocates wife with extreme politeness for the honor she did him in inviting him but refused to invitation with a sad and solemn look and left the room what an affected fellow said the advocates wife when he'd gone out in the anti-room the assistant handed him a ready written petition and said that the fees including the business with the senate and the commission would come to one thousand rubles and explained that m for now and did not usually undertake this kind of business but did it only to oblige neckled off and about this petition who is to sign it the prisoner may do it herself or if this is inconvenient m for now and can if he gets a power of attorney from her oh no i shall take the petition to her and get her to sign it said neckled off glad of the opportunity of seeing her before the appointed day end of book one chapter 45 of resurrection by leo tollstoy translated by louise moored resurrection by leo tollstoy translated by louise moored book one chapter 46 this is a libre vox recording all libre vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libre vox.org recording by anna night chapter 46 a prison flogging at the usual time the jailer's whistle sounded in the corridors of the prison the iron doors of the cells rattled bare feet pattered heels clattered and the prisoners who acted as scavengers passed along the corridors filling the air with disgusting smells the prisoners washed dressed and came out for revision then went to get boiling water for their tea the conversation at breakfast in all the cells was very lively it was all about two prisoners who were to be flogged that day one vasiliyev was a young man of some education a clerk who had killed his mistress in a fit of jealousy his fellow prisoners liked him because he was merry and generous and firm in his behavior with the prison authorities he knew the laws and insisted on their being carried out therefore he was disliked by the authorities three weeks before a jailer struck one of the scavengers who had spilled some soup over his new uniform vasiliyev took the part of the scavenger saying it was not lawful to strike a prisoner i'll teach you the law said the jailer and gave vasiliyev a scolding vasiliyev replied in like manner and the jailer was going to hit him but vasiliyev seized the jailer's hands held them fast for about three minutes and after giving the hands a twist pushed the jailer out of the door the jailer complained to the inspector who ordered vasiliyev to be put into a solitary cell the solitary cells were a row of dark closets locked from outside and there were neither beds nor chairs nor tables in them so that the inmates had to sit or lie on the dirty floor while the rats of which there were a great many in those cells ran across them the rats were so bold that they stole the bread from the prisoners and even attacked them if they stopped moving vasiliyev said he would not go into the solitary cell because he had not done anything wrong but they used force then he began struggling and two other prisoners helped him to free himself from the jailers all the jailers assembled and among them was petrov who was distinguished for his strength the prisoners got thrown down and pushed into the solitary cells the governor was immediately informed that something very like a rebellion had taken place and he sent back an order to flog the two chief offenders vasiliyev and the tramp nepomnischi giving each 30 strokes with a birch rod the flogging was appointed to take place in the women's interviewing room all this was known in the prison since the evening and it was being talked about with animation in all the cells koroblaeva koroshevka theodosia and meslova sat together in their corner drinking tea all of them flushed and animated by the vodka they had drunk for meslova who now had a constant supply of vodka freely treated her companions to it he's not been a writing or anything koroblaeva said referring to vasiliyev as she bit tiny pieces of a lump of sugar with her strong teeth he only stuck up for a chum because it's not lawful to strike prisoners nowadays and he's a fine fellow i've heard say said theodosia who sat bareheaded with her long plaits around her head on a log of wood opposite the shelf bedstead on which the teapot stood there now if you were to ask him the watchman's wife said to meslova by him she meant neckled off i shall tell him he'll do anything for me meslova said tossing her head and smiling yes but when is he coming and they've already gone to fetch them said theodosia it is terrible she added with a sigh i once did see how they flogged a peasant in the village father-in-law he sent me once to the village elder well i went and there the watchman's wife began her long story which was interrupted by the sound of voices and steps in the corridor above them the women were silent and sat listening there they are hauling him along the devils koroshevka said they'll do him to death they will the jailers are so enraged with him because he never would give in to them all was quiet again upstairs and the watchman's wife finished her story of how she was that frightened when she went into the barn and saw them flogging a peasant her insides turned at the site and so on koroshevka related how shegelov had been flogged and never uttered a sound then theodosia put away the tea things and choroblaver and the watchman's wife took up their sewing meslova sat on the bedstead with her arms around her knees dull and depressed she was about to lie down and try to sleep when the woman water called her into the office to see a visitor now mind and don't forget to tell him about us the old woman menshova said while my slova was arranging the kerchief on her head before the dim-looking glass we did not set fire to the house but he himself the fiend did it his workmen saw him do it and will not damn his soul by denying it you just tell to us to see my mitchie mitchie will tell him all about it as plain as can be just think of our being locked up in prison when we never dreamt of any ill while he the fiend is enjoying himself at the pub with another man's wife that's not the law remarked choroblaver i'll tell him i'll tell him answered meslova suppose i have another drop just to keep up courage she added with a wink and choroblaver poured out half a cup of vodka which meslova drank then having wiped her mouth and repeating the words just to keep up courage tossing her head and smiling gaily she followed the water along the corridor end of book one chapter 46 of resurrection by leo tollstoy translated by louise moored book one chapter 47 of resurrection this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox.org recording by david coal medway massachusetts resurrection by leo tollstoy translated by louise moored book one chapter 47 nekladoff again visits meslova nekladoff had to wait in the hall for a long time when he had arrived at the prison and rung at the entrance door he handed the permission of the procurator to the jailer on duty who met him no no the jailer on duty said hurriedly the inspector is engaged in the office asked nekladoff no here in the interviewing room why is it a visiting day today no it's special business i should like to see him what am i to do said nekladoff when the inspector comes out we'll tell him wait a bit said the jailer at this moment a sergeant major with a smooth shiny face and mustaches impregnated with tobacco smoke came out of a side door with the gold cords of his uniform glistening and addressed the jailer in a severe tone what do you mean by letting anyone in here the office i was told the inspector was here said nekladoff surprised at the agitation he noticed in the sergeant major's manner at this moment the inner door opened and petroff came out heated and perspiring he'll remember it he muttered turning to the sergeant major the latter pointed at nekladoff by a look and petroff knitted his brows and went out through a door at the back who will remember it why do they all seem so confused why did the sergeant major make a sign to him nekladoff thought the sergeant major again addressing nekladoff said you cannot meet here please step across to the office and nekladoff was about to comply when the inspector came out of the door at the back looking even more confused than his subordinates and sighing continually when he saw nekladoff he turned to the jailer fedotoff have maslova sell five women's ward taken to the office will you come this way please he said turning to nekladoff they ascended the steep staircase and entered a little room with one window a writing table and a few chairs in it the inspector sat down mine are heavy heavy duties he remarked again addressing nekladoff and took out a cigarette you are tired evidently said nekladoff tired of the whole of the service the duties are very trying one tries to lighten their lot and only makes it worse my only thought is how to get away heavy heavy duties nekladoff did not know what the inspector's particular difficulties were but he saw that today he was in a peculiarly ejected and hopeless condition calling for pity yes i should think the duties were heavy for a kind-hearted man he said why do you serve in this capacity i have a family but if it is so hard well still you know it is possible to be of use in some measure i soften down all i can another in my place would conduct the affairs quite differently why we have more than two thousand persons here and what persons one must know how to manage them it is easier said than done you know after all they are also men one cannot help pitying them the inspector began telling nekladoff of a fight that had lately taken place among the convicts which had ended by one man being killed the story was interrupted by the entrance of maslova who was accompanied by a jailer nekladoff saw her through the doorway before she had noticed the inspector she was following the water briskly smiling and tossing her head when she saw the inspector she suddenly changed and gazed at him with a frightened look but quickly recovering she addressed nekladoff boldly and gaily how'd you do she said drawing out her words and smilingly took his hand and shook it vigorously not like the first time here i bought you a petition to sign said nekladoff rather surprised by the boldness with which he greeted him today the advocate has written out a petition which you will have to sign and then we shall send it to petersburg all right that can be done anything you like she said with a wink and a smile and nekladoff drew a folded paper from his pocket and went up to the table may she sign it here as nekladoff turn into the inspector it's all right it's all right sit down here's a pen you can write said the inspector i could it one time she said and after arranging her skirt and the sleeves of her jacket he sat down at the table smiled awkwardly took the pen with her small energetic hand and glanced at nekladoff with a laugh nekladoff told her what to write and pointed out the place where to sign saying deeply as she dipped her pen into the ink and carefully shaking some drops off the pen she wrote her name is that all she asked looking from nekladoff to the inspector and putting the pen now on the ink stand now on the papers i have a few words to tell you nekladoff said taking the pen from her all right tell me she said and suddenly as if remembering something or feeling sleepy she grew serious the inspector rose and left the room and nekladoff remained with her end of book one chapter 47 book one chapter 48 of resurrection this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org read by Bob Neufeld resurrection by Leo Tolstoy translated by Louise Maud book one chapter 48 Marslava refuses to marry the jailer who had brought Marslava in sat on a windowsill at some distance from them the decisive moment had come for nekladoff he had been incessantly blaming himself for not having told her the principal thing at the first interview and was now determined to tell her that he would marry her she was sitting at the further side of the table nekladoff sat down opposite her it was light in the room and nekladoff for the first time saw her face quite near he distinctly saw the crow's feet round her eyes the wrinkles round her mouth and the swollen eyelids he felt more sorry than before leaning over the table so as not to be heard by the jailer a man of Jewish type with grizzly whiskers who sat by the window nekladoff said should this petition come to nothing we shall appeal to the emperor all that is possible shall be done there now if we had had a proper advocate from the first she interrupted my defender was quite a silly he did nothing but pay me compliments she said and laughed if it had been known that I was acquainted with you it would have been another matter they think everyone's a thief how strange she is today nekladoff thought and was just going to say what he had on his mind when she began again there's something I want to say we have here an old woman such a fine one do you know she just surprises everyone she is imprisoned for nothing and her son too and everybody knows they are innocent though they are accused of having set fire to a house do you know hearing I was acquainted with you she says tell him to ask to see my son he'll tell him all about it thus spoke mazlava turning her head from side to side and glancing at nekladoff their names menshoff well will you do it such a fine old thing you know you can see at once she's innocent you'll do it there's a deer and she smiled glanced up at him and then cast down her eyes all right I'll find out about them nekladoff said more and more astonished by her free and easy manner but I was going to speak to you about myself do you remember what I told you last time you said a lot last time what was it you told me she said continuing to smile and turn her head from side to side I said I had come to ask you to forgive me he began what's the use of that forgive forgive what's the good of to atone for my sin not by mere words but indeed I have made up my mind to marry you an expression of fear suddenly came over her face her squinting eyes remained fixed on him and yet seemed not to be looking at him what's that for she said with an angry frown I feel it is my duty before God to do it what God have you found now you are not saying what you are to God indeed what God you are to have remembered God then she said and stopped with her mouth open it was only now that nekladoff noticed that her breath smelled of spirits and that he understood the cause of her excitement try and be calm he said why should I be calm she began quickly flushing scarlet I am a convict and you are a gentleman and a prince there's no need for you to solve yourself by touching me you go to your princesses my price is a ten ruble note however cruelly you may speak you cannot express what I myself am feeling he said trembling all over you cannot imagine to what extent I feel myself guilty towards you feel yourself guilty she said angrily mimicking him you did not feel so then but threw me one hundred rubles that's your price I know I know but what is to be done now said nekladoff I have decided not to leave you and what I have said I shall do and I say you shan't she said and laughed aloud katusha he said touching her hand you go away I am a convict and you are a prince and you've no business here she cried pulling away her hand her whole appearance transformed by her wrath you've got pleasure out of me in this life and want to save yourself through me in the life to come you are disgusting to me your spectacles and the whole of your dirty fat mug go go she screamed starting to her feet the jailer came up to them what are you kicking up this row for that won't let her alone please said nekladoff she must not forget herself said the jailer please wait a little said nekladoff and the jailer returned to the window maslava sat down again dropping her eyes and firmly clasping her small hands nekladoff stooped over her not knowing what to do you do not believe me he said that you mean to marry me it will never be I'll rather hang myself so there well still I shall go on serving you that's your affair only I don't want anything from you I am telling you the plain truth she said oh why did I not die then she added and began to cry piteously nekladoff could not speak her tears infected him she lifted her eyes looked at him in surprise and began to wipe her tears with her kerchief the jailer came up again and reminded them that it was time to part maslava rose you are excited if it is possible I shall come again tomorrow you think it over said nekladoff she gave him no answer and without looking up followed the jailer out of the room well lass you'll have rare times now corra blaver said when maslava returned to the cell seems he's mighty sweet on you make the most of it while he's after you he'll help you out rich people can do anything yes that's so remarked the watchman's wife with her musical voice when a poor man thinks of getting married there's many a slip twix to the cup and the lip but a rich man need only make up his mind and it's done we knew a toff like that ducky what do you think he did well have you spoken about my affairs the old woman asked but maslava gave her fellow prisoners no answer she lay down on the shelf bedstead her squinting eyes fixed on a corner of the room and lay there until evening a painful struggle went on in her soul what nekladoff had told her called up the memory of that world in which she had suffered and which she had left without having understood hating it she now feared to wake from the trance in which she was living not having arrived at any conclusion when evening came she again bought some vodka and drank with her companions end of book one chapter forty eight book one chapter forty nine of resurrection this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org read by Bob Neufel resurrection by Leo Tolstoy translated by Louise Maud book one chapter forty nine Vera Dukov so this is what it means this thought nekladoff as he left the prison only now fully understanding his crime if he had not tried to expiate his guilt he would never have found out how great his crime was nor was this all she too would never have felt the whole horror of what had been done to her he only now saw what he had done to the soul of this woman only now she saw and understood what had been done to her up to this time nekladoff had played with a sensation of self-admiration had admired his own remorse now he was simply filled with horror and yet he could not imagine what would come of their relations to one another just as he was going out a jailer with a disagreeable insinuating countenance and a cross and medals on his breast came up and handed him a note with an air of mystery here is a note from a certain person your honor he said to nekladoff as he gave him the envelope what person you will know when you read it a political prisoner i am in that ward so she asked me and though it is against the rules still feelings of humanity the jailer spoke in an unnatural manner nekladoff was surprised that a jailer of the ward where political prisoners were kept should pass notes inside the very prison walls and almost within sight of everyone he did not then know that this was both a jailer and a spy however he took the note and read it on coming out of the prison the note was written in a bold hand and ran as follow having heard that you visit the prison and are interested in the case of a criminal prisoner the desire of seeing you arose in me ask for permission to see me i can give you a good deal of information concerning your protege and also our group yours gratefully vera dukeva vera dukeva had been a school teacher in an out of the way village of the novgorod government where nekladoff and some friends of his had once put up while bear hunting nekladoff gladly and vividly recalled those old days and his acquaintance with dukeva it was just before land in an isolated spot 40 miles from the railway the hunt had been successful two bears had been killed and the company were having dinner before starting on their return journey when the master of the hut where they were putting up came in to say that the deacon's daughter wanted to speak to prince nekladoff a shape pretty someone asked none of that please nekladoff said and rose with a serious look on his face wiping his mouth and wondering what the deacon's daughter might want of him he went into the host's private hut there he found a girl with a felt hat and a warm cloak on a sinewy ugly girl only her eyes with their arched brows were beautiful here miss speak to him said the old housewife this is the prince himself i shall go out meanwhile in what way can i be of service to you nekladoff asked i i see you are throwing away your money on such nonsense on hunting began the girl in a great confusion i know i only want one thing to be of use to the people and i can do nothing because i know nothing her eyes were so truthful so kind and her expression of resoluteness and yet bashfulness was so touching that nekladoff as it often happened to him suddenly felt as if he were in her position understood and sympathized what can i do then i am a teacher but should like to follow a course of study and i am not allowed to do so that is not that i'm not allowed to they'd allow me to but i have not got the means give them to me and when i have finished the course i shall repay you i am thinking the rich kill bears and give the peasants drink all this is bad why should they not do good i only want eighty rubles but if you don't wish to never mind she said gravely on the contrary i am very grateful to you for this opportunity i will bring it at once said nekladoff he went out into the passage and there met one of his comrades who had been overhearing his conversation paying no heed to his chaffing nekladoff got the money out of his bag and took it to her oh please do not thank me it is i who should thank you he said it was pleasant to remember all this now pleasant to remember that he had nearly had a quarrel with an officer who tried to make an objectionable joke of it and how another of his comrades had taken his part which led to a closer friendship between them how successful the whole of that hunting expedition had been and how happy he had felt when returning to the railway station that night the line of sledges the horses in tandem glide quickly along the narrow road that lies through the forest now between high trees now between low furs weighed down by the snow caked in heavy lumps on their branches a red light flashes in the dark someone lights an aromatic cigarette joseph a bear driver keeps running from sledge to sledge up to his knees in snow and while putting things to right he speaks about the elk which are now going about on the deep snow and gnawing the bark of the aspen trees of the bears that are lying asleep in their deep hidden dens and his breath comes warm through the opening in the sledge cover all this came back to nekludov's mind but above all the joyous sense of health strength and freedom from care the lungs breathing in the frosty air so deeply that the fur cloak is drawn tightly on his chest the fine snow drops off the low branches onto his face his body is warm his face feels fresh and his soul is free from care self-reproach fear or desire how beautiful it was and now oh god what torment what trouble evidently vir dukeva was a revolutionist and imprisoned as such he must see her especially as she promised to advise him how to lighten maslava's lot end of book one chapter 49 book one chapter 50 of resurrection this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org book one chapter 50 the vice governor of the prison awaking early the next morning nekludov remembered what he had done the day before and was seized with fear but in spite of this fear he was more determined than ever to continue what he had begun conscious of a sense of duty he left the house and went to see maslennikov in order to obtain from him a permission to visit maslava in prison and also the menshoff's mother and son about whom maslava had spoken to him nekludov had known this maslennikov for a long time they had been in the regiment together at that time maslennikov was treasurer to the regiment he was a kind-hearted and jealous officer knowing and wishing to know nothing beyond the regiment and the imperial family now nekludov saw him as an administrator who had exchanged the regiment for an administrative office in the government where he lived he was married to a rich and energetic woman who had forced him to exchange military for civil service she laughed at him and caressed him as if he were her own pet animal nekludov had been to see them once during the winter but the couple were so uninteresting to him that he had not gone again at the sight of nekludov maslennikov's face beamed all over he had the same fat red face and was as corpulent and as well-dressed as in his military days then he used to be always dressed in a well-brushed uniform made according to the latest fashion tightly fitting his chest and shoulders now it was a civil service uniform he wore and that too tightly fitted his well-fed body and showed off his broad chest and was cut according to the latest fashion in spite of the difference in age maslennikov was forty the two men were very familiar with one another hello old fellow how good of you to come let us go and see my wife i have just ten minutes to spare before the meeting my chief is away you know i am at the head of the government administration he said unable to disguise his satisfaction i have come on business what is it said maslennikov in an anxious and severe tone putting himself at once on his guard there is a person whom i am very much interested in in prison at the word prison maslennikov's face grew stern and i should like to have an interview in the office and not in the common visiting room i have been told it depended on you oh certainly mon cher said maslennikov putting both hands on nekludov's knees as if to tone down his grandeur but remember i am monarch only for an hour then you will give me an order that will enable me to see her it's a woman yeah what is she there for poisoning but she has been unjustly condemned yes there you have it your justice administered by a jury he said for some unknown reason in french i know you do not agree with me but it can't be helped say mon opinion bien arrêté he added giving utterance to an opinion he had for the last twelve months been reading in the retrograde conservative paper i know you are a liberal i don't know whether i'm a liberal or something else nekludov said smiling it always surprised him to find himself ranked with a political party and called a liberal when he maintained that a man should be heard before he was judged that before being tried all men were equal that nobody at all ought to be ill treated and beaten but especially those who had not yet been condemned by law i don't know whether i am a liberal or not but i do know that however bad the present day of conducting a trial is it is better than the old and whom have you for an advocate i have spoken to fanarin dear me fanarin said muslennikov with a grimace recollecting how this fanarin had examined him as a witness at a trial the year before and had in the politest manner held him up to ridicule for half an hour i should not advise you to have anything to do with him fanarin ate an omtar i have one more request to make said nekludov without answering him there is a girl whom i knew long ago a teacher she is a very pitiable little thing and is now also imprisoned and would like to see me could you give me a permission to visit her muslennikov bent his head on one side and considered she's a political one yes i have been told so well you see only relatives get permission to visit political prisoners still i'll give you an open order je sais que vous n'abusserez pas what's the name of your protégé du cavar elle est jolie idiot muslennikov shook his head disapprovingly went up to the table and wrote on a sheet of paper with a printed heading the bearer prince dmitry evanovich nekludov is to be allowed to interview in the prison office the mashenka maslava and also the medical assistant du kava and he finished with an elaborate flurry now you'll be able to see what order we have got there and it is very difficult to keep order it is so crowded especially with people condemned to exile but i watch strictly and love the work you will see they are very comfortable and contented but one must know how to deal with them only a few days ago we had a little trouble in subordination another would have called it mutiny and would have made many miserable but with us it all passed quickly we must have solicitude on one hand firmness and power on the other and he clenched the fat white turquoise ringed fist which issued out of the starched cuff of his short sleeve fastened with a gold stud solicitude and firm power well i don't know about that said nekludov i went there twice and felt very much depressed do you know you ought to get acquainted with countess pasik continued muslennikov growing talkative she has given herself up entirely to this sort of work el fe beaucoup de bien thanks to her and perhaps i may add without false modesty to me everything has been changed changed in such a way that the former horrors no longer exist and they are really quite comfortable there well you'll see there's funerine i do not know him personally besides my social position keeps our ways apart but he is positively a bad man and besides he takes the liberty of saying such things in the court such things well thank you nekludov said taking the paper and without listening further he bad goodbye to his former comrade and won't you go to see my wife no pray excuse me i have no time now dear me why she will never forgive me said muslennikov accompanying his old acquaintance down to the first landing as he was in the habit of doing to persons of not the greatest but the second greatest importance with whom he classified nekludov now do go in if only for a moment but nekludov remained firm and while the footman and the doorkeeper rushed to give him his stick and overcoat and open the door outside of which there stood a policeman nekludov repeated that he really could not come in well then on thursday please it's her at home i will tell her you will come shouted muslennikov from the stair end of book one