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taken place and was still progressing in her； made Nekhludoff
very happy。
He felt for her something he had never experienced before。 This
feeling had nothing in common with his first poetic love for her；
and even less with the sensual love that had followed； nor even
with the satisfaction of a duty fulfilled； not unmixed with
self…admiration； with which he decided to marry her after the
trial。 The present feeling was simply one of pity and tenderness。
He had felt it when he met her in prison for the first time； and
then again when； after conquering his repugnance； he forgave her
the imagined intrigue with the medical assistant in the hospital
（the injustice done her had since been discovered）； it was the
same feeling he now had； only with this difference； that formerly
it was momentary； and that now it had become permanent。 Whatever
he was doing； whatever he was thinking now； a feeling of pity and
tenderness dwelt with him； and not only pity and tenderness for
her； but for everybody。 This feeling seemed to have opened the
floodgates of love； which had found no outlet in Nekhludoff's
soul； and the love now flowed out to every one he met。
During this journey Nekhludoff's feelings were so stimulated that
he could not help being attentive and considerate to everybody；
from the coachman and the convoy soldiers to the prison
inspectors and governors whom he had to deal with。 Now that
Maslova was among the political prisoners； Nekhludoff could not
help becoming acquainted with many of them； first in
Ekaterinburg； where they had a good deal of freedom and were kept
altogether in a large cell； and then on the road when Maslova was
marching with three of the men and four of the women。 Coming in
contact with political exiles in this way made Nekhludoff
completely change his mind concerning them。
From the very beginning of the revolutionary movement in Russia；
but especially since that first of March； when Alexander II was
murdered； Nekhludoff regarded the revolutionists with dislike and
contempt。 He was repulsed by the cruelty and secrecy of the
methods they employed in their struggles against the government；
especially the cruel murders they committed； and their arrogance
also disgusted him。 But having learned more intimately to know
them and all they had suffered at the hands of the government； he
saw that they could not be other than they were
Terrible and endless as were the torments which were inflicted on
the criminals； there was at least some semblance of justice shown
them before and after they were sentenced； but in the case of the
political prisoners there was not even that semblance； as
Nekhludoff saw in the case of Sholostova and that of many and
many of his new acquaintances。 These people were dealt with like
fish caught with a net； everything that gets into the nets is
pulled ashore； and then the big fish which are required are
sorted out and the little ones are left to perish unheeded on the
shore。 Having captured hundreds that were evidently guiltless；
and that could not be dangerous to the government； they left them
imprisoned for years； where they became consumptive； went out of
their minds or committed suicide； and kept them only because they
had no inducement to set them free； while they might be of use to
elucidate some question at a judicial inquiry； safe in prison。
The fate of these persons； often innocent even from the
government point of view； depended on the whim； the humour of； or
the amount of leisure at the disposal of some police officer or
spy； or public prosecutor； or magistrate； or governor； or
minister。 Some one of these officials feels dull； or inclined to
distinguish himself； and makes a number of arrests； and imprisons
or sets free； according to his own fancy or that of the higher
authorities。 And the higher official； actuated by like motives；
according to whether he is inclined to distinguish himself； or to
what his relations to the minister are； exiles men to the other
side of the world or keeps them in solitary confinement； condemns
them to Siberia； to hard labour； to death； or sets them free at
the request of some lady。
They were dealt with as in war； and they naturally employed the
means that were used against them。 And as the military men live
in an atmosphere of public opinion that not only conceals from
them the guilt of their actions； but sets these actions up as
feats of heroism； so these political offenders were also
constantly surrounded by an atmosphere of public opinion which
made the cruel actions they committed； in the face of danger and
at the risk of liberty and life； and all that is dear to men；
seem not wicked but glorious actions。 Nekhludoff found in this
the explanation of the surprising phenomenon that men； with the
mildest characters； who seemed incapable of witnessing the
sufferings of any living creature； much less of inflicting pain；
quietly prepared to murder men； nearly all of them considering
murder lawful and just on certain occasions as a means for
self…defence； for the attainment of higher aims or for the
general welfare。
The importance they attribute to their cause； and consequently to
themselves； flowed naturally from the importance the government
attached to their actions； and the cruelty of the punishments it
inflicted on them。 When Nekhludoff came to know them better he
became convinced that they were not the right…down villains that
some imagined them to be； nor the complete heroes that others
thought them； but ordinary people； just the same as others； among
whom there were some good and some bad； and some mediocre； as
there are everywhere。
There were some among them who had turned revolutionists because
they honestly considered it their duty to fight the existing
evils； but there were also those who chose this work for selfish；
ambitious motives； the majority； however； was attracted to the
revolutionary idea by the desire for danger； for risks； the
enjoyment of playing with one's life； which； as Nekhludoff knew
from his military experiences； is quite common to the most
ordinary people while they are young and full of energy。 But
wherein they differed from ordinary people was that their moral
standard was a higher one than that of ordinary men。 They
considered not only self…control； hard living； truthfulness； but
also the readiness to sacrifice everything； even life； for the
common welfare as their duty。 Therefore the best among them stood
on a moral level that is not often reached； while the worst were
far below the ordinary level； many of them being untruthful；
hypocritical and at the same time self…satisfied and proud。 So
that Nekhludoff learned not only to respect but to love some of
his new acquaintances； while he remained more than indifferent to
others。
CHAPTER VI。
KRYLTZOFF'S STORY。
Nekhludoff grew especially fond of Kryltzoff； a consumptive young
man condemned to hard labour； who was going with the same gang as
Katusha。 Nekhludoff had made his acquaintance already in
Ekaterinburg； and talked with him several times on the road after
that。 Once； in summer； Nekhludoff spent nearly the whole of a day
with him at a halting st