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〃I think Kryltzoff is right when he says we should not force our
views on the people。〃
〃And you； Katusha？ 〃 asked Nekhludoff with a smile；
waiting anxiously for her answer； fearing she would say
something awkward。
I think the common people are wronged；〃 she said； and blushed
scarlet。 〃I think they are dreadfully wronged。〃
〃That's right； Maslova； quite right；〃 cried Nabatoff。 〃They are
terribly wronged； the people； and they must not he wronged； and
therein lies the whole of our task。〃
〃A curious idea of the object of revolution；〃 Novodvoroff
remarked crossly； and began to smoke。
〃I cannot talk to him；〃 said Kryltzoff in a whisper； and was
silent。
〃And it is much better not to talk；〃 Nekhludoff said。
CHAPTER XV。
NOVODVOROFF。
Although Novodvoroff was highly esteemed of all the
revolutionists； though he was very learned； and considered very
wise； Nekhludoff reckoned him among those of the revolutionists
who； being below the average moral level； were very far below it。
His inner life was of a nature directly opposite to that of
Simonson's。 Simonson was one of those people （of an essentially
masculine type） whose actions follow the dictates of their
reason； and are determined by it。 Novodvoroff belonged； on the
contrary； to the class of people of a feminine type； whose reason
is directed partly towards the attainment of aims set by their
feelings； partly to the justification of acts suggested by their
feelings。 The whole of Novodvoroff's revolutionary activity；
though he could explain it very eloquently and very convincingly；
appeared to Nekhludoff to be founded on nothing but ambition and
the desire for supremacy。 At first his capacity for assimilating
the thoughts of others； and of expressing them correctly； had
given him a position of supremacy among pupils and teachers in
the gymnasium and the university； where qualities such as his are
highly prized； and he was satisfied。 When he had finished his
studies and received his diploma he suddenly altered his views；
and from a modern liberal he turned into a rabid Narodovoletz； in
order （so Kryltzoff； who did not like him； said） to gain
supremacy in another sphere。
As he was devoid of those moral and aesthetic qualities which
call forth doubts and hesitation； he very soon acquired a
position in the revolutionary world which satisfied himthat of
the leader of a party。 Having once chosen a direction； he never
doubted or hesitated； and was therefore certain that he never
made a mistake。 Everything seemed quite simple； clear and
certain。 And the narrowness and one…sidedness of his views did
make everything seem simple and clear。 One only had to be
logical； as he said。 His self…assurance was so great that it
either repelled people or made them submit to him。 As he carried
on his work among very young people； his boundless self…assurance
led them to believe him very profound and wise； the majority did
submit to him； and he had a great success in revolutionary
circles。 His activity was directed to the preparation of a rising
in which he was to usurp the power and call together a council。 A
programme； composed by him； should he proposed before the
council； and he felt sure that this programme of his solved every
problem； and that it would he impossible not to carry it out。
His comrades respected but did not love him。 He did not love any
one； looked upon all men of note as upon rivals； and would have
willingly treated them as old male monkeys treat young ones if he
could have done it。 He would have torn all mental power； every
capacity； from other men； so that they should not interfere with
the display of his talents。 He behaved well only to those who
bowed before him。 Now； on the journey he behaved well to
Kondratieff； who was influenced by his propaganda； to Vera
Doukhova and pretty little Grabetz； who were both in love with
him。 Although in principle he was in favour of the woman's
movement； yet in the depth of his soul he considered all women
stupid and insignificant except those whom he was sentimentally
in love with （as he was now in love with Grabetz）； and such women
he considered to be exceptions； whose merits he alone was capable
of discerning。
The question of the relations of the sexes he also looked upon as
thoroughly solved by accepting free union。 He had one nominal and
one real wife； from both of whom he was separated； having come to
the conclusion that there was no real love between them； and now
he thought of entering on a free union with Grabetz。 He despised
Nekhludoff for 〃playing the fool；〃 as Novodvoroff termed it； with
Maslova； but especially for the freedom Nekhludoff took of
considering the defects of the existing system and the methods of
correcting those defects in a manner which was not only not
exactly the same as Novodvoroff's； but was Nekhludoff's owna
prince's； that is； a fool's manner。 Nekhludoff felt this relation
of Novodvoroff's towards him； and knew to his sorrow that in
spite of the state of good will in which he found himself on this
journey he could not help paying this man in his own coin； and
could not stifle the strong antipathy he felt for him。
CHAPTER XVI。
SIMONSON SPEAKS TO NEKHLUDOFF。
The voices of officials sounded from the next room。 All the
prisoners were silent； and a sergeant； followed by two convoy
soldiers； entered。 The time of the inspection had come。 The
sergeant counted every one； and when Nekhludoff's turn came he
addressed him with kindly familiarity。
〃You must not stay any longer； Prince； after the inspection； you
must go now。〃
Nekhludoff knew what this meant； went up to the sergeant and
shoved a three…rouble note into his hand。
〃Ah； well； what is one to do with you； stay a bit longer； if you
like。〃 The sergeant was about to go when another sergeant；
followed by a convict； a spare man with a thin beard and a bruise
under his eye； came in。
〃It's about the girl I have come；〃 said the convict。
〃Here's daddy come；〃 came the ringing accents of a child's voice；
and a flaxen head appeared from behind Rintzeva； who； with
Katusha's and Mary Pavlovna's help； was making a new garment for
the child out of one of Rintzeva's own petticoats。
〃Yes； daughter； it's me；〃 Bousovkin； the prisoner； said softly。
〃She is quite comfortable here；〃 said Mary Pavlovna； looking with
pity at Bousovkin's bruised face。 〃Leave her with us。〃
〃The ladies are making me new clothes；〃 said the girl； pointing
to Rintzeva's sewing〃nice red ones；〃 she went on； prattling。
〃Do you wish to sleep with us？〃 asked Rintzeva； caressing the
child。
〃Yes； I wish。 And daddy； too。〃
〃No； daddy can't。 Well； leave her then；〃 she said； turning to the
father。
〃Yes； you may leave her；〃 said the first sergeant； and went out
with the other。
As soon as they were out of the room Nabatoff went up to
Bousovkin； slapped him on the shoulder； and said： 〃I say； old
fellow； is it true that Karmanoff wishes to exchange？〃
Bousovkin's kindly； gentle face turned suddenly sad and a veil
seemed to dim his eyes。
〃We have heard nothinghardly；〃 he said； and with the same
dimness still over his eyes he turned to the child。
〃Well