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would stop struggling in the game…bag； and no longer remind him
of its existence。
CHAPTER XXIV。
THE TRIALTHE SENTENCE。
Peter Gerasimovitch's assumption was correct。 The president came
back from the debating room with a paper； and read as
follows：〃April 28th； 188…。 By His Imperial Majesty's ukase No。
… The Criminal Court； on the strength of the decision of the
jury； in accordance with Section 3 of Statute 771； Section 3 of
Statutes 770 and 777； decrees that the peasant； Simeon Kartinkin；
33 years of age； and the meschanka Katerina Maslova； 27 years of
age； are to be deprived of all property rights and to be sent to
penal servitude in Siberia； Kartinkin for eight； Maslova for four
years； with the consequences stated in Statute 25 of the code。
The meschanka Botchkova； 43 years of age； to be deprived of all
special personal and acquired rights； and to be imprisoned for
three years with consequences in accord with Statute 48 of the
code。 The costs of the case to be borne equally by the prisoners；
and； in the case of their being without sufficient property； the
costs to be transferred to the Treasury。 Articles of material
evidence to be sold； the ring to be returned； the phials
destroyed。〃 Botchkova was condemned to prison； Simeon Kartinken
and Katerina Maslova to the loss of all special rights and
privileges and to penal servitude in Siberia； he for eight and
she for four years。
Kartinkin stood holding his arms close to his sides and moving
his lips。 Botchkova seemed perfectly calm。 Maslova； when she
heard the sentence； blushed scarlet。 〃I'm not guilty； not
guilty！〃 she suddenly cried； so that it resounded through the
room。 〃It is a sin！ I am not guilty！ I never wishedI never
thought！ It is the truth I am sayingthe truth！〃 and sinking on
the bench she burst into tears and sobbed aloud。 When Kartinkin
and Botchkova went out she still sat crying； so that a gendarme
had to touch the sleeve of her cloak。
〃No； it is impossible to leave it as it is；〃 said Nekhludoff to
himself； utterly forgetting his bad thoughts。 He did not know why
he wished to look at her once more； but hurried out into the
corridor。 There was quite a crowd at the door。 The advocates and
jury were going out； pleased to have finished the business； and
he was obliged to wait a few seconds； and when he at last got out
into the corridor she was far in front。 He hurried along the
corridor after her； regardless of the attention he was arousing；
caught her up； passed her； and stopped。 She had ceased crying and
only sobbed； wiping her red； discoloured face with the end of the
kerchief on her head。 She passed without noticing him。 Then he
hurried back to see the president。 The latter had already left
the court； and Nekhludoff followed him into the lobby and went up
to him just as he had put on his light grey overcoat and was
taking the silver…mounted walking…stick which an attendant was
handing him。
〃Sir； may I have a few words with you concerning some business I
have just decided upon？〃 said Nekhludoff。 I am one of the jury。〃
〃Oh； certainly； Prince Nekhludoff。 I shall be delighted。 I think
we have met before；〃 said the president； pressing Nekhludoff's
hand and recalling with pleasure the evening when he first met
Nekhludoff； and when he had danced so gaily； better than all the
young people。 〃What can I do for you？〃
〃There is a mistake in the answer concerning Maslova。 She is not
guilty of the poisoning and yet she is condemned to penal
servitude；〃 said Nekhludoff； with a preoccupied and gloomy air。
〃The Court passed the sentence in accordance with the answers you
yourselves gave；〃 said the president； moving towards the front
door； 〃though they did not seem to be quite in accord。〃 And he
remembered that he had been going to explain to the jury that a
verdict of 〃guilty〃 meant guilty of intentional murder unless the
words 〃without intent to take life〃 were added； but had； in his
hurry to get the business over； omitted to do so。
〃Yes； but could not the mistake be rectified？〃
〃A reason for an appeal can always be found。 You will have to
speak to an advocate；〃 said the president； putting on his hat a
little to one side and continuing to move towards the door。
〃But this is terrible。〃
〃Well； you see； there were two possibilities before Maslova；〃
said the president； evidently wishing to be as polite and
pleasant to Nekhludoff as he could。 Then； having arranged his
whiskers over his coat collar； he put his hand lightly under
Nekhludoff's elbow； and； still directing his steps towards the
front door； he said； 〃You are going； too？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Nekhludoff； quickly getting his coat； and following
him。
They went out into the bright； merry sunlight； and had to raise
their voices because of the rattling of the wheels on the
pavement。
〃The situation is a curious one； you see；〃 said the president；
〃what lay before this Maslova was one of two things： either to be
almost acquitted and only imprisoned for a short time； or； taking
the preliminary confinement into consideration； perhaps not at
allor Siberia。 There is nothing between。 Had you but added the
words； 'without intent to cause death；' she would have been
acquitted。〃
〃Yes； it was inexcusable of me to omit that；〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃That's where the whole matter lies；〃 said the president； with a
smile； and looked at his watch。 He had only three…quarters of an
hour left before the time appointed by his Clara would elapse。
〃Now； if you like to speak to the advocates you'll have to find a
reason for an appeal； that can be easily done。〃 Then； turning to
an isvostchik； he called out； 〃To the Dvoryanskaya 30 copecks； I
never give more。〃 〃All right； your honour； here you are。〃
〃Good…afternoon。 If I can be of any use； my address is House
Dvornikoff； on the Dvoryanskaya； it's easy to remember。〃 And he
bowed in a friendly manner as he got into the trap and drove off。
CHAPTER XXV。
NEKHLUDOFF CONSULTS AN ADVOCATE。
His conversation with the president and the fresh air quieted
Nekhludoff a little。 He now thought that the feelings experienced
by him had been exaggerated by the unusual surroundings in which
he had spent the whole of the morning； and by that wonderful and
startling coincidence。 Still； it was absolutely necessary to take
some steps to lighten Maslova's fate； and to take them quickly。
〃Yes； at once！ It will be best to find out here in the court
where the advocate Fanarin or Mikishin lives。〃 These were two
well…known advocates whom Nekhludoff called to mind。 He returned
to the court； took off his overcoat； and went upstairs。 In the
first corridor he met Fanarin himself。 He stopped him； and told
him that he was just going to look him up on a matter of
business。
Fanarin knew Nekhludoff by sight and name； and said he would be
very glad to be of service to him。
〃Though I am rather tired； still； if your business will not take
very long； perhaps you might tell me what it is now。 Will you
step in here？〃 And he led Nekhludoff into a room； probably some
judge's cabinet。 They sat down by the table。
〃Well； and what is your business？〃
〃First of all； I must ask you to keep the business