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〃Well； and what is your business？〃
〃First of all； I must ask you to keep the business private。 I do
not want it known that I take an interest in the affair。〃
〃Oh； that of course。 Well？〃
〃I was on the jury to…day； and we have condemned a woman to
Siberia； an innocent woman。 This bothers me very much。〃
Nekhludoff； to his own surprise； blushed and became confused。
Fanarin glanced at him rapidly； and looked down again； listening。
〃Well？〃
〃We have condemned a woman； and I should like to appeal to a
higher court。〃
〃To the Senate； you mean；〃 said Fanarin； correcting him。
〃Yes； and I should like to ask you to take the case in hand。〃
Nekhludoff wanted to get the most difficult part over； and added；
〃I shall take the costs of the case on myself； whatever they may
be。〃
〃Oh； we shall settle all that；〃 said the advocate； smiling with
condescension at Nekhludoff's inexperience in these matters。
〃What is the case？〃
Nekhludoff stated what had happened。
〃All right。 I shall look the case through to…morrow or the day
afternobetter on Thursday。 If you will come to me at six
o'clock I will give you an answer。 Well； and now let us go； I
have to make a few inquiries here。〃
Nekhludoff took leave of him and went out。 This talk with the
advocate； and the fact that he had taken measures for Maslova's
defence； quieted him still further。 He went out into the street。
The weather was beautiful； and he joyfully drew in a long breath
of spring air。 He was at once surrounded by isvostchiks offering
their services； but he went on foot。 A whole swarm of pictures
and memories of Katusha and his conduct to her began whirling in
his brain； and he felt depressed and everything appeared gloomy。
〃No； I shall consider all this later on； I must now get rid of
all these disagreeable impressions；〃 he thought to himself。
He remembered the Korchagin's dinner and looked at his watch。 It
was not yet too late to get there in time。 He heard the ring of a
passing tramcar； ran to catch it； and jumped on。 He jumped off
again when they got to the market…place； took a good isvostchik；
and ten minutes later was at the entrance of the Korchagins' big
house。
CHAPTER XXVI。
THE HOUSE OF KORCHAGIN。
〃Please to walk in； your excellency；〃 said the friendly； fat
doorkeeper of the Korchagins' big house； opening the door； which
moved noiselessly on its patent English hinges； 〃you are
expected。 They are at dinner。 My orders were to admit only you。〃
The doorkeeper went as far as the staircase and rang。
〃Are there any strangers？〃 asked Nekhludoff； taking off his
overcoat。
〃Mr。 Kolosoff and Michael Sergeivitch only； besides the family。〃
A very handsome footman with whiskers； in a swallow…tail coat and
white gloves； looked down from the landing。
Please to walk up； your excellency；〃 he said。 〃You are expected。〃
Nekhludoff went up and passed through the splendid large
dancing…room； which he knew so well； into the dining…room。 There
the whole Korchagin familyexcept the mother； Sophia Vasilievna；
who never left her cabinetwere sitting round the table。 At the
head of the table sat old Korchagin； on his left the doctor； and
on his right； a visitor； Ivan Ivanovitch Kolosoff； a former
Marechal de Noblesse； now a bank director； Korchagin's friend and
a Liberal。 Next on the left side sat Miss Rayner； the governess
of Missy's little sister； and the four…year…old girl herself。
Opposite them； Missy's brother； Petia； the only son of the
Korchagins； a public…school boy of the Sixth Class。 It was
because of his examinations that the whole family were still in
town。 Next to him sat a University student who was coaching him；
and Missy's cousin； Michael Sergeivitch Telegin； generally called
Misha； opposite him； Katerina Alexeevna； a 40…year…old maiden
lady； a Slavophil； and at the foot of the table sat Missy
herself； with an empty place by her side。
〃Ah！ that's right！ Sit down。 We are still at the fish；〃 said old
Korchagin with difficulty； chewing carefully with his false
teeth； and lifting his bloodshot eyes （which had no visible lids
to them） to Nekhludoff。
〃Stephen！〃 he said； with his mouth full； addressing the stout；
dignified butler； and pointing with his eyes to the empty place。
Though Nekhludoff knew Korchagin very well； and had often seen
him at dinner； to…day this red face with the sensual smacking
lips； the fat neck above the napkin stuck into his waistcoat； and
the whole over…fed military figure； struck him very disagreeably。
Then Nekhludoff remembered； without wishing to； what he knew of
the cruelty of this man； who； when in command； used to have men
flogged； and even hanged； without rhyme or reason； simply because
he was rich and had no need to curry favour。
〃Immediately； your excellency；〃 said Stephen； getting a large
soup ladle out of the sideboard； which was decorated with a
number of silver vases。 He made a sign with his head to the
handsome footman； who began at once to arrange the untouched
knives and forks and the napkin； elaborately folded with the
embroidered family crest uppermost； in front of the empty place
next to Missy。 Nekhludoff went round shaking hands with every
one； and all； except old Korchagin and the ladies； rose when he
approached。 And this walk round the table； this shaking the hands
of people； with many of whom he never talked； seemed unpleasant
and odd。 He excused himself for being late； and was about to sit
down between Missy and Katerina Alexeevna； but old Korchagin
insisted that if he would not take a glass of vodka he should at
least take a bit of something to whet his appetite； at the side
table； on which stood small dishes of lobster； caviare； cheese；
and salt herrings。 Nekhludoff did not know how hungry he was
until he began to eat； and then； having taken some bread and
cheese； he went on eating eagerly。
〃Well； have you succeeded in undermining the basis of society？〃
asked Kolosoff； ironically quoting an expression used by a
retrograde newspaper in attacking trial by jury。 〃Acquitted the
culprits and condemned the innocent； have you？〃
〃Undermining the basisundermining the basis；〃 repeated Prince
Korchagin； laughing。 He had a firm faith in the wisdom and
learning of his chosen friend and companion。
At the risk of seeming rude； Nekhludoff left Kolosoff's question
unanswered； and sitting down to his steaming soup； went on
eating。
〃Do let him eat；〃 said Missy； with a smile。 The pronoun him she
used as a reminder of her intimacy with Nekhludoff。 Kolosoff went
on in a loud voice and lively manner to give the contents of the
article against trial by jury which had aroused his indignation。
Missy's cousin； Michael Sergeivitch； endorsed all his statements；
and related the contents of another article in the same paper。
Missy was； as usual； very distinguee； and well； unobtrusively
well； dressed。
〃You must be terribly tired；〃 she said； after waiting until
Nekhludoff had swallowed what was in his mouth。
〃Not particularly。 And you？ Have you been to look at the
pictures？〃 he asked。
〃No； we put that off。 We have been playing tennis at the
Salamatoffs'。 It is quite true； Mr。 Crooks plays remarkably
well。〃