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remark。 She was in the habit of artfully flattering all those
with whom she conversed。 〃Well； and what of your picture？ It does
interest me so。 If I were not such a sad invalid I should have
been to see it long ago；〃 she said。
〃I have quite given it up；〃 Nekhludoff replied drily。 The
falseness of her flattery seemed as evident to him to…day as her
age； which she was trying to conceal； and he could not put
himself into the right state to behave politely。
〃Oh； that IS a pity！ Why； he has a real talent for art； I have it
from Repin's own lips；〃 she added； turning to Kolosoff。
〃Why is it she is not ashamed of lying so？〃 Nekhludoff thought；
and frowned。
When she had convinced herself that Nekhludoff was in a bad
temper and that one could not get him into an agreeable and
clever conversation； Sophia Vasilievna turned to Kolosoff； asking
his opinion of a new play。 She asked it in a tone as if
Kolosoff's opinion would decide all doubts； and each word of this
opinion be worthy of being immortalised。 Kolosoff found fault
both with the play and its author； and that led him to express
his views on art。 Princess Sophia Vasilievna； while trying at the
same time to defend the play； seemed impressed by the truth of
his arguments； either giving in at once； or at least modifying
her opinion。 Nekhludoff looked and listened； but neither saw nor
heard what was going on before him。
Listening now to Sophia Vasilievna； now to Kolosoff； Nekhludoff
noticed that neither he nor she cared anything about the play or
each other； and that if they talked it was only to gratify the
physical desire to move the muscles of the throat and tongue
after having eaten； and that Kolosoff； having drunk vodka； wine
and liqueur； was a little tipsy。 Not tipsy like the peasants who
drink seldom； but like people to whom drinking wine has become a
habit。 He did not reel about or talk nonsense； but he was in a
state that was not normal； excited and self…satisfied。
Nekhludoff also noticed that during the conversation Princess
Sophia Vasilievna kept glancing uneasily at the window； through
which a slanting ray of sunshine； which might vividly light up
her aged face； was beginning to creep up。
〃How true；〃 she said in reference to some remark of Kolosoff's；
touching the button of an electric bell by the side of her couch。
The doctor rose； and； like one who is at home； left the room
without saying anything。 Sophia Vasilievna followed him with her
eyes and continued the conversation。
〃Please； Philip； draw these curtains；〃 she said； pointing to the
window； when the handsome footman came in answer to the bell。
〃No； whatever you may say； there is some mysticism in him；
without mysticism there can be no poetry；〃 she said； with one of
her black eyes angrily following the footman's movements as he
was drawing the curtains。 〃Without poetry； mysticism is
superstition； without mysticism； poetry isprose；〃 she
continued； with a sorrowful smile； still not losing sight of the
footman and the curtains。 〃Philip； not that curtain； the one on
the large window；〃 she exclaimed； in a suffering tone。 Sophia
Vasilievna was evidently pitying herself for having to make the
effort of saying these words； and； to soothe her feelings； she
raised to her lips a scented； smoking cigarette with her jewel…
bedecked fingers。
The broad…chested； muscular； handsome Philip bowed slightly； as
if begging pardon； and stepping lightly across the carpet with
his broad…calved； strong； legs； obediently and silently went to
the other window； and； looking at the princess； carefully began
to arrange the curtain so that not a single ray dared fall on
her。 But again he did not satisfy her； and again she had to
interrupt the conversation about mysticism； and correct in a
martyred tone the unintelligent Philip； who was tormenting her so
pitilessly。 For a moment a light flashed in Philip's eyes。
〃'The devil take you！ What do you want？' was probably what he
said to himself；〃 thought Nekhludoff； who had been observing all
this scene。 But the strong； handsome Philip at once managed to
conceal the signs of his impatience； and went on quietly carrying
out the orders of the worn； weak； false Sophia Vasilievna。
〃Of course； there is a good deal of truth in Lombroso's
teaching；〃 said Kolosoff； lolling back in the low chair and
looking at Sophia Vasilievna with sleepy eyes； 〃but he
over…stepped the mark。 Oh； yes。〃
〃And you？ Do you believe in heredity？〃 asked Sophia Vasilievna；
turning to Nekhludoff； whose silence annoyed her。 〃In heredity？〃
he asked。 〃No； I don't。〃 At this moment his whole mind was taken
up by strange images that in some unaccountable way rose up in
his imagination。 By the side of this strong and handsome Philip
he seemed at this minute to see the nude figure of Kolosoff as an
artist's model； with his stomach like a melon； his bald head； and
his arms without muscle； like pestles。 In the same dim way the
limbs of Sophia Vasilievna； now covered with silks and velvets；
rose up in his mind as they must be in reality； but this mental
picture was too horrid and he tried to drive it away。
〃Well； you know Missy is waiting for you；〃 she said。 〃Go and find
her。 She wants to play a new piece by Grieg to you； it is most
interesting。〃
〃She did not mean to play anything； the woman is simply lying；
for some reason or other；〃 thought Nekhludoff； rising and
pressing Sophia Vasilievna's transparent and bony； ringed hand。
Katerina Alexeevna met him in the drawing…room； and at once
began； in French； as usual：
〃I see the duties of a juryman act depressingly upon you。〃
〃Yes； pardon me； I am in low spirits to…day； and have no right to
weary others by my presence；〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃Why are you in low spirits？〃
〃Allow me not to speak about that；〃 he said； looking round for
his hat。
〃Don't you remember how you used to say that we must always tell
the truth？ And what cruel truths you used to tell us all！ Why do
you not wish to speak out now？ Don't you remember； Missy？〃 she
said； turning to Missy； who had just come in。
〃We were playing a game then；〃 said Nekhludoff； seriously； 〃one
may tell the truth in a game； but in reality we are so badI
mean I am so badthat I； at least； cannot tell the truth。〃
〃Oh； do not correct yourself； but rather tell us why WE are so
bad；〃 said Katerina Alexeevna； playing with her words and
pretending not to notice how serious Nekhludoff was。
〃Nothing is worse than to confess to being in low spirits；〃 said
Missy。 〃I never do it； and therefore am always in good spirits。〃
Nekhludoff felt as a horse must feel when it is being caressed to
make it submit to having the bit put in its mouth and be
harnessed； and to…day he felt less than ever inclined to draw。
〃Well； are you coming into my room？ We will try to cheer you up。〃
He excused himself； saying he had to be at home； and began taking
leave。 Missy kept his hand longer than usual。
〃Remember that what is important to you is important to your
friends；〃 she said。 〃Are you coming tomorrow？〃
〃I hardly expect to；〃 said Nekhludoff； and feeling ashamed；
without knowing whether for her or for himself； he blushed and
went aw