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himself the tremendous size of the building； and the still more
ponderous dimensions of the whole of this organisation； with its
army of officials； scribes； watchmen； messengers； not only in
this place； but all over Russia； who receive wages for carrying
on this comedy which no one needs。 〃Supposing we spent
one…hundredth of these efforts helping these castaways； whom we
now only regard as hands and bodies； required by us for our own
peace and comfort。 Had some one chanced to take pity on him and
given some help at the time when poverty made them send him to
town； it might have been sufficient；〃 Nekhludoff thought； looking
at the boy's piteous face。 〃Or even later； when； after 12 hours'
work at the factory； he was going to the public…house； led away
by his companions； had some one then come and said； 'Don't go；
Vania； it is not right；' he would not have gone； nor got into bad
ways； and would not have done any wrong。
〃But no； no one who would have taken pity on him came across this
apprentice in the years he lived like a poor little animal in the
town； and with his hair cut close so as not to breed vermin； and
ran errands for the workmen。 No； all he heard and saw； from the
older workmen and his companions； since he came to live in town；
was that he who cheats； drinks； swears； who gives another a
thrashing； who goes on the loose； is a fine fellow。 Ill； his
constitution undermined by unhealthy labour； drink； and
debaucherybewildered as in a dream； knocking aimlessly about
town； he gets into some sort of a shed； and takes from there some
old mats； which nobody needsand here we； all of us educated
people； rich or comfortably off； meet together； dressed in good
clothes and fine uniforms； in a splendid apartment； to mock this
unfortunate brother of ours whom we ourselves have ruined。
〃Terrible！ It is difficult to say whether the cruelty or the
absurdity is greater； but the one and the other seem to reach
their climax。〃
Nekhludoff thought all this； no longer listening to what was
going on ； and he was horror…struck by that which was being
revealed to him。 He could not understand why he had not been able
to see all this before； and why others were unable to see it。
CHAPTER XXXV。
THE PROCUREURNEKHLUDOFF REFUSES TO SERVE。
During an interval Nekhludoff got up and went out into the
corridor； with the intention of not returning to the court。 Let
them do what they liked with him； he could take no more part in
this awful and horrid tomfoolery。
Having inquired where the Procureur's cabinet was he went
straight to him。 The attendant did not wish to let him in； saying
that the Procureur was busy； but Nekhludoff paid no heed and went
to the door； where he was met by an official。 He asked to be
announced to the Procureur； saying he was on the jury and had a
very important communication to make。
His title and good clothes were of assistance to him。 The
official announced him to the Procureur； and Nekhludoff was let
in。 The Procureur met him standing； evidently annoyed at the
persistence with which Nekhludoff demanded admittance。
〃What is it you want？〃 the Procureur asked； severely。
〃I am on the jury； my name is Nekhludoff； and it is absolutely
necessary for me to see the prisoner Maslova；〃 Nekhludoff said；
quickly and resolutely； blushing； and feeling that he was taking
a step which would have a decisive influence on his life。
The Procureur was a short； dark man； with short； grizzly hair；
quick； sparkling eyes； and a thick beard cut close on his
projecting lower jaw。
〃Maslova？ Yes； of course； I know。 She was accused of poisoning；〃
the Procureur said； quietly。 〃But why do you want to see her？〃
And then； as if wishing to tone down his question； he added； 〃I
cannot give you the permission without knowing why you require
it。〃
〃I require it for a particularly important reason。〃
〃Yes？〃 said the Procureur； and； lifting his eyes； looked
attentively at Nekhludoff。 〃Has her case been heard or not？〃
〃She was tried yesterday； and unjustly sentenced； she is
innocent。〃
〃Yes？ If she was sentenced only yesterday；〃 went on the
Procureur； paying no attention to Nekhludoff's statement
concerning Maslova's innocence； 〃she must still he in the
preliminary detention prison until the sentence is delivered in
its final form。 Visiting is allowed there only on certain days； I
should advise you to inquire there。〃
〃But I must see her as soon as possible；〃 Nekhludoff said； his
jaw trembling as he felt the decisive moment approaching。
〃Why must you？〃 said the Procureur； lifting his brows with some
agitation。
〃Because I betrayed her and brought her to the condition which
exposed her to this accusation。〃
〃All the same； I cannot see what it has to do with visiting her。〃
〃This： that whether I succeed or not in getting the sentence
changed I want to follow her； andmarry her；〃 said Nekhludoff；
touched to tears by his own conduct； and at the same time pleased
to see the effect he produced on the Procureur。
〃Really！ Dear me！〃 said the Procureur。 〃This is certainly a very
exceptional case。 I believe you are a member of the Krasnoporsk
rural administration？〃 he asked； as if he remembered having heard
before of this Nekhludoff； who was now making so strange a
declaration。
〃I beg your pardon； but I do not think that has anything to do
with my request；〃 answered Nekhludoff； flushing angrily。
〃Certainly not；〃 said the Procureur； with a scarcely perceptible
smile and not in the least abashed； 〃only your wish is so
extraordinary and so out of the common。〃
〃Well； but can I get the permission？〃
〃The permission？ Yes； I will give you an order of admittance
directly。 Take a seat。〃
He went up to the table； sat down； and began to write。 〃Please
sit down。〃
Nekhludoff continued to stand。
Having written an order of admittance； and handed it to
Nekhludoff； the Procureur looked curiously at him。
〃I must also state that I can no longer take part in the
sessions。〃
〃Then you will have to lay valid reasons before the Court； as
you； of course； know。〃
〃My reasons are that I consider all judging not only useless； but
immoral。〃
〃Yes；〃 said the Procureur； with the same scarcely perceptible
smile； as if to show that this kind of declaration was well known
to him and belonged to the amusing sort。 〃Yes； but you will
certainly understand that I as Procureur； can not agree with you
on this point。 Therefore； I should advise you to apply to the
Court； which will consider your declaration； and find it valid or
not valid； and in the latter case will impose a fine。 Apply；
then； to the Court。〃
〃I have made my declaration； and shall apply nowhere else；〃
Nekhludoff said； angrily。
〃Well； then； good…afternoon；〃 said the Procureur； bowing his
head； evidently anxious to be rid of this strange visitor。
〃Who was that you had here？〃 asked one of the members of the
Court； as he entered； just after Nekhludoff left the room。
〃Nekhludoff； you know； the same that used to make all sorts of
strange statements at the Krasnoporsk rural meetings。 Just fancy！
He is on the jury； and among the prisoners there is a woman or
girl sentenced to penal ser