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Vera Doukhova had been a school…teacher in an out…of…the…way
village of the Novgorod Government； where Nekhludoff and some
friends of his had once put up while bear hunting。 Nekhludoff
gladly and vividly recalled those old days； and his acquaintance
with Doukhova。 It was just before Lent； in an isolated spot； 40
miles from the railway。 The hunt had been successful； two bears
had been killed； and the company were having dinner before
starting on their return journey； when the master of the hut
where they were putting up came in to say that the deacon's
daughter wanted to speak to Prince Nekhludoff。 〃Is she pretty？〃
some one asked。 〃None of that； please；〃 Nekhludoff said； and rose
with a serious look on his face。 Wiping his mouth； and wondering
what the deacon's daughter might want of him； he went into the
host's private hut。
There he found a girl with a felt hat and a warm cloak ona
sinewy； ugly girl； only her eyes with their arched brows were
beautiful。
〃Here； miss； speak to him；〃 said the old housewife； 〃this is the
prince himself。 I shall go out meanwhile。〃
〃In what way can I be of service to you？〃 Nekhludoff asked。
〃III see you are throwing away your money on such
nonsenseon hunting；〃 began the girl； in great confusion。 〃I
knowI only want one thingto be of use to the people； and I
can do nothing because I know nothing〃 Her eyes were so
truthful； so kind； and her expression of resoluteness and yet
bashfulness was so touching； that Nekhludoff； as it often
happened to him； suddenly felt as if he were in her position；
understood； and sympathised。
〃What can I do； then？〃
〃I am a teacher； but should like to follow a course of study； and
I am not allowed to do so。 That is； not that I am not allowed to；
they'd allow me to； but I have not got the means。 Give them to
me； and when I have finished the course I shall repay you。 I am
thinking the rich kill bears and give the peasants drink； all
this is bad。 Why should they not do good？ I only want 80 roubles。
But if you don't wish to； never mind；〃 she added； gravely。
〃On the contrary； I am very grateful to you for this opportunity。
。 。 I will bring it at once；〃 said Nekhludoff。
He went out into the passage； and there met one of his comrades；
who had been overhearing his conversation。 Paying no heed to his
chaffing； Nekhludoff got the money out of his bag and took it to
her。
〃Oh； please； do not thank me； it is I who should thank you；〃 he
said。
It was pleasant to remember all this now； pleasant to remember
that he had nearly had a quarrel with an officer who tried to
make an objectionable joke of it； and how another of his comrades
had taken his part； which led to a closer friendship between
them。 How successful the whole of that hunting expedition had
been； and how happy he had felt when returning to the railway
station that night。 The line of sledges； the horses in tandem；
glide quickly along the narrow road that lies through the forest；
now between high trees； now between low firs weighed down by the
snow； caked in heavy lumps on their branches。 A red light flashes
in the dark； some one lights an aromatic cigarette。 Joseph； a
bear driver； keeps running from sledge to sledge； up to his knees
in snow； and while putting things to rights he speaks about the
elk which are now going about on the deep snow and gnawing the
bark off the aspen trees； of the bears that are lying asleep in
their deep hidden dens； and his breath comes warm through the
opening in the sledge cover。 All this came back to Nekhludoff's
mind； but； above all； the joyous sense of health； strength； and
freedom from care： the lungs breathing in the frosty air so
deeply that the fur cloak is drawn tightly on his chest； the fine
snow drops off the low branches on to his face； his body is warm；
his face feels fresh； and his soul is free from care；
self…reproach； fear； or desire。 How beautiful it was。 And now； O
God！ what torment； what trouble！
Evidently Vera Doukhova was a revolutionist and imprisoned as
such。 He must see her； especially as she promised to advise him
how to lighten Maslova's lot。
CHAPTER L。
THE VICE…GOVERNOR OF THE PRISON。
Awaking early the next morning； Nekhludoff remembered what he had
done the day before； and was seized with fear。
But in spite of this fear； he was more determined than ever to
continue what he had begun。
Conscious of a sense of duty； he left the house and went to see
Maslennikoff in order to obtain from him a permission to visit
Maslova in prison； and also the Menshoffsmother and sonabout
whom Maslova had spoken to him。 Nekhludoff had known this
Maslennikoff a long time； they had been in the regiment together。
At that time Maslennikoff was treasurer to the regiment。
He was a kind…hearted and zealous officer； knowing and wishing to
know nothing beyond the regiment and the Imperial family。 Now
Nekhludoff saw him as an administrator； who had exchanged the
regiment for an administrative office in the government where he
lived。 He was married to a rich and energetic woman； who had
forced him to exchange military for civil service。 She laughed at
him； and caressed him； as if he were her own pet animal。
Nekhludoff had been to see them once during the winter； but the
couple were so uninteresting to him that he had not gone again。
At the sight of Nekhludoff Maslennikoff's face beamed all over。
He had the same fat red face； and was as corpulent and as well
dressed as in his military days。 Then； he used to be always
dressed in a well…brushed uniform； made according to the latest
fashion； tightly fitting his chest and shoulders； now； it was a
civil service uniform he wore； and that； too； tightly fitted his
well…fed body and showed off his broad chest； and was cut
according to the latest fashion。 In spite of the difference in
age （Maslennikoff was 40）； the two men were very familiar with
one another。
〃Halloo； old fellow！ How good of you to come！ Let us go and see
my wife。 I have just ten minutes to spare before the meeting。 My
chief is away； you know。 I am at the head of the Government
administration；〃 he said； unable to disguise his satisfaction。
〃I have come on business。〃
〃What is it？〃 said Maslennikoff； in an anxious and severe tone；
putting himself at once on his guard。
〃There is a person； whom I am very much interested in； in prison〃
（at the word 〃prison〃 Maslennikoff's face grew stern）； 〃and I
should like to have an interview in the office； and not in the
common visiting…room。 I have been told it depended on you。〃
〃Certainly； mon cher；〃 said Maslennikoff； putting both hands on
Nekhludoff's knees； as if to tone down his grandeur； 〃but
remember； I am monarch only for an hour。〃
〃Then will you give me an order that will enable me to see her？〃
〃It's a woman？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What is she there for？〃
〃Poisoning； but she has been unjustly condemned。〃
〃Yes； there you have it； your justice administered by jury； ils
n'en font point d'autres；〃 he said； for some unknown reason； in
French。 〃I know you do not agree with me； but it can't be helped；
c'est mon opinion bien arretee；〃 he added； giving utterance to an
opinion he had for the last twel