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blockhead； if I may say so； and yet a crafty animal at the same
time。〃
Nekhludoff remembered what Maslennikoff had said about the
advocate； and did not answer； but took leave and went on to
Maslennikoff's。 He had to ask Maslennikoff two things： about
Maslova's removal to the prison hospital； and about the 130
passportless men innocently imprisoned。 Though it was very hard
to petition a man whom he did not respect； and by whose orders
men were flogged； yet it was the only means of gaining his end；
and he had to go through with it。
As he drove up to Maslennikoff's house Nekhludoff saw a number of
different carriages by the front door； and remembered that it was
Maslennikoff's wife's 〃at…home〃 day； to which he had been
invited。 At the moment Nekhludoff drove up there was a carriage
in front of the door； and a footman in livery； with a cockade in
his hat； was helping a lady down the doorstep。 She was holding up
her train； and showing her thin ankles； black stockings； and
slippered feet。 Among the carriages was a closed landau； which he
knew to be the Korchagins'。
The grey…haired； red…checked coachman took off his hat and bowed
in a respectful yet friendly manner to Nekhludoff； as to a
gentleman he knew well。 Nekhludoff had not had time to inquire
for Maslennikoff； when the latter appeared on the carpeted
stairs； accompanying a very important guest not only to the first
landing but to the bottom of the stairs。 This very important
visitor； a military man； was speaking in French about a lottery
for the benefit of children's homes that were to be founded in
the city； and expressed the opinion that this was a good
occupation for the ladies。 〃It amuses them； and the money comes。〃
〃Qu'elles s'amusent et que le bon dieu les benisse。 M。
Nekhludoff！ How d'you do？ How is it one never sees you？〃 he
greeted Nekhludoff。 〃Allez presenter vos devoirs a Madame。 And
the Korchagins are here et Nadine Bukshevden。 Toutes les jolies
femmes de la ville；〃 said the important guest； slightly raising
his uniformed shoulders as he presented them to his own richly
liveried servant to have his military overcoat put on。 〃Au
revoir； mon cher。〃 And he pressed Maslennikoff's hand。
〃Now； come up； I am so glad；〃 said Maslennikoff； grasping
Nekhludoff's hand。 In spite of his corpulency Maslennikoff
hurried quickly up the stairs。 He was in particularly good
spirits； owing to the attention paid him by the important
personage。 Every such attention gave him the same sense of
delight as is felt by an affectionate dog when its master pats
it； strokes it； or scratches its ears。 It wags its tail； cringes；
jumps about； presses its ears down； and madly rushes about in a
circle。 Maslennikoff was ready to do the same。 He did not notice
the serious expression on Nekhludoff's face； paid no heed to his
words； but pulled him irresistibly towards the drawing…room； so
that it was impossible for Nekhludoff not to follow。 〃Business
after wards。 I shall do whatever you want；〃 said Meslennikoff； as
he drew Nekhludoff through the dancing hall。 〃Announce Prince
Nekhludoff；〃 he said to a footman； without stopping on his way。
The footman started off at a trot and passed them。
〃Vous n'avez qu' a ordonner。 But you must see my wife。 As it is；
I got it for letting you go without seeing her last time。〃
By the time they reached the drawing…room the footman had already
announced Nekhludoff； and from between the bonnets and heads that
surrounded it the smiling face of Anna Ignatievna； the
Vice…Governor's wife； beamed on Nekhludoff。 At the other end of
the drawing…room several ladies were seated round the tea…table；
and some military men and some civilians stood near them。 The
clatter of male and female voices went on unceasingly。
〃Enfin！ you seem to have quite forgotten us。 How have we
offended？〃 With these words； intended to convey an idea of
intimacy which had never existed between herself and Nekhludoff；
Anna Ignatievna greeted the newcomer。
〃You are acquainted？Madam Tilyaevsky； M。 Chernoff。 Sit down a
bit nearer。 Missy vene donc a notre table on vous apportera votre
the 。 。 。 And you；〃 she said； having evidently forgotten his
name； to an officer who was talking to Missy； 〃do come here。 A
cup of tea； Prince？〃
〃I shall never； never agree with you。 It's quite simple； she did
not love；〃 a woman's voice was heard saying。
〃But she loved tarts。〃
〃Oh； your eternal silly jokes！〃 put in； laughingly； another lady
resplendent in silks； gold； and jewels。
〃C'est excellent these little biscuits； and so light。 I think
I'll take another。〃
〃Well； are you moving soon？〃
〃Yes； this is our last day。 That's why we have come。 Yes； it must
be lovely in the country； we are having a delightful spring。〃
Missy； with her hat on； in a dark…striped dress of some kind that
fitted her like a skin； was looking very handsome。 She blushed
when she saw Nekhludoff。
〃And I thought you had left；〃 she said to him。
〃I am on the point of leaving。 Business is keeping me in town；
and it is on business I have come here。〃
〃Won't you come to see mamma？ She would like to see you；〃 she
said； and knowing that she was saying what was not true； and that
he knew it also； she blushed still more。
〃I fear I shall scarcely have time；〃 Nekhludoff said gloomily；
trying to appear as if he had not noticed her blush。 Missy
frowned angrily； shrugged her shoulders； and turned towards an
elegant officer； who grasped the empty cup she was holding； and
knocking his sword against the chairs； manfully carried the cup
across to another table。
〃You must contribute towards the Home fund。〃
〃I am not refusing； but only wish to keep my bounty fresh for the
lottery。 There I shall let it appear in all its glory。〃
〃Well； look out for yourself；〃 said a voice； followed by an
evidently feigned laugh。
Anna Ignatievna was in raptures； her 〃at…home〃 had turned out a
brilliant success。 〃Micky tells me you are busying yourself with
prison work。 I can understand you so well；〃 she said to
Nekhludoff。 〃Micky （she meant her fat husband； Maslennikoff） may
have other defects； but you know how kind…hearted he is。 All
these miserable prisoners are his children。 He does not regard
them in any other light。 II est d'une bonte…〃 and she stopped；
finding no words to do justice to this bonte of his； and quickly
turned to a shrivelled old woman with bows of lilac ribbon all
over； who came in just then。
Having said as much as was absolutely necessary； and with as
little meaning as conventionality required； Nekhludoff rose and
went up to Meslennikoff。 〃Can you give me a few minutes' hearing；
please？〃
〃Oh； yes。 Well； what is it？〃
〃Let us come in here。〃
They entered a small Japanese sitting…room； and sat down by the
window。
CHAPTER LVIII。
THE VICE…GOVERNOR SUSPICIOUS。
〃Well？ Je suis a vous。 Will you smoke？ But wait a bit； we must be
careful and not make a mess here；〃 said Maslennikoff； and brought
an ashpan。 〃Well？〃
〃There are two matters I wish to ask you about。〃
〃Dear me！〃
An expression of gloom and dejection came over Maslennikoff's
countenance； and every trace of the excitement； like that of the
dog's whom