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acquainted with Nekhludoff made haste to get introduced；
evidently looking upon this as an honour； and he taking it as his
due； as he always did when among strangers。 Had he been asked why
he considered himself above the majority of people； he could not
have given an answer； the life he had been living of late was not
particularly meritorious。 The fact of his speaking English；
French； and German with a good accent； and of his wearing the
best linen； clothes； ties； and studs； bought from the most
expensive dealers in these goods； he quite knew would not serve
as a reason for claiming superiority。 At the same time he did
claim superiority； and accepted the respect paid him as his due；
and was hurt if he did not get it。 In the jurymen's room his
feelings were hurt by disrespectful treatment。 Among the jury
there happened to be a man whom he knew； a former teacher of his
sister's children； Peter Gerasimovitch。 Nekhludoff never knew his
surname； and even bragged a bit about this。 This man was now a
master at a public school。 Nekhludoff could not stand his
familiarity； his self…satisfied laughter； his vulgarity； in
short。
〃Ah ha！ You're also trapped。〃 These were the words； accompanied
with boisterous laughter； with which Peter Gerasimovitch greeted
Nekhludoff。 〃Have you not managed to get out of it？〃
〃I never meant to get out of it；〃 replied Nekhludoff； gloomily；
and in a tone of severity。
〃Well； I call this being public spirited。 But just wait until you
get hungry or sleepy； you'll sing to another tune then。〃
〃This son of a priest will be saying 'thou' ＇in Russian； as in
many other languages； 〃thou〃 is used generally among people very
familiar with each other； or by superiors to inferiors＇ to me
next；〃 thought Nekhludoff； and walked away； with such a look of
sadness on his face； as might have been natural if he had just
heard of the death of all his relations。 He came up to a group
that had formed itself round a clean…shaven； tall； dignified man；
who was recounting something with great animation。 This man was
talking about the trial going on in the Civil Court as of a case
well known to himself； mentioning the judges and a celebrated
advocate by name。 He was saying that it seemed wonderful how the
celebrated advocate had managed to give such a clever turn to the
affair that an old lady； though she had the right on her side；
would have to pay a large sum to her opponent。 〃The advocate is a
genius；〃 he said。
The listeners heard it all with respectful attention； and several
of them tried to put in a word； but the man interrupted them； as
if he alone knew all about it。
Though Nekhludoff had arrived late； he had to wait a long time。
One of the members of the Court had not yet come； and everybody
was kept waiting。
CHAPTER VI。
THE JUDGES。
The president； who had to take the chair； had arrived early。 The
president was a tall； stout man； with long grey whiskers。 Though
married； he led a very loose life； and his wife did the same； so
they did not stand in each other's way。 This morning he had
received a note from a Swiss girl； who had formerly been a
governess in his house； and who was now on her way from South
Russia to St。 Petersburg。 She wrote that she would wait for him
between five and six p。m。 in the Hotel Italia。 This made him wish
to begin and get through the sitting as soon as possible； so as
to have time to call before six p。m。 on the little red…haired
Clara Vasilievna； with whom he had begun a romance in the country
last summer。 He went into a private room； latched the door； took
a pair of dumb…bells out of a cupboard； moved his arms 20 times
upwards； downwards； forwards； and sideways； then holding the
dumb…bells above his head； lightly bent his knees three times。
〃Nothing keeps one going like a cold bath and exercise；〃 he said；
feeling the biceps of his right arm with his left hand； on the
third finger of which he wore a gold ring。 He had still to do the
moulinee movement （for he always went through those two exercises
before a long sitting）； when there was a pull at the door。 The
president quickly put away the dumb…bells and opened the door；
saying； 〃I beg your pardon。〃
One of the members； a high…shouldered； discontented…looking man；
with gold spectacles； came into the room。 〃Matthew Nikitich has
again not come；〃 he said； in a dissatisfied tone。
〃Not yet？〃 said the president； putting on his uniform。 〃He is
always late。〃
〃It is extraordinary。 He ought to be ashamed of himself；〃 said
the member； angrily； and taking out a cigarette。
This member； a very precise man； had had an unpleasant encounter
with his wife in the morning； because she had spent her allowance
before the end of the month； and had asked him to give her some
money in advance； but he would not give way to her； and they had
a quarrel。 The wife told him that if he were going to behave so；
he need not expect any dinner； there would be no dinner for him
at home。 At this point he left； fearing that she might carry out
her threat； for anything might be expected from her。 〃This comes
of living a good； moral life；〃 he thought； looking at the
beaming； healthy； cheerful； and kindly president； who； with
elbows far apart； was smoothing his thick grey whiskers with his
fine white hands over the embroidered collar of his uniform。 〃He
is always contented and merry while I am suffering。〃
The secretary came in and brought some document。
〃Thanks； very much；〃 said the president； lighting a cigarette。
〃Which case shall we take first； then？〃
〃The poisoning case； I should say；〃 answered the secretary； with
indifference。
〃All right； the poisoning case let it be；〃 said the president；
thinking that he could get this case over by four o'clock； and
then go away。 〃And Matthew Nikitich； has he come？〃
〃Not yet。〃
〃And Breve？〃
〃He is here；〃 replied the secretary。
〃Then if you see him； please tell him that we begin with the
poisoning case。〃 Breve was the public prosecutor； who was to read
the indictment in this case。
In the corridor the secretary met Breve； who； with up lifted
shoulders； a portfolio under one arm； the other swinging with the
palm turned to the front； was hurrying along the corridor；
clattering with his heels。
〃Michael Petrovitch wants to know if you are ready？ the secretary
asked。
〃Of course； I am always ready；〃 said the public prosecutor。 〃What
are we taking first？
〃The poisoning case。〃
〃That's quite right；〃 said the public prosecutor； but did not
think it at all right。 He had spent the night in a hotel playing
cards with a friend who was giving a farewell party。 Up to five
in the morning they played and drank； so he had no time to look
at this poisoning case； and meant to run it through now。 The
secretary； happening to know this； advised the president to begin
with the poisoning case。 The secretary was a Liberal； even a
Radical； in opinion。
Breve was a Conservative； the secretary disliked him； and envied
him his position。
〃Well； and how about the Skoptzy？〃 ＇a religious sect＇ asked the
secretary。
〃I have already said that I cannot do it without witnesses； and
so I shall say to the Court。〃
〃Dear me；