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it。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃There is a certain Gourkevitch imprisoned in the fortress； his
mother asks for an interview with him； or at least to be allowed
to send him some books。〃
The General expressed neither satisfaction nor dissatisfaction at
Nekhludoff's request； but bending his head on one side he closed
his eyes as if considering。 In reality he was not considering
anything； and was not even interested in Nekhludoff's questions；
well knowing that he would answer them according to the law。 He
was simply resting mentally and not thinking at all。
〃You see；〃 he said at last； 〃this does not depend on me。 There is
a regulation； confirmed by His Majesty； concerning interviews；
and as to books； we have a library； and they may have what is
permitted。〃
〃Yes； but he wants scientific books； he wishes to study。〃
〃Don't you believe it；〃 growled the General。 〃It's not study he
wants； it is just only restlessness。〃
〃But what is to be done？ They must occupy their time somehow in
their hard condition；〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃They are always complaining；〃 said the General。 〃We know them。〃
He spoke of them in a general way； as if they were all a
specially bad race of men。 〃They have conveniences here which can
be found in few places of confinement；〃 said the General； and he
began to enumerate the comforts the prisoners enjoyed； as if the
aim of the institution was to give the people imprisoned there a
comfortable home。
〃It is true it used to be rather rough； but now they are very
well kept here；〃 he continued。 〃They have three courses for
dinnerand one of them meatcutlets； or rissoles； and on
Sundays they get a fourtha sweet dish。 God grant every Russian
may eat as well as they do。〃
Like all old people； the General； having once got on to a
familiar topic； enumerated the various proofs he had often given
before of the prisoners being exacting and ungrateful。
〃They get books on spiritual subjects and old journals。 We have a
library。 Only they rarely read。 At first they seem interested；
later on the new books remain uncut； and the old ones with their
leaves unturned。 We tried them；〃 said the old General； with the
dim likeness of a smile。 〃We put bits of paper in on purpose；
which remained just as they had been placed。 Writing is also not
forbidden；〃 he continued。 〃A slate is provided； and a slate
pencil； so that they can write as a pastime。 They can wipe the
slate and write again。 But they don't write； either。 Oh； they
very soon get quite tranquil。 At first they seem restless； but
later on they even grow fat and become very quiet。〃 Thus spoke
the General； never suspecting the terrible meaning of his words。
Nekhludoff listened to the hoarse old voice； looked at the stiff
limbs； the swollen eyelids under the grey brows； at the old；
clean…shaved； flabby jaw； supported by the collar of the military
uniform； at the white cross that this man was so proud of；
chiefly because he had gained it by exceptionally cruel and
extensive slaughter； and knew that it was useless to reply to the
old man or to explain the meaning of his own words to him。
He made another effort； and asked about the prisoner Shoustova；
for whose release； as he had been informed that morning； orders
were given。
〃ShoustovaShoustova？ I cannot remember all their names； there
are so many of them；〃 he said； as if reproaching them because
there were so many。 He rang； and ordered the secretary to be
called。 While waiting for the latter； he began persuading
Nekhludoff to serve； saying that 〃honest noblemen；〃 counting
himself among the number； 〃were particularly needed by the Tsar
andthe country；〃 he added； evidently only to round off his
sentence。 〃I am old； yet I am serving still； as well as my
strength allows。〃
The secretary； a dry； emaciated man； with restless； intelligent
eyes； came in and reported that Shoustova was imprisoned in some
queer； fortified place； and that he had received no orders
concerning her。
〃When we get the order we shall let her out the same day。 We do
not keep them； we do not value their visits much；〃 said the
General； with another attempt at a playful smile； which only
distorted his old face。
Nekhludoff rose； trying to keep from expressing the mixed
feelings of repugnance and pity which he felt towards this
terrible old man。 The old man on his part considered that he
should not be too severe on the thoughtless and evidently
misguided son of his old comrade； and should not leave him
without advice。
〃Good…bye； my dear fellow； do not take it amiss。 It is my
affection that makes me say it。 Do not keep company with such
people as we have at our place here。 There are no innocent ones
among them。 All these people are most immoral。 We know them；〃 he
said； in a tone that admitted no possibility of doubt。 And he did
not doubt； not because the thing was so； but because if it was
not so； he would have to admit himself to be not a noble hero
living out the last days of a good life； but a scoundrel； who
sold； and still continued in his old age to sell； his conscience。
〃Best of all； go and serve；〃 he continued； 〃the Tsar needs honest
menand the country；〃 he added。 〃Well； supposing I and the
others refused to serve； as you are doing？ Who would be left？
Here we are； finding fault with the order of things； and yet not
wishing to help the Government。〃
With a deep sigh Nekhludoff made a low bow； shook the large； bony
hand condescendingly stretched out to him and left the room。
The General shook his head reprovingly； and rubbing his back； he
again went into the drawing…room where the artist was waiting for
him。 He had already written down the answer given by the soul of
Joan of Arc。 The General put on his pince…nez and read； 〃Will
know one another by light emanating from their astral bodies。〃
〃Ah；〃 said the General； with approval； and closed his eyes。 〃But
how is one to know if the light of all is alike？〃 he asked； and
again crossed fingers with the artist on the saucer。
The isvostchik drove Nekhludoff out of the gate。
It is dull here； sir； he said； turning to Nekhludoff。 〃I almost
wished to drive off without waiting for you。〃
Nekhludoff agreed。 〃Yes； it is dull；〃 and he took a deep breath；
and looked up with a sense of relief at the grey clouds that were
floating in the sky； and at the glistening ripples made by the
boats and steamers on the Neva。
CHAPTER XX。
MASLOVA'S APPEAL。
The next day Maslova's case was to be examined at the Senate； and
Nekhludoff and the advocate met at the majestic portal of the
building； where several carriages were waiting。 Ascending the
magnificent and imposing staircase to the first floor； the
advocate； who knew all the ins and outs of the place； turned to
the left and entered through a door which had the date of the
introduction of the Code of Laws above it。
After taking off his overcoat in the first narrow room； he found
out from the attendant that the Senators had all arrived； and
that the last had just come in。 Fanarin； in his swallow…tail
coat； a white tie above the white shirt…front； and a
self…confident smile on his lips； passed into the next room。 In
this room there were to the right