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 servitude； whom he says he betrayed； and
now he wants to marry her。〃
〃You don't mean to say so。〃
〃That's what he told me。 And in such a strange state of
excitement！〃
〃There is something abnormal in the young men of to…day。〃
〃Oh； but he is not so very young。〃
〃Yes。 But how tiresome your famous Ivoshenka was。 He carries the
day by wearying one out。 He talked and talked without end。〃
〃Oh； that kind of people should be simply stopped； or they will
become real obstructionists。〃
CHAPTER XXXVI。
NEKHLUDOFF ENDEAVOURS TO VISIT MASLOVA。
From the Procureur Nekhludoff went straight to the preliminary
detention prison。 However； no Maslova was to be found there； and
the inspector explained to Nekhludoff that she would probably be
in the old temporary prison。 Nekhludoff went there。
Yes； Katerina Maslova was there。
The distance between the two prisons was enormous； and Nekhludoff
only reached the old prison towards evening。 He was going up to
the door of the large； gloomy building； but the sentinel stopped
him and rang。 A warder came in answer to the bell。 Nekhludoff
showed him his order of admittance； but the warder said he could
not let him in without the inspector's permission。 Nekhludoff
went to see the inspector。 As he was going up the stairs he heard
distant sounds of some complicated bravura； played on the piano。
When a cross servant girl； with a bandaged eye； opened the door
to him； those sounds seemed to escape from the room and to strike
his car。 It was a rhapsody of Liszt's； that everybody was tired
of； splendidly played but only to one point。 When that point was
reached the same thing was repeated。 Nekhludoff asked the
bandaged maid whether the inspector was in。 She answered that he
was not in。
〃Will he return soon？〃
The rhapsody again stopped and recommenced loudly and brilliantly
again up to the same charmed point。
〃I will go and ask；〃 and the servant went away。
〃Tell him he is not in and won't be to…day； he is out visiting。
What do they come bothering for？〃 came the sound of a woman's
voice from behind the door； and again the rhapsody rattled on and
stopped； and the sound of a chair pushed back was heard。 It was
plain the irritated pianist meant to rebuke the tiresome visitor；
who had come at an untimely hour。 〃Papa is not in；〃 a pale girl
with crimped hair said； crossly； coming out into the ante…room；
but； seeing a young man in a good coat； she softened。
〃Come in； please。 。 。 。 What is it you want？〃
〃I want to see a prisoner in this prison。〃
〃A political one； I suppose？〃
〃No； not a political one。 I have a permission from the
Procureur。〃
〃Well； I don't know； and papa is out； but come in； please；〃 she
said； again； 〃or else speak to the assistant。 He is in the office
at present； apply there。 What is your name？〃
〃I thank you；〃 said Nekhludoff； without answering her question；
and went out。
The door was not yet closed after him when the same lively tones
recommenced。 In the courtyard Nekhludoff met an officer with
bristly moustaches； and asked for the assistant…inspector。 It was
the assistant himself。 He looked at the order of admittance； but
said that he could not decide to let him in with a pass for the
preliminary prison。 Besides； it was too late。 〃Please to come
again to…morrow。 To morrow； at 10； everybody is allowed to go in。
Come then； and the inspector himself will be at home。 Then you
can have the interview either in the common room or； if the
inspector allows it； in the office。〃
And so Nekhludoff did not succeed in getting an interview that
day； and returned home。 As he went along the streets； excited at
the idea of meeting her； he no longer thought about the Law
Courts； but recalled his conversations with the Procureur and the
inspector's assistant。 The fact that he had been seeking an
interview with her； and had told the Procureur； and had been in
two prisons； so excited him that it was long before he could calm
down。 When he got home he at once fetched out his diary； that had
long remained untouch