resurrection(复活)-第88章
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roubles per head） from the Toula to the Irkoatsk government； or
from Koursk〃
〃Yes； but all the same； people are afraid of those journeys at
public cost； and if it were not for such journeys and the
prisons； you and I would not be sitting here as we are。〃
〃The prisons cannot insure our safety； because these people do
not stay there for ever； but are set free again。 On the contrary；
in those establishments men are brought to the greatest vice and
degradation； so that the danger is increased。〃
〃You mean to say that the penitentiary system should be
improved。〃
〃It cannot he improved。 Improved prisons would cost more than all
that is being now spent on the people's education； and would lay
a still heavier burden on the people。〃
〃The shortcomings of the penitentiary system in nowise invalidate
the law itself；〃 Rogozhinsky continued again； without heeding his
brother…in…law。
〃There is no remedy for these shortcomings；〃 said Nekhludoff；
raising his voice。
〃What of that？ Shall we therefore go and kill； or； as a certain
statesman proposed； go putting out people's eyes？〃 Rogozhinsky
remarked。
〃Yes； that would be cruel； but it would be effective。 What is
done now is cruel； and not only ineffective； but so stupid that
one cannot understand how people in their senses can take part in
so absurd and cruel a business as criminal law。〃
〃But I happen to take part in it；〃 said Rogozhinsky； growing
pale。
〃That is your business。 But to me it is incomprehensible。〃
〃I think there are a good many things incomprehensible to you；〃
said Rogozhinsky； with a trembling voice。
〃I have seen how one public prosecutor did his very best to get
an unfortunate boy condemned； who could have evoked nothing but
sympathy in an unperverted mind。 I know how another
cross…examined a sectarian and put down the reading of the
Gospels as a criminal offence； in fact； the whole business of the
Law Courts consists in senseless and cruel actions of that sort。〃
〃I should not serve if I thought so；〃 said Rogozhinsky； rising。
Nekhludoff noticed a peculiar glitter under his brother…in…law's
spectacles。 〃Can it be tears？〃 he thought。 And they were really
tears of injured pride。 Rogozhinsky went up to the window； got
out his handkerchief； coughed and rubbed his spectacles； took
them off； and wiped his eyes。
When he returned to the sofa he lit a cigar； and did not speak
any more。
Nekhludoff felt pained and ashamed of having offended his
brother…in…law and his sister to such a degree； especially as he
was going away the next day。
He parted with them in confusion； and drove home。
〃All I have said may be trueanyhow he did not reply。 But it was
not said in the right way。 How little I must have changed if I
could be carried away by ill…feeling to such an extent as to hurt
and wound poor Nathalie in such a way！〃 he thought。
CHAPTER XXXIV。
THE PRISONERS START FOR SIBERIA。
The gang of prisoners； among whom was Maslova； was to leave
Moscow by rail at 3 p。m。； therefore； in order to see the gang
start； and walk to the station with the prisoners Nekhludoff
meant to reach the prison before 12 o'clock。
The night before； as he was packing up and sorting his papers； he
came upon his diary； and read some bits here and there。 The last
bit written before he left for Petersburg ran thus： 〃Katusha
does not wish to accept my sacrifice； she wishes to make a
sacrifice herself。 She has conquered； and so have I。 She makes me
happy by the inner change； which seems to me； though I fear to
believe it； to be going on in her。 I fear to believe it； yet she
seems to be coming back to life。〃 Then further on he read。 〃I
have lived through something very hard and very joyful。 I learnt
that she has behaved very badly in the hospital； and I suddenly
felt great pain。 I never expected that it could be so painful。 I
spoke to her with loathing and hatred； then all of a sudden I
called to mind how many times I have been； and even still am；
though but in thought； guilty of the thing that I hated her for；
and immediately I became disgusting to myself； and pitied her and
felt happy again。 If only we could manage to see the beam in our
own eye in time； how kind we should be。〃 Then he wrote： 〃I have
been to see Nathalie； and again self…satisfaction made me unkind
and spiteful； and a heavy feeling remains。 Well； what is to be
done？ Tomorrow a new life will begin。 A final good…bye to the
old！ Many new impressions have accumulated； but I cannot yet
bring them to unity。〃
When he awoke the next morning Nekhludoff's first feeling was
regret about the affair between him and his brother…in…law。
〃I cannot go away like this；〃 he thought。 〃I must go and make it
up with them。〃 But when he looked at his watch he saw that he had
not time to go； but must hurry so as not to be too late for the
departure of the gang。 He hastily got everything ready； and sent
the things to the station with a servant and Taras； Theodosia's
husband； who was going with them。 Then he took the first
isvostchik he could find and drove off to the prison。
The prisoners' train started two hours before the train by which
he was going； so Nekhludoff paid his bill in the lodgings and
left for good。
It was July； and the weather was unbearably hot。 From the stones；
the walls； the iron of the roofs； which the sultry night had not
cooled； the beat streamed into the motionless air。 When at rare
intervals a slight breeze did arise； it brought but a whiff of
hot air filled with dust and smelling of oil paint。
There were few people in the streets； and those who were out
tried to keep on the shady side。 Only the sunburnt peasants； with
their bronzed faces and bark shoes on their feet； who were
mending the road； sat hammering the stones into the burning sand
in the sun； while the policemen； in their holland blouses； with
revolvers fastened with orange cords； stood melancholy and
depressed in the middle of the road； changing from foot to foot；
and the tramcars； the horses of which wore holland hoods on their
heads； with slits for the ears； kept passing up and down the
sunny road with ringing bells。
When Nekhludoff drove up to the prison the gang had not left the
yard。 The work of delivering and receiving the prisoners that had
commenced at 4 A。M。 was still going on。 The gang was to consist
of 623 men and 64 women； they had all to be received according to
the registry lists。 The sick and the weak to be sorted out； and
all to be delivered to the convoy。 The new inspector； with two
assistants； the doctor and medical assistant； the officer of the
convoy； and the clerk； were sitting in the prison yard at a table
covered with writing materials and papers； which was placed in
the shade of a wall。 They called the prisoners one by one；
examined and questioned them； and took notes。 The rays of the sun
had gradually reached the table； and it was growing very hot and
oppressive for want of air and because of the breathing crowd of
prisoners that stood close by。
〃Good gracious； will this never come to an end！〃 the convoy
officer； a tall； fat； red…faced man with high shoulders； who kept
puffing the smoke； of his cigarette into his thick moustache；
asked； as he drew in a long puff。 〃You are killing me。 From where
have you got them all？ Are there many more？〃 the clerk inquired。
〃Twenty…four men and the women。〃
〃What are you standing there for？ Come on；〃 shouted the convoy
officer to the prisoners who had not yet passed the revision； and
who stood crowded one behind the other。 The prisoners had been
standing there more than three hours； packed in rows in the full
sunlight； waiting their turns。
While this was going on in the prison yard； outside the gate；
besides the sentinel who stood there as usual with a gun； were
drawn up about 20 carts； to carry the luggage of the prisoners
and such prisoners as were too weak to walk； and a group of
relatives and friends waiting to see the prisoners as they came
out and to exchange a few words if a chance presented itself and
to give them a few things。 Nekhludoff took his place among the
group。 He had stood there about an hour when the clanking of
chains； the noise of foot
