Resurrection

Awaking early the next morning, Nekhludoff remembered what he had

done the day before, and was seized with fear.

But in spite of this fear, he was more determined than ever to

continue what he had begun.

Conscious of a sense of duty, he left the house and went to see

Maslennikoff in order to obtain from him a permission to visit

Maslova in prison, and also the Menshoffs--mother and son--about

whom Maslova had spoken to him. Nekhludoff had known this

Maslennikoff a long time; they had been in the regiment together.

At that time Maslennikoff was treasurer to the regiment.

He was a kind-hearted and zealous officer, knowing and wishing to

know nothing beyond the regiment and the Imperial family. Now

Nekhludoff saw him as an administrator, who had exchanged the

regiment for an administrative office in the government where he

lived. He was married to a rich and energetic woman, who had

forced him to exchange military for civil service. She laughed at

him, and caressed him, as if he were her own pet animal.

Nekhludoff had been to see them once during the winter, but the

couple were so uninteresting to him that he had not gone again.

At the sight of Nekhludoff Maslennikoff's face beamed all over.

He had the same fat red face, and was as corpulent and as well

dressed as in his military days. Then, he used to be always

dressed in a well-brushed uniform, made according to the latest

fashion, tightly fitting his chest and shoulders; now, it was a

civil service uniform he wore, and that, too, tightly fitted his

well-fed body and showed off his broad chest, and was cut

according to the latest fashion. In spite of the difference in

age (Maslennikoff was 40), the two men were very familiar with

one another.

"Halloo, old fellow! How good of you to come! Let us go and see

my wife. I have just ten minutes to spare before the meeting. My

chief is away, you know. I am at the head of the Government

administration," he said, unable to disguise his satisfaction.

"I have come on business."

"What is it?" said Maslennikoff, in an anxious and severe tone,

putting himself at once on his guard.

"There is a person, whom I am very much interested in, in prison"

(at the word "prison" Maslennikoff's face grew stern); "and I

should like to have an interview in the office, and not in the

common visiting-room. I have been told it depended on you."

"Certainly, mon cher," said Maslennikoff, putting both hands on

Nekhludoff's knees, as if to tone down his grandeur; "but

remember, I am monarch only for an hour."

"Then will you give me an order that will enable me to see her?"

"It's a woman?"

"Yes."

"What is she there for?"