Resurrection

The dignified man with the whiskers, the colonel, the merchant,

and several more held their arms and fingers as the priest

required of them, very high, very exactly, as if they liked doing

it; others did it unwillingly and carelessly. Some repeated the

words too loudly, and with a defiant tone, as if they meant to

say, "In spite of all, I will and shall speak." Others whispered

very low, and not fast enough, and then, as if frightened,

hurried to catch up the priest. Some kept their fingers tightly

together, as if fearing to drop the pinch of invisible something

they held; others kept separating and folding theirs. Every one

save the old priest felt awkward, but he was sure he was

fulfilling a very useful and important duty.

After the swearing in, the president requested the jury to choose

a foreman, and the jury, thronging to the door, passed out into

the debating-room, where almost all of them at once began to

smoke cigarettes. Some one proposed the dignified man as foreman,

and he was unanimously accepted. Then the jurymen put out their

cigarettes and threw them away and returned to the court. The

dignified man informed the president that he was chosen foreman,

and all sat down again on the high-backed chairs.

Everything went smoothly, quickly, and not without a certain

solemnity. And this exactitude, order, and solemnity evidently

pleased those who took part in it: it strengthened the impression

that they were fulfilling a serious and valuable public duty.

Nekhludoff, too, felt this.

As soon as the jurymen were seated, the president made a speech

on their rights, obligations, and responsibilities. While

speaking he kept changing his position; now leaning on his right,

now on his left hand, now against the back, then on the arms of

his chair, now putting the papers straight, now handling his

pencil and paper-knife.

According to his words, they had the right of interrogating the

prisoners through the president, to use paper and pencils, and to

examine the articles put in as evidence. Their duty was to judge

not falsely, but justly. Their responsibility meant that if the

secrecy of their discussion were violated, or communications were

established with outsiders, they would be liable to punishment.

Every one listened with an expression of respectful attention.

The merchant, diffusing a smell of brandy around him, and

restraining loud hiccups, approvingly nodded his head at every

sentence.