Resurrection

"A lady--what lady?"

"You just take it. I'm not going to talk to you."

This money was sent by Kitaeva, the keeper of the house in which

she used to live. As she was leaving the court she turned to the

usher with the question whether she might give Maslova a little

money. The usher said she might. Having got permission, she

removed the three-buttoned Swedish kid glove from her plump,

white hand, and from an elegant purse brought from the back folds

of her silk skirt took a pile of coupons, [in Russia coupons cut

off interest-bearing papers are often used as money] just cut

off from the interest-bearing papers which she had earned in her

establishment, chose one worth 2 roubles and 50 copecks, added

two 20 and one 10-copeck coins, and gave all this to the usher.

The usher called an attendant, and in his presence gave the

money.

"Belease to giff it accurately," said Carolina Albertovna

Kitaeva.

The attendant was hurt by her want of confidence, and that was

why he treated Maslova so brusquely. Maslova was glad of the

money, because it could give her the only thing she now desired.

"If I could but get cigarettes and take a whiff!" she said to

herself, and all her thoughts centred on the one desire to smoke

and drink. She longed for spirits so that she tasted them and

felt the strength they would give her; and she greedily breathed

in the air when the fumes of tobacco reached her from the door of

a room that opened into the corridor. But she had to wait long,

for the secretary, who should have given the order for her to go,

forgot about the prisoners while talking and even disputing with

one of the advocates about the article forbidden by the censor.

At last, about five o'clock, she was allowed to go, and was led

away through the back door by her escort, the Nijni man and the

Tchoovash. Then, still within the entrance to the Law Courts, she

gave them 50 copecks, asking them to get her two rolls and some

cigarettes. The Tchoovash laughed, took the money, and said, "All

right; I'll get 'em," and really got her the rolls and the

cigarettes and honestly returned the change. She was not allowed

to smoke on the way, and, with her craving unsatisfied, she

continued her way to the prison. When she was brought to the gate

of the prison, a hundred convicts who had arrived by rail were

being led in. The convicts, bearded, clean-shaven, old, young,

Russians, foreigners, some with their heads shaved and rattling

with the chains on their feet, filled the anteroom with dust,

noise and an acid smell of perspiration. Passing Maslova, all the

convicts looked at her, and some came up to her and brushed her

as they passed.