Chapter 60 Part One - Fifty Seven

The next day Nekhludoff went to the lawyer, told him the case of Minshov's mother and son, and asked him to represent them.After hearing Nekhludoff's introduction, the lawyer said that he wanted to see the case file, and that if it really happened as Nekhludoff said--which is quite possible--he would be willing to defend, and he would not Get paid a penny.In passing, Nekhludoff told the lawyer about the unjust imprisonment of the one hundred and thirty people, and asked him who was responsible for it and whose fault it was.The lawyer was silent for a moment, obviously considering how to answer correctly.

"Whose fault is it? No one is at fault," he said flatly. "Tell the prosecutor, and he'll say it's the prefect's fault. Go and tell the prefect, and he'll say it's the prosecutor's fault. After all, no one is at fault." "I'll go to Maslennikov and talk to him." "Well, it's no use," objected the lawyer, grinning. "That guy, is... isn't he your relative or friend?... He, I'm bluntly speaking, is inseparably connected, so there is no independent world for people. Lord, you are a fool, and A cunning beast."

Nekhludoff, remembering that Maslennikov had spoken ill of the lawyer, said goodbye to him without saying a word, and drove to Maslennikov. Nekhludoff had two demands on Maslennikov: one was to transfer Maslova to the hospital, and the other was to solve the problem of the one hundred and thirty prisoners who had expired ID cards.It was embarrassing to plead with someone he despised, but it was the only way to achieve his goal, so he had to bite the bullet and do it. Nekhludoff drove up to Maslennikov's house and saw several carriages parked outside the door, a buggy, a boxcar, and a limousine.He just remembered that today happened to be the day when Mrs. Maslennikov was visiting. Leibniz's "predetermined harmony theory" all belonged to this category. , Maslennikov had invited him to come to his house last time.When Nekhludoff arrived at the mansion, he saw a limousine parked at the door, and a footman with a cockade on his hat and a short shawl was helping a lady down the steps to get into the limousine.She held up the hem of her long skirt and wore sandals, revealing her dark and thin ankles.Nekhludoff recognized the Korchagins' four-wheeled carriage from among the parked carriages.The grey-haired, rosy-faced coachman took off his hat respectfully, and saluted the gentleman he knew so well.Before Nekhludoff had time to ask the porter where he was, Maslennikov appeared on the carpeted staircase.He happened to send a distinguished guest out, and because that person had a high status, he did not send him up the stairs, but all the way downstairs.As he went downstairs, the distinguished military guest said in French that the city held a lottery to collect donations for the orphanage, which was a meaningful thing for the ladies to do: "They can take this opportunity to play Fan, you can raise money again.”

"Let them be happy, God bless them... Ah, Nekhludoff, hello! How long has it been since I saw you?" he greeted Nekhludoff. "Go and ask your mistress how you are. The Korchagins are here. And Nadine Buckshaven is here. All the beauties of the town are here," he said, with a slight hunch. The shoulders in military uniform let his servant in gold-laced uniform put on the military coat for him. "Good-bye, brother!" He shook Maslennikov's hand again. "Oh, go up, I'm so glad you're here!" said Maslennikov excitedly, and taking Nekhludoff's arm, he led Nekhludoff swiftly upstairs, despite his fat body. go.

Maslennikov was particularly excited because the dignitary took him in favor.Maslennikov served in the Guards Corps. He was close to the royal family and often interacted with the royal relatives, but his bad habits were always facing the scientific and objective world that became more and more serious.The world that people directly experience in their daily lives.Admittedly, Maslennikov was always ecstatic and ecstatic at every favor from his superior, like a docile puppy being patted, stroked, and ear-scratched by its master.It wags its tail, curls up, twists its body, drops its ears, and spins wildly in circles.Maslennikov was in this state at the moment.He did not pay any attention to Nekhludoff's serious face, did not listen to what he was saying, and dragged him into the drawing room, and Nekhludoff could not refuse, but had to follow him.

"We'll talk about it later. If you tell me, I'll do everything," Maslennikov said, leading Nekhludoff across the drawing room. "Go and inform the general's wife that Prince Nekhludoff is here," he said to the servant as he walked away.The servant rushed ahead of them and ran to report. "If you have anything to do, just give me an order. But you must go and see my wife. I didn't take you there last time, and I was scolded." When they entered the living room, the servant had already gone to report.Anna Ignakievna, the wife of the vice-governor, who called herself the general's wife, was now among the many bonnets and heads surrounding the divan, and nodded cheerfully to Nekhludoff.At the far end of the living room was a table with a tea set.There were a few ladies sitting there drinking tea, and there were a few men standing beside them, both soldiers and civil servants.The noisy voices of men and women continued to come from there.

"You're here! Why don't you want to associate with us? How did we offend you?" Anna Ignagievna greeted her guests with such words as to express the very intimacy of her relationship with Nekhludoff, which was not the case at all. "Do you know each other? Do you know each other? This is Mrs. Belyavskaya, and this is Chernov. Please sit down a bit. "Missy, come to our table. Tea will be brought to you... and you..." she said to the officer who was talking to Missy, obviously forgetting his name, "here, please." Come. Duke, would you like tea?"

"I don't agree with anything, I don't agree with anything! She just doesn't love him," said a woman's voice. "She only loves fried buns." "You tell silly jokes all the time," laughed another lady in a tall hat, satin, and pearly air. "It's so beautiful, this kind of waffle is thin and loose. Please give us some more." "Well, are you leaving soon?" "Today is the last day. That's why we came here." "The spring is so beautiful, there is nothing better than going to the countryside now!" Missy wore a hat, and the dark striped dress on her body hugged her slender waist without any wrinkles, as if she had been born wearing such clothes, and she looked very beautiful.She blushed at the sight of Nekhludoff.

"I thought you were gone," she said to him. "Almost gone," said Nekhludoff. "It was delayed because of business. I also have business to come here." "Go and see mother. She would like to see you," she said, knowing she was lying, and he knew it, so she blushed even more. "I'm afraid I don't have time," replied Nekhludoff coldly, trying not to notice her blushing. Missy frowned angrily, shrugged his shoulders, and turned to deal with a handsome officer.The officer took an empty teacup from her and put it on another table with vigor, causing the saber on his body to bump against the armchair repeatedly.

"You should also donate some money to the orphanage!" "I didn't refuse, but I wanted to show everyone how generous I am at the lottery. Then I must show my talents." "Hey, then you have to remember wow!" Then there was a burst of pretended laughter. The visitor's day passed with great activity, and Anna Ignakyevna was even more cheerful. "Mimka told me you were busy with prison affairs. I know that very well," she said to Nekhludoff (Mmika was referring to her fat husband Maslennikov). "Micah may have other faults, but you know he has a good heart. He treats the unfortunate prisoners like his own children. That's how he treats them. He has a good heart..."

She paused, unable to think of words to describe her husband's kindness. Liang—in fact, he was the one who gave the order to beat the prisoner.Then she greeted with a smile a wrinkled old woman with a purple bow in her hair who entered the room. In order not to be rude, Nekhludoff said some polite words as usual, then got up and went to Maslennikov. "So, excuse me, can you hear me a few words?" "Oh, of course! What's the matter with you? Let's come here." They went into a small Japanese study and sat down by the window.