Chapter 120 Part Three - Sixteen

The officer's voice came from the next cell.Everyone fell silent, and then the captain walked into the room with two escorts.This is for roll call.The captain pointed to everyone and counted the number.Referring to Nekhludoff, he apologized amiably and said: "Duke, you can't wait for the roll call now. You must go." Nekhludoff understood what he meant, went up to him, and thrust into his hand the three-rouble note which he had prepared beforehand. "Hey, what can I do with you! Just sit down a little longer." Just as the captain was about to leave, another sergeant walked in, followed by a tall and thin male prisoner.The male prisoner had a thin beard and a bruise under one eye.

"I came to see my little girl," said the male prisoner. "Ah, daddy is here," the child's loud voice suddenly sounded, and then a little head with fair hair poked out from behind Emilia.Emilia is making a new dress for a little girl with Sekinina and Maslova using a skirt donated by Emilia. "It's me, boy, it's me," said Buzovkin kindly. "She's all right here," said Sekinina, looking sympathetically at Buzovkin's bruised face. "Leave her with us." "Ma'am, they're making new clothes for me," said the girl, showing her father Emilia's sewing. "It's beautiful, it's beautiful," she said vaguely.

"Would you like to spend the night with us?" said Emilia, caressing the girl. "Yes. Dad will stay too." A smile spread across Emilia's face. "Not Daddy," she said. "Then leave her here," she said, turning to her father. "Okay, then stay," said the captain standing at the door, and went out with the sergeant. As soon as the escort had left, Nabatov went up to Butovkin, patted him on the shoulder and said: "Hey, buddy, is your Karmanov really going to trade with someone else?" Buzovkin's amiable face suddenly became very sad, and his eyes seemed to be clouded with white.

"We haven't heard of it. Probably not," he said.When he was talking, his eyes still seemed to be covered with a layer of white, and then he said to his daughter: "Oh, Akshutka, you can enjoy the happiness here with your wife and the others," and walked out quickly after speaking. "He knew all about it, and they switched," Nabatov said. "Then what do you do now?" "I'll go to the city and tell the officer. I recognize both of them," said Nekhludoff. Everyone was silent, obviously worried about another quarrel. Simonson has been lying silently on the bunk in the corner with his hands behind his head.Suddenly he sat up, got out of bed, walked cautiously around the sitting people, and approached Nekhludoff.

"Will you listen to me now?" "Certainly," said Nekhludoff, getting up and wanting to go out with him. Katyusha glanced at Nekhludoff, met his, and he blushed, and shook his head as if bewildered. "I have something to talk to you about," said Nekhludoff, who followed Simonson into the passage, and Simonson began.In the corridor the din and voices of the criminals were especially audible.Nekhludoff frowned, but Simonson paid no attention. "I know about your relationship with Maslova," he went on, looking attentively into Nekhludoff's face with his kind eyes, "so I feel responsible..." He ended there I had to stop, because two voices shouted at the door of the cell at the same time:

"I tell you, fool, it's not mine!" cried a voice. "I wish I could choke you devil," said another hoarse voice. At this moment Sekinina came into the passage. "How can we talk here?" she said. "Go into that room, where Vera is alone." And she led the way, leading them to a small, obviously single man next door. In the cell, that room is now reserved for female political prisoners.Vera was lying on the bunk, her head covered by the quilt. "She has a migraine, she's asleep, she can't hear, I'm leaving!" said Shekinina. "No, don't go!" said Simonson. "I have no secrets to keep from anyone, let alone from you."

"Well, well," said Sekinina, twisting her whole body like a child, and sat down in the back of the bunk, ready to listen to their conversation.Her beautiful lamb-like eyes looked into the distance. "I have one thing," repeated Simonson, "I know about your relationship with Maslova, so I feel it is my duty to explain to you my attitude towards her." "What is it?" asked Nekhludoff, and could not help admiring the frankness with which Simonson spoke to him. "It's just that I want to marry Maslova..." "I didn't expect that!" said Sekinina, keeping her eyes on Simonsson.

"...I decided to ask her to be my wife," Simonsson continued. "How can I help? She has to decide for herself," said Nekhludoff. "Yes, but she cannot decide the matter without your consent." "why?" "Because she can't make any choices until the relationship between you and her is fully clarified." "From my side, the matter has long been clear. I am willing to do what I think should be done, and at the same time relieve her suffering, but I do not wish to bind her in any way." "Yes, but she is unwilling to accept your sacrifice."

"It's not about sacrifice at all." "But I know she's unwavering in her mind." "Well, then what's the need to talk to me about it?" said Nekhludoff. "She wants you to agree to that too." "But how can I agree not to do what I should do? All I can say is: I am not free, but she is free." Simonsson fell into thought and remained silent. "Very well, I will tell her so. Don't think I am in love with her," continued Simonson. "I love her because she was a rare good person who suffered a lot. I don't want anything from her, but I want to help her, to alleviate her suffering..."

Nekhludoff could not help being surprised to hear Simonson's voice trembling. "...relieve her suffering," Simonsson continued. "If she won't accept your help, let her accept mine. If she will, I will ask that I be transferred to her prison. Four years is not a lifetime. I will stay with her, This may alleviate some of her suffering..." He was too excited to continue speaking. "What can I say?" said Nekhludoff. "I'm glad she found a protector like you..." "Well, that's all I want to know," continued Simonson. "I want to know, since you love her and wish her happiness, do you think she will be happy in marrying me?"

"I will," said Nekhludoff firmly. "It's all up to her, and I only hope that this tortured soul can breathe," said Simonson, looking at Nekhludoff with childlike innocence.It was unexpected that such an expression appeared on the face of this usually gloomy face. Simonson got up, took Nekhludoff's hand, put his face close to him, smiled shyly, and kissed him. "Then I'll go and tell her that," said Simonson, going away.