Coming to the gate, he asked the officer on duty to tell the inspector that he wished to see Maslova.  The officer knew Nekhludoff, and told him an important piece of prison news.  The captain had resigned, and another man, who was very strict, had taken his place.

The inspector, who was in the prison at the time, soon made his appearance.  He was tall, bony, very slow in his movements, and gloomy.

“Visitors are allowed only on certain days,” he said, without looking at Nekhludoff.

“But I have a petition here which she must sign.”

“You may give it to me.”

“I must see the prisoner myself.  I was always permitted to see her before.”

“That was before,” said the inspector, glancing at Nekhludoff.

“I have a pass from the Governor,” Nekhludoff insisted, producing his pocket-book.

“Let me see it,” said the inspector, without looking in Nekhludoff’s eyes, and taking the document with his skinny, long, white hand, on the index finger of which there was a gold ring, he slowly read it.  “Walk into the office, please,” he said.

On this occasion there was no one in the office.  The inspector seated himself at the table, looking through the papers that lay on it, evidently intending to stay through the meeting.  When Nekhludoff asked him if Bogodukhovskaia could be seen, he answered:  “Visiting the politicals is not allowed,” and again buried his head in the papers.

When Maslova entered the room, the inspector raised his eyes, and, without looking either at Maslova or Nekhludoff, said:  “You may go ahead,” and continued to busy himself with his papers.

Maslova was again dressed in a white skirt, waist and ’kerchief.  Coming near Nekhludoff and seeing his cold, angry face, her own turned a purple color, and, with downcast eyes, she began to pick a corner of her waist.  Her confusion Nekhludoff considered as confirmation of the hospital porter’s words.

So abhorent was she to him now that he could not extend his hand to her, as he desired.

[Illustration:  WARDEN AND MATRON.]

“I bring you bad news,” he said in an even voice, without looking at her.  “The Senate affirmed the verdict.”

“I knew it would be so,” she said in a strange voice, as if choking.

If it had happened before, Nekhludoff would have asked her why she knew it; now he only looked at her.  Her eyes were filled with tears, but this not only did not soften him, but made him even more inflamed against her.

The inspector rose and began to walk up and down the room.

Notwithstanding the abhorence Nekhludoff felt for Maslova, he thought it proper to express his regret at the Senate’s action.

“Do not despair,” he said.  “This petition may be more successful, and I hope that——­”

“Oh, it is not that,” she said, looking at him with the tearful and squinting eyes.