The Korchagins were moving from their estate to the Prince’s sister, whose estate was situated on the Nijhni road.

The procession passed into the ladies’ room.  The old Prince, however, seating himself at the table, immediately called over a waiter and began to order something.  Missy with Osten also stopped in the dining-room, and were about to sit down when they saw an acquaintance in the doorway and went to meet her.  It was Natalia Ivanovna.  She was escorted by Agrippina Petrovna, and as she entered the dining-room she looked around.  At almost the same moment she noticed Missy and her brother.  She first approached Missy, only nodding her head to Nekhludoff.  But after kissing Missy she immediately turned to him.

“At last I have found you,” she said.

After greeting his sister, Nekhludoff entered into conversation with Missy, who told him that their house had burned down, necessitating their removal to her aunt’s.  Osten began to relate a droll anecdote anent the fire.  Nekhludoff, without listening to Osten, turned to his sister: 

“How glad I am that you came!”

In the course of their conversation he told her how sorry he felt for having fallen out with her husband; that he had intended to return and confess that he was at fault, but that he knew not how her husband would take it.

“I spoke improperly to him, and it tortured me,” he said.

“I knew it.  I was sure you didn’t intend it,” said his sister.  “Don’t you know——­”

The tears welled up in her eyes, and she touched her brother’s hand.  It was spoken tenderly; he understood her, and was affected.  The meaning of her words was that, besides her love for her husband, her love for her brother was dear and important to her, and that any disagreement with him caused her suffering.

“Thank you, thank you.  Oh, what I have seen to-day!” he said, suddenly recalling the two dead convicts.  “Two convicts have been killed.”

“How killed?”

“So, simply killed.  They have been brought here in this heat, and two of them died from sunstroke.”

“Impossible!  How?  To-day?  Just now?”

“Yes, just now.  I have seen their corpses.”

“Why were they killed?  Who killed them?” asked Natalia Ivanovna.

“Those who forcibly brought them here,” said Nekhludoff excitedly, feeling that she took the same view of this as her husband.

“Oh, my God!” said Agrippina Petrovna, coming nearer to them.

“Yes, we have no conception of the life these unfortunates are leading, and it is necessary to know it,” Nekhludoff added, looking at the old Prince, who, sitting at the table with a napkin tucked under his chin and a large glass before him, at that moment glanced at Nekhludoff.

“Nekhludoff,” he shouted.  “Won’t you take sauce to cool off?  It is excellent stuff.”

Nekhludoff refused and turned away.