“Euphemia Bochkova testified that she knew nothing about the missing money, never entered the merchant’s room, which Lubka herself kept in order, and that if anything was stolen from the merchant, it was done by Lubka when she came to the room for the money.”

At this point Maslova shuddered, and with open mouth looked at Bochkova.

“And when Euphemia Bochkova was shown her bank account of eighteen hundred rubles,” continued the secretary, “and asked how she came by the money, she testified that the money was saved from their earnings by herself and Simon Kartinkin, whom she intended to marry.

“Simon Kartinkin, on his part, at the first examination, confessed that, at the instigation of Maslova, who brought the key to the trunk, he and Bochkova stole the money, which was afterwards divided between the three.”

At this Maslova shuddered again, sprang to her feet, turned red in the face, and began to say something, but the usher bade her be quiet.

“Finally,” continued the secretary, “Kartinkin also confessed to giving Maslova the powders to put the merchant to sleep.  On the second examination, however, he denied having either stolen the money, or given Maslova the powders, but charged Maslova with both.  As to the money placed by Bochkova in the bank, he declared, in accordance with Bochkova’s testimony, that they had saved it during their twelve years’ service in the hotel.”

The indictment wound up as follows: 

“In view of the aforesaid the defendants, Simon Kartinkin, peasant of the village of Borkoff, thirty-three years of age; burgess Euphemia Ivanova Bochkova, forty-two years of age, and burgess Katherine Maslova, twenty-seven years of age, conspired on the 17th day of January, 188-, to administer poison to merchant Smelkoff with intent to kill and rob him, and did on said day administer to said Smelkoff poison, from which poison the said Smelkoff died, and did thereafter rob him of a diamond ring and twenty-five hundred rubles, contrary to the laws in such cases made and provided.  Chapter 1453, sections 4 and 5, Penal Code.

“Wherefore, in accordance with chapter 201 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the said peasant, Simon Kartinkin, burgess Euphemia Bochkova and burgess Katherine Maslova are subject to trial by jury, the case being within the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court.”

The clerk having finished the reading of the long indictment, folded the papers, seated himself at his desk and began to arrange his long hair.  Every one present gave a sigh of relief, and with the consciousness that the trial had already begun, everything would be cleared up and justice would finally be done, leaned back on their chairs.

Nekhludoff alone did not experience this feeling.  He was absorbed in the horrible thought that the same Maslova, whom he knew as an innocent and beautiful girl ten years ago, could be guilty of such a crime.