It was this that occupied the convoy men, and before it could all be accomplished Nekhludoff and the others who asked for leave to go up to the carriages were not allowed to do so.  Nekhludoff, however, was soon allowed to go up, because he tipped the convoy sergeant.  The sergeant let Nekhludoff pass, but asked him to be quick and get his talk over before any of the authorities noticed.  There were 15 carriages in all, and except one carriage for the officials, they were full of prisoners.  As Nekhludoff passed the carriages he listened to what was going on in them.  In all the carriages was heard the clanging of chains, the sound of bustle, mixed with loud and senseless language, but not a word was being said about their dead fellow-prisoners.  The talk was all about sacks, drinking water, and the choice of seats.

Looking into one of the carriages, Nekhludoff saw convoy soldiers taking the manacles off the hands of the prisoners.  The prisoners held out their arms, and one of the soldiers unlocked the manacles with a key and took them off; the other collected them.

After he had passed all the other carriages, Nekhludoff came up to the women’s carriages.  From the second of these he heard a woman’s groans:  “Oh, oh, oh!  O God!  Oh, oh!  O God!”

Nekhludoff passed this carriage and went up to a window of the third carriage, which a soldier pointed out to him.  When he approached his face to the window, he felt the hot air, filled with the smell of perspiration, coming out of it, and heard distinctly the shrill sound of women’s voices.  All the seats were filled with red, perspiring, loudly-talking women, dressed in prison cloaks and white jackets.  Nekhludoff’s face at the window attracted their attention.  Those nearest ceased talking and drew closer.  Maslova, in her white jacket and her head uncovered, sat by the opposite window.  The white-skinned, smiling Theodosia sat a little nearer.  When she recognised Nekhludoff, she nudged Maslova and pointed to the window.  Maslova rose hurriedly, threw her kerchief over her black hair, and with a smile on her hot, red face came up to the window and took hold of one of the bars.

“Well, it is hot,” she said, with a glad smile.

“Did you get the things?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Is there anything more you want?” asked Nekhludoff, while the air came out of the hot carriage as out of an oven.

“I want nothing, thank you.”

“If we could get a drink?” said Theodosia.

“Yes, if we could get a drink,” repeated Maslova.

“Why, have you not got any water?”

“They put some in, but it is all gone.”

“Directly, I will ask one of the convoy men.  Now we shall not see each other till we get to Nijni.”

“Why?  Are you going?” said Maslova, as if she did not know it, and looked joyfully at Nekhludoff.

“I am going by the next train.”

Maslova said nothing, but only sighed deeply.