Nekhludoff and Maslennikoff

Nekhludoff and Maslennikoff had known each other since their time together in the regiment, where Maslennikoff served as treasurer. He was then a kind-hearted and zealous officer, knowing and wishing to know nothing beyond the regiment and the Imperial family. Now, years later, Nekhludoff found him transformed into an administrator, having exchanged the regiment for a civil service office in the government where he lived. Maslennikoff had married a rich and energetic woman who forced him to make this change; she laughed at him and caressed him as if he were her own pet animal. Nekhludoff had visited them once during the winter, but found the couple so uninteresting that he had not gone again. When Nekhludoff came to him on business, Maslennikoff's face beamed all over. He had the same fat red face, and was as corpulent and as well dressed as in his military days, now wearing a civil service uniform that tightly fitted his well-fed body and showed off his broad chest. In spite of the difference in age—Maslennikoff was forty—the two men were very familiar with one another. Maslennikoff greeted him with "Halloo, old fellow!" and boasted that he was at the head of the Government administration, unable to disguise his satisfaction. Nekhludoff stated that he had come on business concerning a person in prison whom he was very much interested in, and asked for an interview in the office rather than the common visiting-room. Maslennikoff, putting both hands on Nekhludoff's knees as if to tone down his grandeur, agreed, but reminded him that he was "monarch only for an hour." When Nekhludoff mentioned the advocate Fanarin, Maslennikoff made a grimace, recalling how Fanarin had examined him as a witness and held him up to ridicule for half an hour. He advised Nekhludoff not to have anything to do with Fanarin, calling him "un homme tare." Nekhludoff also asked for permission to visit Vera Doukhova, a political prisoner. Maslennikoff bent his head on one side and considered, then agreed to give an open order, saying "Je sais que vous n'abuserez pas." He wrote on a sheet of paper with a printed heading: "The bearer, Prince Dmitri Ivanovitch Nekhludoff, is to be allowed to interview in the prison office the meschanka Maslova, and also the medical assistant, Doukhova," and finished with an elaborate flourish. Maslennikoff then launched into a self-congratulatory speech about the order he kept in the prison, claiming that the prisoners were very comfortable and contented, and that he watched strictly and loved the work. He boasted that when there was a little trouble—insubordination—another would have called it mutiny, but with him it all passed quietly, through "solicitude on one hand, firmness and power on the other," clenching his fat, white, turquoise-ringed fist. Nekhludoff replied that he had gone there twice and felt very much depressed. Maslennikoff, growing talkative, urged Nekhludoff to get acquainted with the Countess Passek, who had given herself up entirely to this sort of work, and claimed that thanks to her and to himself, everything had been changed so that the former horrors no longer existed. Nekhludoff took the paper and bade good-day to his former comrade, refusing an invitation to see Maslennikoff's wife. Maslennikoff accompanied him down to the first landing, as he was in the habit of doing to persons of the second greatest importance, with whom he classed Nekhludoff. Later, when Nekhludoff visited Maslennikoff's house on his wife's "at-home" day, he found the Vice-Governor in particularly good spirits, owing to the attention paid him by a very important guest. Maslennikoff was ready to wag his tail like an affectionate dog, and did not notice the serious expression on Nekhludoff's face, pulling him irresistibly towards the drawing-room. When Nekhludoff finally managed to speak to him privately in a small Japanese sitting-room, Maslennikoff's expression of gloom and dejection came over his countenance, and every trace of the dog-like excitement vanished completely. Nekhludoff asked that Maslova be appointed to serve in the prison hospital. Maslennikoff compressed his lips and meditated, saying it would be scarcely possible, but that he would see what could be done and wire an answer. Nekhludoff then told him about the 130 persons imprisoned only because their passports were overdue. Maslennikoff looked uneasy and dissatisfied, and angrily blamed the Procureur, saying "That set play cards; that's all they do." When Nekhludoff asked whether corporal punishment had been inflicted in the prison the day before, Maslennikoff blushed and said, "Oh, that's what you are after? No, mon cher, decidedly it won't do to let you in there; you want to get at everything." Nekhludoff pulled his arm away and left without taking leave of any one. The next day, Nekhludoff received a letter from Maslennikoff written on thick, glazed paper with a coat-of-arms, saying he had written to the doctor concerning Maslova's removal to the hospital, and hoped Nekhludoff's wish would receive attention. The letter was signed "Your affectionate elder comrade," with a large, firm, and artistic flourish. Nekhludoff could not refrain from saying "Fool!" especially because in the word "comrade" he felt Maslennikoff's condescension towards him, while Maslennikoff was filling this position, morally most dirty and shameful, and still thought himself a very important man.