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wife had such a heart； our life would be a para…
dise； instead of what it is now 〃 And he wrote
the telegram；
〃 To his Imperial Majesty； the Emperor。
〃Your Majesty's loyal subject； the widow of Pe…
ter Nikolaevich Sventizky； murdered by the peas…
ants； throws herself at the sacred feet （this
sentence； when he wrote it down； pleased the con…
stable himself most of all） of your Imperial
Majesty； and implores you to grant an amnesty
to the peasants so and so； from such a province；
district； and village； who have been sentenced to
death。〃
The telegram was sent by the constable him…
self； and Natalia Ivanovna felt relieved and
happy。 She had a feeling that since she； the
widow of the murdered man； had forgiven the
murderers； and was applying for an amnesty； the
Czar could not possibly refuse it。
XI
LISA EROPKIN lived in a state of continual ex…
citement。 The longer she lived a true Christian
life as it had been revealed to her； the more con…
vinced she became that it was the right way； and
her heart was full of joy。
She had two immediate aims before her。 The
one was to convert Mahin； or； as she put it to
herself； to arouse his true nature； which was good
and kind。 She loved him； and the light of her
love revealed the divine element in his soul which
is at the bottom of all souls。 But； further； she
saw in him an exceptionally kind and tender
heart； as well as a noble mind。 Her other aim
was to abandon her riches。 She had first thought
of giving away what she possessed in order to
test Mahin； but afterwards she wanted to do so
for her own sake； for the sake of her own soul。
She began by simply giving money to any one who
wanted it。 But her father stopped that； besides
which； she felt disgusted at the crowd of suppli…
cants who personally； and by letters； besieged her
with demands for money。 Then she resolved to
apply to an old man； known to be a saint by his
life； and to give him her money to dispose of in
the way he thought best。 Her father got angry
with her when he heard about it。 During a vio…
lent altercation he called her mad； a raving luna…
tic； and said he would take measures to prevent
her from doing injury to herself。
Her father's irritation proved contagious。
Losing all control over herself； and sobbing with
rage； she behaved with the greatest impertinence
to her father； calling him a tyrant and a miser。
Then she asked his forgiveness。 He said he
did not mind what she said； but she saw plainly
that he was offended； and in his heart did not
forgive her。 She did not feel inclined to tell
Mahin about her quarrel with her father； as to
her sister； she was very cold to Lisa； being jealous
of Mahin's love for her。
〃I ought to confess to God；〃 she said to her…
self。 As all this happened in Lent； she made up
her mind to fast in preparation for the communion；
and to reveal all her thoughts to the father con…
fessor； asking his advice as to what she ought to
decide for the future。
At a small distance from her town a monastery
was situated； where an old monk lived who had
gained a great reputation by his holy life； by his
sermons and prophecies； as well as by the mar…
vellous cures ascribed to him。
The monk had received a letter from Lisa's
father announcing the visit of his daughter； and
telling him in what a state of excitement the young
girl was。 He also expressed the hope in that
letter that the monk would influence her in the
right way； urging her not to depart from the
golden mean； and to live like a good Christian
without trying to upset the present conditions of
her life。
The monk received Lisa after he had seen
many other people； and being very tired； began
by quietly recommending her to be modest and to
submit to her present conditions of life and to
her parents。 Lisa listened silently； blushing and
flushed with excitement。 When he had finished
admonishing her； she began saying with tears in
her eyes； timidly at first； that Christ bade us leave
father and mother to follow Him。 Getting more
and more excited； she told him her conception of
Christ。 The monk smiled slightly； and replied
as he generally did when admonishing his peni…
tents； but after a while he remained silent；
repeating with heavy sighs； 〃O God！〃
Then he said； 〃Well； come to confession to…
morrow；〃 and blessed her with his wrinkled
hands。
The next day Lisa came to confession； and
without renewing their interrupted conversation；
he absolved her and refused to dispose of her for…
tune； giving no reasons for doing so。
Lisa's purity； her devotion to God and her ar…
dent soul； impressed the monk deeply。 He had
desired long ago to renounce the world entirely；
but the brotherhood； which drew a large income
from his work as a preacher； insisted on his con…
tinuing his activity。 He gave way； although he
had a vague feeling that he was in a false posi…
tion。 It was rumoured that he was a miracle…
working saint； whereas in reality he was a weak
man； proud of his success in the world。 When
the soul of Lisa was revealed to him； he saw
clearly into his own soul。 He discovered how
different he was to what he wanted to be； and
realised the desire of his heart。
Soon after Lisa's visit he went to live in a sep…
arate cell as a hermit； and for three weeks did not
officiate again in the church of the friary。 After
the celebration of the mass； he preached a sermon
denouncing his own sins and those of the world；
and urging all to repent。
From that day he preached every fortnight；
and his sermons attracted increasing audiences。
His fame as a preacher spread abroad。 His
sermons were extraordinarily fearless and sin…
cere； and deeply impressed all who listened to him。
XII
VASSILY was actually carrying out the object he
bad in leaving the prison。 With the help of a few
friends he broke into the house of the rich mer…
chant Krasnopuzov； whom he knew to be a miser
and a debauchee。 Vassily took out of his writing…
desk thirty thousand roubles； and began disposing
of them as he thought right。 He even gave up
drink； so as not to spend that money on himself；
but to distribute it to the poor； helping poor girls
to get married； paying off people's debts； and do…
ing this all without ever revealing himself to those
he helped； his only desire was to distribute his
money in the right way。 As he also gave bribes
to the police； he was left in peace for a long time。
His heart was singing for joy。 When at last
he was arrested and put to trial； he confessed
with pride that he had robbed the fat merchant。
〃The money；〃 he said； 〃was lying idle in that
fool's desk； and he did not even know how much
he had； whereas I have put it into circulation and
helped a lot of good people。〃
The counsel for the defence spoke with such
good humour and kindness that the jury felt in…
clined to discharge Vassily； but sentenced him
nevertheless to confinement in prison。 He
thanked the jury； and assured them that he would
find his way out of prison before long。
XIII
NATALIA IVANOVNA SVENTIZKY'S telegram
proved useless。 The committee appointed to
deal with the petitions in the Emperor's