Leo Tolstoy

“ It is you who must decide whether you will accept the offer of Vladimir Ivanovitch,” she continued, frowning.
“But if a pardon should come?” said Nekhludoff.
“Oh, leave me alone. It is useless to talk any more,” she answered, and, rising, left the cell.
Gaining the street, Nekhludoff stopped, and, expanding his chest, drew in the frosty air.
The following morning a soldier brought him a note from Maria Pablovna, in which she said that Kryltzoff’s condition was worse than they thought it to be. ”

“ Nekhludoff was admitted to the cabinet.
The general, bloated, with a potato nose and prominent bumps on his forehead, hairless pate and bags under his eyes, a man of sanguine temperament, was reclining in a silk morning gown, and with a cigarette in his hand, was drinking tea from a silver saucer.
“How do you do, sir? Excuse my receiving you in a morning gown; it is better than not receiving at all,” he said, covering his stout, wrinkled neck with the collar of his gown. “I am not quite well, and do not go out. ”

“ Looking steadily at Nekhludoff, the general asked:
“Anything else?”
“My second request would be concerning the political prisoner who is going to Siberia with this detachment.”
“Is that so?” said the general.
“He is very sick—­he is a dying man. And he will probably be left here in the hospital; for this reason one of the female prisoners would like to remain with him.” ”

“ You want to see the political prisoner, and you all sorrow for him, and the soldier on guard will surely take money, because he has a family, and his salary amounts to something less than nothing; he cannot afford to refuse. ”