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to keep all they did or said in his memory。 He got interested in Stepan
Pelageushkine； and； although he did not thoroughly understand him； yet
asked himself involuntarily what was the matter with the man？ He could
not find an answer； but feeling that there was certainly something
remarkable going on in Stepan's soul； he told the company at the Eropkins
all about Stepan's conversion of the hangman； and also about his strange
behaviour in prison； his reading the Gospels and his great influence on the
rest of the prisoners。 All this made a special impression on the younger
daughter of the family； Lisa； a girl of eighteen； who was just recovering
from the artificial life she had been living in a boarding…school； she felt as
if she had emerged out of water； and was taking in the fresh air of true life
with ecstasy。 She asked Mahin to tell her more about the man
Pelageushkine； and to explain to her how such a great change had come
over him。 Mahin told her what he knew from the police official about
Stepan's last murder； and also what he had heard from Pelageushkine
himself how he had been conquered by the humility； mildness； and
fearlessness of a kind woman； who had been his last victim； and how his
eyes had been opened； while the reading of the Gospels had completed the
change in him。
Lisa Eropkin was not able to sleep that night。 For a couple of months
a struggle had gone on in her heart between society life； into which her
sister was dragging her； and her infatuation for Mahin； combined with a
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desire to reform him。 This second desire now became the stronger。 She
had already heard about poor Maria Semenovna。 But； after that kind
woman had been murdered in such a ghastly way； and after Mahin； who
learnt it from Stepan； had communicated to her all the facts concerning
Maria Semenovna's life； Lisa herself passionately desired to become like
her。 She was a rich girl； and was afraid that Mahin had been courting her
because of her money。 So she resolved to give all she possessed to the
poor； and told Mahin about it。
Mahin was very glad to prove his disinterestedness； and told Lisa that
he loved her and not her money。 Such proof of his innate nobility made
him admire himself greatly。 Mahin helped Lisa to carry out her decision。
And the more he did so； the more he came to realise the new world of
Lisa's spiritual ambitions； quite unknown to him heretofore。
VIII
ALL were silent in the common cell。 Stepan was lying in his bed； but
was not yet asleep。 Vassily approached him； and； pulling him by his leg；
asked him in a whisper to get up and to come to him。 Stepan stepped out
of his bed； and came up to Vassily。
〃Do me a kindness； brother；〃 said Vassily。 〃Help me！〃
〃In what？〃
〃I am going to fly from the prison。〃
Vassily told Stepan that he had everything ready for his flight。
〃To…morrow I shall stir them up〃 He pointed to the prisoners asleep
in their beds。 〃They will give me away； and I shall be transferred to the
cell in the upper floor。 I know my way from there。 What I want you for
is to unscrew the prop in the door of the mortuary。〃 〃I can do that。 But
where will you go？〃
〃I don't care where。 Are not there plenty of wicked people in every
place？〃
〃Quite so； brother。 But it is not our business to judge them。〃
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〃I am not a murderer； to be sure。 I have not destroyed a living soul in
my life。 As for stealing； I don't see any harm in that。 As if they have not
robbed us！〃
〃Let them answer for it themselves； if they do。〃
〃Bother them all！ Suppose I rob a church； who will be hurt？ This
time I will take care not to break into a small shop； but will get hold of a
lot of money； and then I will help people with it。 I will give it to all good
people。〃
One of the prisoners rose in his bed and listened。 Stepan and Vassily
broke off their conversation。 The next day Vassily carried out his idea。
He began complaining of the bread in prison； saying it was moist； and
induced the prisoners to call the governor and to tell him of their
discontent。 The governor came； abused them all； and when he heard it was
Vassily who had stirred up the men； he ordered him to be transferred into
solitary confinement in the cell on the upper floor。 This was all Vassily
wanted。
IX
VASSILY knew well that cell on the upper floor。 He knew its floor；
and began at once to take out bits of it。 When he had managed to get
under the floor he took out pieces of the ceiling beneath； and jumped down
into the mortuary a floor below。 That day only one corpse was lying on
the table。 There in the corner of the room were stored bags to make hay
mattresses for the prisoners。 Vassily knew about the bags； and that was
why the mortuary served his purposes。 The prop in the door had been
unscrewed and put in again。 He took it out； opened the door； and went out
into the passage to the lavatory which was being built。 In the lavatory
was a large hole connecting the third floor with the basement floor。 After
having found the door of the lavatory he went back to the mortuary；
stripped the sheet off the dead body which was as cold as ice （in taking off
the sheet Vassily touched his hand）； took the bags； tied them together to
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make a rope； and carried the rope to the lavatory。 Then he attached it to the
cross…beam； and climbed down along it。 The rope did not reach the ground；
but he did not know how much was wanting。 Anyhow； he had to take the
risk。 He remained hanging in the air； and then jumped down。 His legs
were badly hurt； but he could still walk on。 The basement had two
windows； he could have climbed out of one of them but for the grating
protec