At the usual time the jailer's whistle sounded in the corridors of
the prison, the iron doors of the cells rattled, bare feet
pattered, heels clattered, and the prisoners who acted as
scavengers passed along the corridors, filling the air with
disgusting smells. The prisoners washed, dressed, and came out
for revision, then went to get boiling water for their tea.
The conversation at breakfast in all the cells was very lively.
It was all about two prisoners who were to be flogged that day.
One, Vasiliev, was a young man of some education, a clerk, who
had killed his mistress in a fit of jealousy. His
fellow-prisoners liked him because he was merry and generous and
firm in his behaviour with the prison authorities. He knew the
laws and insisted on their being carried out. Therefore he was
disliked by the authorities. Three weeks before a jailer struck
one of the scavengers who had spilt some soup over his new
uniform. Vasiliev took the part of the scavenger, saying that it
was not lawful to strike a prisoner.
"I'll teach you the law," said the jailer, and gave Vasiliev a
scolding. Vasiliev replied in like manner, and the jailer was
going to hit him, but Vasiliev seized the jailer's hands, held
them fast for about three minutes, and, after giving the hands a
twist, pushed the jailer out of the door. The jailer complained
to the inspector, who ordered Vasiliev to be put into a solitary
cell.
The solitary cells were a row of dark closets, locked from
outside, and there were neither beds, nor chairs, nor tables in
them, so that the inmates had to sit or lie on the dirty floor,
while the rats, of which there were a great many in those cells,
ran across them. The rats were so bold that they stole the bread
from the prisoners, and even attacked them if they stopped
moving. Vasiliev said he would not go into the solitary cell,
because he had not done anything wrong; but they used force. Then
he began struggling, and two other prisoners helped him to free
himself from the jailers. All the jailers assembled, and among
them was Petrov, who was distinguished for his strength. The
prisoners got thrown down and pushed into the solitary cells.
The governor was immediately informed that something very like a
rebellion had taken place. And he sent back an order to flog the
two chief offenders, Vasiliev and the tramp, Nepomnishy, giving
each thirty strokes with a birch rod. The flogging was appointed
to take place in the women's interviewing-room.
All this was known in the prison since the evening, and it was
being talked about with animation in all the cells.
Korableva, Khoroshevka, Theodosia, and Maslova sat together in
their corner, drinking tea, all of them flushed and animated by
the vodka they had drunk, for Maslova, who now had a constant
supply of vodka, freely treated her companions to it.