o him silently, and again began to
speak in an austere but calm voice, compelling everybody to listen to
him, subordinating the will of the judges to his will. This lasted for
a long time. Finally, however, the old man shouted, extending his hand
to Pavel, whose voice in response flowed on calmly, somewhat
sarcastically.

"I am reaching my conclusion. To insult you personally was not my
desire; on the contrary, as an involuntary witness to this comedy which
you call a court trial, I feel almost compassion for you, I may say.
You are human beings after all; and it is saddening to see human
beings, even our enemies, so shamefully debased in the service of
violence, debased to such a degree that they lose consciousness of
their human dignity."

He sat down without looking at the judges.

Andrey, all radiant with joy, pressed his hand firmly; Samoylov, Mazin,
and the rest animatedly stretched toward him. He smiled, a bit
embarrassed by the transport of his comrades. He looked toward his
mother, and nodded his head as if asking, "Is it so?"

She answered him all a-tremble, all suffused with warm joy.

"There, now the trial has begun!" whispered Sizov. "How he gave it to
them! Eh, mother?"

CHAPTER XVI

She silently nodded her head and smiled, satisfied that her son had
spoken so bravely, perhaps still more satisfied that he had finished.
The thought darted through her mind that the speech was likely to
increase the dangers threatening Pavel; but her heart palpitated with
pride, and his words seemed to settle in her bosom.

Andrey arose, swung his body forward, looked at the judges sidewise,
and said:

"Gentlemen of the defense----"

"The court is before you, and not the defense!" observed the judge of
the sickly face angrily and loudly. By Andrey's expression the mother
perceived that he wanted to tease them. His mustache quivered. A
cunning, feline smirk familiar to her lighted up his eyes. He stroked
his head with his long hands, and fetched a breath.

"Is that so?" he said, swinging his head. "I think not. That you are
not the judges, but only the defendants----"

"I request you to adhere to what directly pertains to the case,"
remarked the old man dryly.

"To what directly pertains to the case? Very well! I've already
compelled myself to think that you are in reality judges, independent
people, honest----"

"The court has no need of your characterization."

"It has no need of S