Book 2 Chapter 22 An Old Friend

"Terrible," said Nekhludoff, as he went out into the waiting-room
with the advocate, who was arranging the papers in his portfolio.
"In a matter which is perfectly clear they attach all the
importance to the form and reject the appeal. Terrible!"

"The case was spoiled in the Criminal Court," said the advocate.

"And Selenin, too, was in favour of the rejection. Terrible!
terrible!" Nekhludoff repeated. "What is to be done now?"

"We will appeal to His Majesty, and you can hand in the petition
yourself while you are here. I will write it for you."

At this moment little Wolf, with his stars and uniform, came out
into the waiting-room and approached Nekhludoff. "It could not be
helped, dear Prince. The reasons for an appeal were not
sufficient," he said, shrugging his narrow shoulders and closing
his eyes, and then he went his way.

After Wolf, Selenin came out too, having heard from the Senators
that his old friend Nekhludoff was there.

"Well, I never expected to see you here," he said, coming up to
Nekhludoff, and smiling only with his lips while his eyes
remained sad. "I did not know you were in Petersburg."

"And I did not know you were Public Prosecutor-in-Chief."

"How is it you are in the Senate?" asked Selenin. "I had heard,
by the way, that you were in Petersburg. But what are you doing
here?"

"Here? I am here because I hoped to find justice and save a woman
innocently condemned."

"What woman?"

"The one whose case has just been decided."