Book 2 Chapter 40 The Fundamental Law of Human Life

The heat in the large third-class carriage, which had been
standing in the burning sun all day, was so great that Nekhludoff
did not go in, but stopped on the little platform behind the
carriage which formed a passage to the next one. But there was
not a breath of fresh air here either, and Nekhludoff breathed
freely only when the train had passed the buildings and the
draught blew across the platform.

"Yes, killed," he repeated to himself, the words he had used to
his sister. And in his imagination in the midst of all other
impressions there arose with wonderful clearness the beautiful
face of the second dead convict, with the smile of the lips, the
severe expression of the brows, and the small, firm ear below the
shaved bluish skull.

And what seemed terrible was that he had been murdered, and no
one knew who had murdered him. Yet he had been murdered. He was
led out like all the rest of the prisoners by Maslennikoff's
orders. Maslennikoff had probably given the order in the usual
manner, had signed with his stupid flourish the paper with the
printed heading, and most certainly would not consider himself
guilty. Still less would the careful doctor who examined the
convicts consider himself guilty. He had performed his duty
accurately, and had separated the weak. How could he have
foreseen this terrible heat, or the fact that they would start so
late in the day and in such crowds? The prison inspector? But the
inspector had only carried into execution the order that on a
given day a certain number of exiles and convicts--men and
women--had to be sent off. The convoy officer could not be guilty
either, for his business was to receive a certain number of
persons in a certain place, and to deliver up the same number.
He conducted them in the usual manner, and could not foresee that
two such strong men as those Nekhludoff saw would not be able to
stand it and would die. No one is guilty, and yet the men have
been murdered by these people who are not guilty of their murder.