They came out into the bright, cheerful sunlight, where the rattling of wheels on the pavement made it necessary to raise their voices.
"The situation, you see, is a very curious one," continued the justiciary. "Maslova was confronted by one of two things: either a short term in jail, in which case her lengthy confinement would have been taken into consideration, or penal servitude; no other sentence was possible. Had you added the words, 'without intent to kill,' she would have been discharged."
"It is unpardonable neglect on my part," said Nekhludoff.
"That is the whole trouble," the justiciary said, smiling and looking at his watch.
There was only three-quarters of an hour left to the latest hour fixed in Clara's appointment.
"You can apply to a lawyer, if you wish. It is necessary to find grounds for appeal. But that can always be found. To the Dvorianskaia," he said to the cab-driver. "Thirty kopecks—I never pay more."
"All right, Your Excellency."
"Good-day. If I can be of any service to you, please let me know. You will easily remember my address: Dvornikoff's house, on the Dvorinskaia."
And, making a graceful bow, he rode off.