We all bore towards one another a most complex relation. We were all engaged in a spiritual struggle beyond your comprehension: the struggle between anguish and peace; between falsehood and truth. Suddenly this struggle ended in a way that set us free. Everybody was at peace. They loved my memory, and I was happy even in my downfall, because I'd done what should have been done, and cleared away my weak life from interfering with their strong good lives. And yet we're all alive. When suddenly a bastard adventurer appears, who demands that I abet his filthy scheme. I drive him off as I would a diseased dog, but he finds you, the defender of public justice, the appointed guardian of morality, to listen to him. And you, who receive on the 20th of each month a few kopeks' gratuity for your wretched business, you get into your uniform, and in good spirits proceed to torture--bully people whose threshold you're not clean enough to pass. Then when you've had your fill of showing off your wretched power, oh, then you are satisfied, and sit and smile there in your damned complacent dignity. And.... MAGISTRATE (raising his voice. Rising excitedly). Be silent or I'll have you turned out. FEDYA. God! Who should I be afraid of! I'm dead, dead, and away out of your power. (Suddenly overcome with the horror of the situation.) What can you do to me? How can you punish me--a corpse? [Beating his breast. MAGISTRATE. Be silent! (To CLERK, who is down L.) Take him out! [FEDYA turns, seeing his wife, he falls on his knees before her ... kisses the hem of her dress, crying bitterly. [Slowly he rises, pulls himself together with a great effort, then exits L. [The lights dim and out. CURTAIN SCENE IV A corridor at the lower courts; in the background a door opposite which stands a GUARD; to the right is another door through which the PRISONERS are conducted to the court. IVAN PETROVICH in rags enters L., goes to this last door, trying to pass through it. GUARD (at door R. C.). Where do you think you're going, shoving in like that? IVAN PETROVICH. Why shouldn't I? The law says these sessions are public. GUARD. You can't get by and that's enough. IVAN PETROVICH (in pity). Wretched peasant, you have no idea to whom you are speaking. GUARD. Be silent! [Enter a YOUNG LAWYER from R. I. LAWYER (to Petrovich). Are you here on business? IVAN PETROVICH. No. I'm the public. But this wretched peasant won't let me pass. LAWYER. There's no room for the public at this trial. IVAN PETROVICH. Perhaps, but I am above the general rule. LAWYER. Well, you wait outside; they'll adjourn presently. [He is just going into courtroom through door R. C. when PRINCE SERGIUS enters L. and stops him. PRINCE SERGIUS. How does the case stand? LAWYER. The defense has just begun. Petrushin is speaking now. PRINCE SERGIUS. Are the Karenins bearing up well?