I must mention another strange thing: the convicts themselves do not like to be treated too familiarly and too softly by their officers. They want to respect those in authority over them, and too much softness makes them cease to respect them. The convicts like their commanding officer to have decorations, too, they like him to be presentable, they like him to be in favour with some higher authority, they like him to be strict and important and just, and they like him to keep up his dignity. The convicts prefer such an officer: they feel that he keeps up his own dignity and does not insult them, and so they feel everything is right and as it should be.

“You must have caught it hot for that?” Kobylin observed calmly.

“H’m! Hot, my boy, yes⁠—it was hot certainly. Aley, pass the scissors! Why is it they are not playing cards today, lads?”

“They’ve drunk up all their money,” observed Vassya. “If they hadn’t they’d have been playing.”