I was so nearly paralyzed with astonishment at this wholly unexpected greeting that for a moment I could hardly re ply; but I managed to thank him and ask him to take a seat. We had a pleasant chat of ten minutes with regard to the roads, the weather, our Siberian experiences, the changed appearance of Irkutsk, etc., and then Captain makofski said: I understand that you are interested, among other things, in prisons and the exile system. I think you will find the city prison here in good condition. I will send some one to show you through it, and I will not forewarn the prison officers that you are coming — you shall see it just as it is every day.
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