gone into the meaning of these dogmas and of all that went on in

church, believed that they must believe, because the higher

authorities and the Tsar himself believed in it. Besides, though

faintly (and themselves unable to explain why), they felt that

this faith defended their cruel occupations. If this faith did

not exist it would have been more difficult, perhaps impossible,

for them to use all their powers to torment people, as they were

now doing, with a quiet conscience. The inspector was such a