English
Hewasnotcompletelyunconscious,however,allthetimehewasill;hewasinafeverishstate,sometimesdelirious,sometimeshalfconscious.Herememberedagreatdealafterwards.
Sometimesitseemedasthoughtherewereanumberofpeopleroundhim;theywantedtotakehimawaysomewhere,therewasagreatdealofsquabblinganddiscussingabouthim.
Thenhewouldbealoneintheroom;theyhadallgoneawayafraidofhim,andonlynowandthenopenedthedooracracktolookathim;theythreatenedhim,plottedsomethingtogether,laughed,andmockedathim.
HerememberedNastasyaoftenathisbedside;hedistinguishedanotherperson,too,whomheseemedtoknowverywell,thoughhecouldnotrememberwhohewas,andthisfrettedhim,evenmadehimcry.
Sometimeshefanciedhehadbeenlyingthereamonth;atothertimesitallseemedpartofthesameday.
Butofthat—ofthathehadnorecollection,andyeteveryminutehefeltthathehadforgottensomethingheoughttoremember.
Heworriedandtormentedhimselftryingtoremember,moaned,flewintoarage,orsankintoawful,intolerableterror.
Thenhestruggledtogetup,wouldhaverunaway,butsomeonealwayspreventedhimbyforce,andhesankbackintoimpotenceandforgetfulness.
Atlasthereturnedtocompleteconsciousness.
Ithappenedatteno’clockinthemorning.
Onfinedaysthesunshoneintotheroomatthathour,throwingastreakoflightontherightwallandthecornernearthedoor.
Nastasyawasstandingbesidehimwithanotherperson,acompletestranger,whowaslookingathimveryinquisitively.
Hewasayoungmanwithabeard,wearingafull,short-waistedcoat,andlookedlikeamessenger.
Thelandladywaspeepinginatthehalf-openeddoor.Raskolnikovsatup.
“Whoisthis,Nastasya?”heasked,pointingtotheyoungman.
“Isay,he’shimselfagain!”shesaid.
“Heishimself,”echoedtheman.
Concludingthathehadreturnedtohissenses,thelandladyclosedthedooranddisappeared.
Shewasalwaysshyanddreadedconversationsordiscussions.
Shewasawomanofforty,notatallbad-looking,fatandbuxom,withblackeyesandeyebrows,good-naturedfromfatnessandlaziness,andabsurdlybashful.
“Who…areyou?”hewenton,addressingtheman.Butatthatmomentthedoorwasflungopen,and,stoopingalittle,ashewassotall,Razumihincamein.
“Whatacabinitis!”hecried.“Iamalwaysknockingmyhead.Youcallthisalodging!Soyouareconscious,brother?I’vejustheardthenewsfromPashenka.”
“Hehasjustcometo,”saidNastasya.
“Justcometo,”echoedthemanagain,withasmile.
“Andwhoareyou?”Razumihinasked,suddenlyaddressinghim.
“MynameisVrazumihin,atyourservice;notRazumihin,asIamalwayscalled,butVrazumihin,astudentandgentleman;andheismyfriend.Andwhoareyou?”
“Iamthemessengerfromouroffice,fromthemerchantShelopaev,andI’vecomeonbusiness.”
“Pleasesitdown.”Razumihinseatedhimselfontheothersideofthetable.
“It’sagoodthingyou’vecometo,brother,”hewentontoRaskolnikov.
“Forthelastfourdaysyouhavescarcelyeatenordrunkanything.Wehadtogiveyouteainspoonfuls.IbroughtZossimovtoseeyoutwice.YourememberZossimov?
Heexaminedyoucarefullyandsaidatonceitwasnothingserious—somethingseemedtohavegonetoyourhead.
Somenervousnonsense,theresultofbadfeeding,hesaysyouhavenothadenoughbeerandradish,butit’snothingmuch,itwillpassandyouwillbeallright.Zossimovisafirst-ratefellow!Heismakingquiteaname.
Come,Iwon’tkeepyou,”hesaid,addressingthemanagain.“Willyouexplainwhatyouwant?
Youmustknow,Rodya,thisisthesecondtimetheyhavesentfromtheoffice;butitwasanothermanlasttime,andItalkedtohim.Whowasitcamebefore?”
“Thatwasthedaybeforeyesterday,Iventuretosay,ifyouplease,sir.ThatwasAlexeySemyonovitch;heisinouroffice,too.”
“Hewasmoreintelligentthanyou,don’tyouthinkso?”
“Yes,indeed,sir,heisofmoreweightthanIam.”
“Quiteso;goon.”
“Atyourmamma’srequest,throughAfanasyIvanovitchVahrushin,ofwhomIpresumeyouhaveheardmorethanonce,aremittanceissenttoyoufromouroffice,”themanbegan,addressingRaskolnikov.
“Ifyouareinanintelligiblecondition,I’vethirty-fiveroublestoremittoyou,asSemyonSemyonovitchhasreceivedfromAfanasyIvanovitchatyourmamma’srequestinstructionstothateffect,asonpreviousoccasions.Doyouknowhim,sir?”
“Yes,Iremember…Vahrushin,”Raskolnikovsaiddreamily.
“Youhear,heknowsVahrushin,”criedRazumihin.“Heisin‘anintelligiblecondition’!AndIseeyouareanintelligentmantoo.Well,it’salwayspleasanttohearwordsofwisdom.”
“That’sthegentleman,Vahrushin,AfanasyIvanovitch.
Andattherequestofyourmamma,whohassentyouaremittanceoncebeforeinthesamemannerthroughhim,hedidnotrefusethistimealso,andsentinstructionstoSemyonSemyonovitchsomedayssincetohandyouthirty-fiveroublesinthehopeofbettertocome.”
“That‘hopingforbettertocome’isthebestthingyou’vesaid,though‘yourmamma’isnotbadeither.Comethen,whatdoyousay?Ishefullyconscious,eh?”
“That’sallright.Ifonlyhecansignthislittlepaper.”
“Hecanscrawlhisname.Haveyougotthebook?”
“Yes,here’sthebook.”
“Giveittome.Here,Rodya,situp.I’llholdyou.Takethepenandscribble‘Raskolnikov’forhim.Forjustnow,brother,moneyissweetertousthantreacle.”
“Idon’twantit,”saidRaskolnikov,pushingawaythepen.
“Notwantit?”
“Iwon’tsignit.”
“Howthedevilcanyoudowithoutsigningit?”
“Idon’twant…themoney.”
“Don’twantthemoney!Come,brother,that’snonsense,Ibearwitness.
Don’ttrouble,please,it’sonlythatheisonhistravelsagain.
Butthat’sprettycommonwithhimatalltimesthough….
Youareamanofjudgmentandwewilltakehiminhand,thatis,moresimply,takehishandandhewillsignit.Here.”
“ButIcancomeanothertime.”
“No,no.Whyshouldwetroubleyou?Youareamanofjudgment….Now,Rodya,don’tkeepyourvisitor,youseeheiswaiting,”andhemadereadytoholdRaskolnikov’shandinearnest.
“Stop,I’lldoitalone,”saidthelatter,takingthepenandsigninghisname.
Themessengertookoutthemoneyandwentaway.
“Bravo!Andnow,brother,areyouhungry?”
“Yes,”answeredRaskolnikov.
“Isthereanysoup?”
“Someofyesterday’s,”answeredNastasya,whowasstillstandingthere.
“Withpotatoesandriceinit?”
“Yes.”
“Iknowitbyheart.Bringsoupandgiveussometea.”
“Verywell.”
Raskolnikovlookedatallthiswithprofoundastonishmentandadull,unreasoningterror.
Hemadeuphismindtokeepquietandseewhatwouldhappen.“IbelieveIamnotwandering.Ibelieveit’sreality,”hethought.
InacoupleofminutesNastasyareturnedwiththesoup,andannouncedthattheteawouldbereadydirectly.
Withthesoupshebroughttwospoons,twoplates,salt,pepper,mustardforthebeef,andsoon.
Thetablewassetasithadnotbeenforalongtime.Theclothwasclean.
“Itwouldnotbeamiss,Nastasya,ifPraskovyaPavlovnaweretosendusupacoupleofbottlesofbeer.Wecouldemptythem.”
“Well,youareacoolhand,”mutteredNastasya,andshedepartedtocarryouthisorders.
Raskolnikovstillgazedwildlywithstrainedattention.
MeanwhileRazumihinsatdownonthesofabesidehim,asclumsilyasabearputhisleftarmroundRaskolnikov’shead,althoughhewasabletositup,andwithhisrighthandgavehimaspoonfulofsoup,blowingonitthatitmightnotburnhim.Butthesoupwasonlyjustwarm.
Raskolnikovswallowedonespoonfulgreedily,thenasecond,thenathird.
Butaftergivinghimafewmorespoonfulsofsoup,Razumihinsuddenlystopped,andsaidthathemustaskZossimovwhetherheoughttohavemore.
Nastasyacameinwithtwobottlesofbeer.
“Andwillyouhavetea?”
“Yes.”
“Cutalong,Nastasya,andbringsometea,forteawemayventureonwithoutthefaculty.Buthereisthebeer!”
Hemovedbacktohischair,pulledthesoupandmeatinfrontofhim,andbeganeatingasthoughhehadnottouchedfoodforthreedays.
“Imusttellyou,Rodya,Idinelikethishereeverydaynow,”hemumbledwithhismouthfullofbeef,“andit’sallPashenka,yourdearlittlelandlady,whoseestothat;shelovestodoanythingforme.
Idon’taskforit,but,ofcourse,Idon’tobject.Andhere’sNastasyawiththetea.Sheisaquickgirl.
Nastasya,mydear,won’tyouhavesomebeer?”
“Getalongwithyournonsense!”
“Acupoftea,then?”
“Acupoftea,maybe.”
“Pouritout.Stay,I’llpouritoutmyself.Sitdown.”
Hepouredouttwocups,lefthisdinner,andsatonthesofaagain.
Asbefore,heputhisleftarmroundthesickman’shead,raisedhimupandgavehimteainspoonfuls,againblowingeachspoonfulsteadilyandearnestly,asthoughthisprocesswastheprincipalandmosteffectivemeanstowardshisfriend’srecovery.
Raskolnikovsaidnothingandmadenoresistance,thoughhefeltquitestrongenoughtosituponthesofawithoutsupportandcouldnotmerelyhaveheldacuporaspoon,butevenperhapscouldhavewalkedabout.
Butfromsomequeer,almostanimal,cunningheconceivedtheideaofhidinghisstrengthandlyinglowforatime,pretendingifnecessarynottobeyetinfullpossessionofhisfaculties,andmeanwhilelisteningtofindoutwhatwasgoingon.
Yethecouldnotovercomehissenseofrepugnance.
Aftersippingadozenspoonfulsoftea,hesuddenlyreleasedhishead,pushedthespoonawaycapriciously,andsankbackonthepillow.
Therewereactuallyrealpillowsunderhisheadnow,downpillowsincleancases,heobservedthat,too,andtooknoteofit.
“Pashenkamustgiveussomeraspberryjamto-daytomakehimsomeraspberrytea,”saidRazumihin,goingbacktohischairandattackinghissoupandbeeragain.
“Andwhereisshetogetraspberriesforyou?”askedNastasya,balancingasauceronherfiveoutspreadfingersandsippingteathroughalumpofsugar.
“She’llgetitattheshop,mydear.Yousee,Rodya,allsortsofthingshavebeenhappeningwhileyouhavebeenlaidup.
Whenyoudecampedinthatrascallywaywithoutleavingyouraddress,IfeltsoangrythatIresolvedtofindyououtandpunishyou.Isettoworkthatveryday.
HowIranaboutmakinginquiriesforyou!
ThislodgingofyoursIhadforgotten,thoughIneverrememberedit,indeed,becauseIdidnotknowit;andasforyouroldlodgings,IcouldonlyrememberitwasattheFiveCorners,Harlamov’shouse.
IkepttryingtofindthatHarlamov’shouse,andafterwardsitturnedoutthatitwasnotHarlamov’s,butBuch’s.Howonemuddlesupsoundsometimes!
SoIlostmytemper,andIwentonthechancetotheaddressbureaunextday,andonlyfancy,intwominutestheylookedyouup!Yournameisdownthere.”
“Myname!”
“Ishouldthinkso;andyetaGeneralKobelevtheycouldnotfindwhileIwasthere.Well,it’salongstory.
ButassoonasIdidlandonthisplace,Isoongottoknowallyouraffairs—all,all,brother,Iknoweverything;Nastasyaherewilltellyou.
ImadetheacquaintanceofNikodimFomitchandIlyaPetrovitch,andthehouse-porterandMr.Zametov,AlexandrGrigorievitch,theheadclerkinthepoliceoffice,and,last,butnotleast,ofPashenka;Nastasyahereknows….”
“He’sgotroundher,”Nastasyamurmured,smilingslyly.
“Whydon’tyouputthesugarinyourtea,NastasyaNikiforovna?”
“Youareaone!”Nastasyacriedsuddenly,goingoffintoagiggle.“IamnotNikiforovna,butPetrovna,”sheaddedsuddenly,recoveringfromhermirth.
“I’llmakeanoteofit.Well,brother,tomakealongstoryshort,Iwasgoinginforaregularexplosionheretouprootallmalignantinfluencesinthelocality,butPashenkawontheday.
Ihadnotexpected,brother,tofindherso…prepossessing.Eh,whatdoyouthink?”
Raskolnikovdidnotspeak,buthestillkepthiseyesfixeduponhim,fullofalarm.
“Andallthatcouldbewished,indeed,ineveryrespect,”Razumihinwenton,notatallembarrassedbyhissilence.
“Ah,theslydog!”Nastasyashriekedagain.Thisconversationaffordedherunspeakabledelight.
“It’sapity,brother,thatyoudidnotsettoworkintherightwayatfirst.
Yououghttohaveapproachedherdifferently.
Sheis,sotospeak,amostunaccountablecharacter.
Butwewilltalkabouthercharacterlater….
Howcouldyouletthingscometosuchapassthatshegaveupsendingyouyourdinner?AndthatIOU?
YoumusthavebeenmadtosignanIOU.Andthatpromiseofmarriagewhenherdaughter,NatalyaYegorovna,wasalive?...Iknowallaboutit!
ButIseethat’sadelicatematterandIamanass;forgiveme.
But,talkingoffoolishness,doyouknowPraskovyaPavlovnaisnotnearlysofoolishasyouwouldthinkatfirstsight?”
“No,”mumbledRaskolnikov,lookingaway,butfeelingthatitwasbettertokeepuptheconversation.
“Sheisn’t,isshe?”criedRazumihin,delightedtogetanansweroutofhim.“Butsheisnotveryclevereither,eh?
Sheisessentially,essentiallyanunaccountablecharacter!
Iamsometimesquiteataloss,Iassureyou….
Shemustbeforty;shesayssheisthirty-six,andofcourseshehaseveryrighttosayso.
ButIswearIjudgeherintellectually,simplyfromthemetaphysicalpointofview;thereisasortofsymbolismsprungupbetweenus,asortofalgebraorwhatnot!Idon’tunderstandit!Well,that’sallnonsense.
Only,seeingthatyouarenotastudentnowandhavelostyourlessonsandyourclothes,andthatthroughtheyounglady’sdeathshehasnoneedtotreatyouasarelation,shesuddenlytookfright;andasyouhidinyourdenanddroppedallyouroldrelationswithher,sheplannedtogetridofyou.
Andshe’sbeencherishingthatdesignalongtime,butwassorrytolosetheIOU,foryouassuredheryourselfthatyourmotherwouldpay.”
“Itwasbaseofmetosaythat….Mymotherherselfisalmostabeggar…andItoldalietokeepmylodging…andbefed,”Raskolnikovsaidloudlyanddistinctly.
“Yes,youdidverysensibly.ButtheworstofitisthatatthatpointMr.Tchebarovturnsup,abusinessman.
Pashenkawouldneverhavethoughtofdoinganythingonherownaccount,sheistooretiring;butthebusinessmanisbynomeansretiring,andfirstthingheputsthequestion,‘IsthereanyhopeofrealisingtheIOU?’
Answer:thereis,becausehehasamotherwhowouldsaveherRodyawithherhundredandtwenty-fiveroublespension,ifshehastostarveherself;andasister,too,whowouldgointobondageforhissake.That’swhathewasbuildingupon….Whydoyoustart?
Iknowalltheinsandoutsofyouraffairsnow,mydearboy—it’snotfornothingthatyouweresoopenwithPashenkawhenyouwereherprospectiveson-in-law,andIsayallthisasafriend….
ButItellyouwhatitis;anhonestandsensitivemanisopen;andabusinessman‘listensandgoesoneating’youup.
Well,thenshegavetheIOUbywayofpaymenttothisTchebarov,andwithouthesitationhemadeaformaldemandforpayment.
WhenIheardofallthisIwantedtoblowhimup,too,toclearmyconscience,butbythattimeharmonyreignedbetweenmeandPashenka,andIinsistedonstoppingthewholeaffair,engagingthatyouwouldpay.Iwentsecurityforyou,brother.Doyouunderstand?
WecalledTchebarov,flunghimtenroublesandgottheIOUbackfromhim,andhereIhavethehonourofpresentingittoyou.Shetrustsyourwordnow.Here,takeit,youseeIhavetornit.”
Razumihinputthenoteonthetable.Raskolnikovlookedathimandturnedtothewallwithoututteringaword.EvenRazumihinfeltatwinge.
“Isee,brother,”hesaidamomentlater,“thatIhavebeenplayingthefoolagain.IthoughtIshouldamuseyouwithmychatter,andIbelieveIhaveonlymadeyoucross.”
“WasityouIdidnotrecognisewhenIwasdelirious?”Raskolnikovasked,afteramoment’spausewithoutturninghishead.
“Yes,andyouflewintoarageaboutit,especiallywhenIbroughtZametovoneday.”
“Zametov?Theheadclerk?Whatfor?”RaskolnikovturnedroundquicklyandfixedhiseyesonRazumihin.
“What’sthematterwithyou?...Whatareyouupsetabout?
HewantedtomakeyouracquaintancebecauseItalkedtohimalotaboutyou….
HowcouldIhavefoundoutsomuchexceptfromhim?
Heisacapitalfellow,brother,first-rate…inhisownway,ofcourse.
Nowwearefriends—seeeachotheralmosteveryday.Ihavemovedintothispart,youknow.Ihaveonlyjustmoved.
I’vebeenwithhimtoLuiseIvanovnaonceortwice….DoyourememberLuise,LuiseIvanovna?
“DidIsayanythingindelirium?”
“Ishouldthinkso!Youwerebesideyourself.”
“WhatdidIraveabout?”
“Whatnext?Whatdidyouraveabout?Whatpeopledoraveabout….Well,brother,nowImustnotlosetime.Towork.”Hegotupfromthetableandtookuphiscap.
“WhatdidIraveabout?”
“Howhekeepson!Areyouafraidofhavingletoutsomesecret?
Don’tworryyourself;yousaidnothingaboutacountess.
Butyousaidalotaboutabulldog,andaboutear-ringsandchains,andaboutKrestovskyIsland,andsomeporter,andNikodimFomitchandIlyaPetrovitch,theassistantsuperintendent.
Andanotherthingthatwasofspecialinteresttoyouwasyourownsock.Youwhined,‘Givememysock.’
Zametovhuntedallaboutyourroomforyoursocks,andwithhisownscented,ring-bedeckedfingershegaveyoutherag.
Andonlythenwereyoucomforted,andforthenexttwenty-fourhoursyouheldthewretchedthinginyourhand;wecouldnotgetitfromyou.
Itismostlikelysomewhereunderyourquiltatthismoment.
Andthenyouaskedsopiteouslyforfringeforyourtrousers.
Wetriedtofindoutwhatsortoffringe,butwecouldnotmakeitout.Nowtobusiness!
Herearethirty-fiveroubles;Itaketenofthem,andshallgiveyouanaccountoftheminanhourortwo.
IwillletZossimovknowatthesametime,thoughheoughttohavebeenherelongago,foritisnearlytwelve.
Andyou,Nastasya,lookinprettyoftenwhileIamaway,toseewhetherhewantsadrinkoranythingelse.
AndIwilltellPashenkawhatiswantedmyself.Good-bye!”
“HecallsherPashenka!Ah,he’sadeepone!”
saidNastasyaashewentout;thensheopenedthedoorandstoodlistening,butcouldnotresistrunningdownstairsafterhim.
Shewasveryeagertohearwhathewouldsaytothelandlady.
ShewasevidentlyquitefascinatedbyRazumihin.
Nosoonerhadshelefttheroomthanthesickmanflungoffthebedclothesandleaptoutofbedlikeamadman.
Withburning,twitchingimpatiencehehadwaitedforthemtobegonesothathemightsettowork.Buttowhatwork?
Now,asthoughtospitehim,iteludedhim.
“GoodGod,onlytellmeonething:dotheyknowofityetornot?
Whatiftheyknowitandareonlypretending,mockingmewhileIamlaidup,andthentheywillcomeinandtellmethatit’sbeendiscoveredlongagoandthattheyhaveonly…WhatamItodonow?
That’swhatI’veforgotten,asthoughonpurpose;forgottenitallatonce,Irememberedaminuteago.”
Hestoodinthemiddleoftheroomandgazedinmiserablebewildermentabouthim;hewalkedtothedoor,openedit,listened;butthatwasnotwhathewanted.
Suddenly,asthoughrecallingsomething,herushedtothecornerwheretherewasaholeunderthepaper,beganexaminingit,puthishandintothehole,fumbled—butthatwasnotit.
Hewenttothestove,openeditandbeganrummagingintheashes;thefrayededgesofhistrousersandtheragscutoffhispocketwerelyingtherejustashehadthrownthem.Noonehadlooked,then!
ThenherememberedthesockaboutwhichRazumihinhadjustbeentellinghim.
Yes,thereitlayonthesofaunderthequilt,butitwassocoveredwithdustandgrimethatZametovcouldnothaveseenanythingonit.
“Bah,Zametov!Thepoliceoffice!
AndwhyamIsentfortothepoliceoffice?Where’sthenotice?Bah!Iammixingitup;thatwasthen.
Ilookedatmysockthen,too,butnow…nowIhavebeenill.ButwhatdidZametovcomefor?WhydidRazumihinbringhim?”
hemuttered,helplesslysittingonthesofaagain.“Whatdoesitmean?AmIstillindelirium,orisitreal?Ibelieveitisreal….Ah,Iremember;Imustescape!Makehastetoescape.Yes,Imust,Imustescape!Yes…butwhere?Andwherearemyclothes?I’venoboots.They’vetakenthemaway!They’vehiddenthem!Iunderstand!
Ah,hereismycoat—theypassedthatover!
Andhereismoneyonthetable,thankGod!
Andhere’stheIOU…I’lltakethemoneyandgoandtakeanotherlodging.Theywon’tfindme!...Yes,buttheaddressbureau?
They’llfindme,Razumihinwillfindme.
Betterescapealtogether…faraway…toAmerica,andletthemdotheirworst!
AndtaketheIOU…itwouldbeofusethere….WhatelseshallItake?TheythinkIamill!
Theydon’tknowthatIcanwalk,ha-ha-ha!
Icouldseebytheireyesthattheyknowallaboutit!IfonlyIcouldgetdownstairs!
Andwhatiftheyhavesetawatchthere—policemen!What’sthistea?
Ah,andhereisbeerleft,halfabottle,cold!”
Hesnatchedupthebottle,whichstillcontainedaglassfulofbeer,andgulpeditdownwithrelish,asthoughquenchingaflameinhisbreast.
Butinanotherminutethebeerhadgonetohishead,andafaintandevenpleasantshiverrandownhisspine.
Helaydownandpulledthequiltoverhim.
Hissickandincoherentthoughtsgrewmoreandmoredisconnected,andsoonalight,pleasantdrowsinesscameuponhim.
Withasenseofcomforthenestledhisheadintothepillow,wrappedmorecloselyabouthimthesoft,waddedquiltwhichhadreplacedtheold,raggedgreatcoat,sighedsoftlyandsankintoadeep,sound,refreshingsleep.
Hewokeup,hearingsomeonecomein.HeopenedhiseyesandsawRazumihinstandinginthedoorway,uncertainwhethertocomeinornot.
Raskolnikovsatupquicklyonthesofaandgazedathim,asthoughtryingtorecallsomething.
“Ah,youarenotasleep!HereIam!Nastasya,bringintheparcel!”Razumihinshouteddownthestairs.“Youshallhavetheaccountdirectly.”
“Whattimeisit?”askedRaskolnikov,lookingrounduneasily.
“Yes,youhadafinesleep,brother,it’salmostevening,itwillbesixo’clockdirectly.Youhavesleptmorethansixhours.”
“Goodheavens!HaveI?”
“Andwhynot?Itwilldoyougood.What’sthehurry?Atryst,isit?We’vealltimebeforeus.
I’vebeenwaitingforthelastthreehoursforyou;I’vebeenuptwiceandfoundyouasleep.
I’vecalledonZossimovtwice;notathome,onlyfancy!Butnomatter,hewillturnup.
AndI’vebeenoutonmyownbusiness,too.
YouknowI’vebeenmovingto-day,movingwithmyuncle.Ihaveanunclelivingwithmenow.Butthat’snomatter,tobusiness.Givemetheparcel,Nastasya.Wewillopenitdirectly.Andhowdoyoufeelnow,brother?”
“Iamquitewell,Iamnotill.Razumihin,haveyoubeenherelong?”
“ItellyouI’vebeenwaitingforthelastthreehours.”
“No,before.”
“Howdoyoumean?”
“Howlonghaveyoubeencominghere?”
“WhyItoldyouallaboutitthismorning.Don’tyouremember?”
Raskolnikovpondered.Themorningseemedlikeadreamtohim.Hecouldnotrememberalone,andlookedinquiringlyatRazumihin.
“Hm!”saidthelatter,“hehasforgotten.
Ifanciedthenthatyouwerenotquiteyourself.Nowyouarebetterforyoursleep….Youreallylookmuchbetter.First-rate!Well,tobusiness.Lookhere,mydearboy.”
Hebeganuntyingthebundle,whichevidentlyinterestedhim.
“Believeme,brother,thisissomethingspeciallynearmyheart.Forwemustmakeamanofyou.Let’sbeginfromthetop.Doyouseethiscap?”
hesaid,takingoutofthebundleafairlygoodthoughcheapandordinarycap.“Letmetryiton.”
“Presently,afterwards,”saidRaskolnikov,wavingitoffpettishly.
“Come,Rodya,myboy,don’topposeit,afterwardswillbetoolate;andIshan’tsleepallnight,forIboughtitbyguess,withoutmeasure.Justright!”
hecriedtriumphantly,fittingiton,“justyoursize!
Aproperhead-coveringisthefirstthingindressandarecommendationinitsownway.
Tolstyakov,afriendofmine,isalwaysobligedtotakeoffhispuddingbasinwhenhegoesintoanypublicplacewhereotherpeopleweartheirhatsorcaps.
Peoplethinkhedoesitfromslavishpoliteness,butit’ssimplybecauseheisashamedofhisbird’snest;heissuchaboastfulfellow!
Look,Nastasya,herearetwospecimensofheadgear:thisPalmerston”—hetookfromthecornerRaskolnikov’sold,batteredhat,whichforsomeunknownreason,hecalledaPalmerston—”orthisjewel!
Guesstheprice,Rodya,whatdoyousupposeIpaidforit,Nastasya!”
hesaid,turningtoher,seeingthatRaskolnikovdidnotspeak.
“Twentycopecks,nomore,Idaresay,”answeredNastasya.
“Twentycopecks,silly!”hecried,offended.
“Why,nowadaysyouwouldcostmorethanthat—eightycopecks!Andthatonlybecauseithasbeenworn.
Andit’sboughtonconditionthatwhen’sit’swornout,theywillgiveyouanothernextyear.Yes,onmyword!
Well,nowletuspasstotheUnitedStatesofAmerica,astheycalledthematschool.
IassureyouIamproudofthesebreeches,”andheexhibitedtoRaskolnikovapairoflight,summertrousersofgreywoollenmaterial.
“Noholes,nospots,andquiterespectable,althoughalittleworn;andawaistcoattomatch,quiteinthefashion.
Anditsbeingwornreallyisanimprovement,it’ssofter,smoother….
Yousee,Rodya,tomythinking,thegreatthingforgettingonintheworldisalwaystokeeptotheseasons;ifyoudon’tinsistonhavingasparagusinJanuary,youkeepyourmoneyinyourpurse;andit’sthesamewiththispurchase.
It’ssummernow,soI’vebeenbuyingsummerthings—warmermaterialswillbewantedforautumn,soyouwillhavetothrowtheseawayinanycase…especiallyastheywillbedoneforbythenfromtheirownlackofcoherenceifnotyourhigherstandardofluxury.Come,pricethem!Whatdoyousay?Tworoublestwenty-fivecopecks!
Andrememberthecondition:ifyouweartheseout,youwillhaveanothersuitfornothing!
TheyonlydobusinessonthatsystematFedyaev’s;ifyou’veboughtathingonce,youaresatisfiedforlife,foryouwillnevergothereagainofyourownfreewill.Nowfortheboots.Whatdoyousay?
Youseethattheyareabitworn,butthey’lllastacoupleofmonths,forit’sforeignworkandforeignleather;thesecretaryoftheEnglishEmbassysoldthemlastweek—hehadonlywornthemsixdays,buthewasveryshortofcash.Price—aroubleandahalf.Abargain?”
“Butperhapstheywon’tfit,”observedNastasya.
“Notfit?Justlook!”
andhepulledoutofhispocketRaskolnikov’sold,brokenboot,stifflycoatedwithdrymud.
“Ididnotgoempty-handed—theytookthesizefromthismonster.Wealldidourbest.
Andastoyourlinen,yourlandladyhasseentothat.
Here,tobeginwitharethreeshirts,hempenbutwithafashionablefront….
Wellnowthen,eightycopecksthecap,tworoublestwenty-fivecopecksthesuit—togetherthreeroublesfivecopecks—aroubleandahalffortheboots—for,yousee,theyareverygood—andthatmakesfourroublesfifty-fivecopecks;fiveroublesfortheunderclothes—theywereboughtinthelo—whichmakesexactlynineroublesfifty-fivecopecks.Forty-fivecopeckschangeincoppers.Willyoutakeit?
Andso,Rodya,youaresetupwithacompletenewrig-out,foryourovercoatwillserve,andevenhasastyleofitsown.
Thatcomesfromgettingone’sclothesfromSharmer’s!
Asforyoursocksandotherthings,Ileavethemtoyou;we’vetwenty-fiveroublesleft.
AndasforPashenkaandpayingforyourlodging,don’tyouworry.
Itellyoushe’lltrustyouforanything.
Andnow,brother,letmechangeyourlinen,forIdaresayyouwillthrowoffyourillnesswithyourshirt.”
“Letmebe!Idon’twantto!”Raskolnikovwavedhimoff.HehadlistenedwithdisgusttoRazumihin’seffortstobeplayfulabouthispurchases.
“Come,brother,don’ttellmeI’vebeentrudgingaroundfornothing,”Razumihininsisted.
“Nastasya,don’tbebashful,buthelpme—that’sit,”andinspiteofRaskolnikov’sresistancehechangedhislinen.
Thelattersankbackonthepillowsandforaminuteortwosaidnothing.
“ItwillbelongbeforeIgetridofthem,”hethought.“Whatmoneywasallthatboughtwith?”heaskedatlast,gazingatthewall.
“Money?Why,yourown,whatthemessengerbroughtfromVahrushin,yourmothersentit.Haveyouforgottenthat,too?”
“Iremembernow,”saidRaskolnikovafteralong,sullensilence.Razumihinlookedathim,frowninganduneasy.
Thedooropenedandatall,stoutmanwhoseappearanceseemedfamiliartoRaskolnikovcamein.
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