English
Zossimovwasatall,fatmanwithapuffy,colourless,clean-shavenfaceandstraightflaxenhair.
Heworespectacles,andabiggoldringonhisfatfinger.Hewastwenty-seven.
Hehadonalightgreyfashionableloosecoat,lightsummertrousers,andeverythingabouthimloose,fashionableandspickandspan;hislinenwasirreproachable,hiswatch-chainwasmassive.
Inmannerhewasslowand,asitwere,nonchalant,andatthesametimestudiouslyfreeandeasy;hemadeeffortstoconcealhisself-importance,butitwasapparentateveryinstant.
Allhisacquaintancesfoundhimtedious,butsaidhewascleverathiswork.
“I’vebeentoyoutwiceto-day,brother.Yousee,he’scometohimself,”criedRazumihin.
“Isee,Isee;andhowdowefeelnow,eh?”saidZossimovtoRaskolnikov,watchinghimcarefullyand,sittingdownatthefootofthesofa,hesettledhimselfascomfortablyashecould.
“Heisstilldepressed,”Razumihinwenton.“We’vejustchangedhislinenandhealmostcried.”
“That’sverynatural;youmighthaveputitoffifhedidnotwishit….Hispulseisfirst-rate.Isyourheadstillaching,eh?”
“Iamwell,Iamperfectlywell!”Raskolnikovdeclaredpositivelyandirritably.
Heraisedhimselfonthesofaandlookedatthemwithglitteringeyes,butsankbackontothepillowatonceandturnedtothewall.Zossimovwatchedhimintently.
“Verygood….Goingonallright,”hesaidlazily.“Hasheeatenanything?”
Theytoldhim,andaskedwhathemighthave.
“Hemayhaveanything…soup,tea…mushroomsandcucumbers,ofcourse,youmustnotgivehim;he’dbetternothavemeateither,and…butnoneedtotellyouthat!”Razumihinandhelookedateachother.“Nomoremedicineoranything.I’lllookathimagainto-morrow.Perhaps,to-dayeven…butnevermind…”
“To-morroweveningIshalltakehimforawalk,”saidRazumihin.“WearegoingtotheYusupovgardenandthentothePalaisdeCrystal.”
“Iwouldnotdisturbhimto-morrowatall,butIdon’tknow…alittle,maybe…butwe’llsee.”
“Ach,whatanuisance!I’vegotahouse-warmingpartyto-night;it’sonlyastepfromhere.Couldn’thecome?Hecouldlieonthesofa.Youarecoming?”RazumihinsaidtoZossimov.“Don’tforget,youpromised.”
“Allright,onlyratherlater.Whatareyougoingtodo?”
“Oh,nothing—tea,vodka,herrings.Therewillbeapie…justourfriends.”
“Andwho?”
“Allneighbourshere,almostallnewfriends,exceptmyolduncle,andheisnewtoo—heonlyarrivedinPetersburgyesterdaytoseetosomebusinessofhis.Wemeetonceinfiveyears.”
“Whatishe?”
“He’sbeenstagnatingallhislifeasadistrictpostmaster;getsalittlepension.
Heissixty-five—notworthtalkingabout….ButIamfondofhim.
PorfiryPetrovitch,theheadoftheInvestigationDepartmenthere…Butyouknowhim.”
“Ishearelationofyours,too?”
“Averydistantone.Butwhyareyouscowling?Becauseyouquarrelledonce,won’tyoucomethen?”
“Idon’tcareadamnforhim.”
“Somuchthebetter.Well,therewillbesomestudents,ateacher,agovernmentclerk,amusician,anofficerandZametov.”
“Dotellme,please,whatyouorhe”—ZossimovnoddedatRaskolnikov—”canhaveincommonwiththisZametov?”
“Oh,youparticulargentleman!Principles!
Youareworkedbyprinciples,asitwerebysprings;youwon’tventuretoturnroundonyourownaccount.
Ifamanisanicefellow,that’stheonlyprincipleIgoupon.Zametovisadelightfulperson.”
“Thoughhedoestakebribes.”
“Well,hedoes!andwhatofit?
Idon’tcareifhedoestakebribes,”Razumihincriedwithunnaturalirritability.“Idon’tpraisehimfortakingbribes.
Ionlysayheisanicemaninhisownway!
Butifonelooksatmeninallways—aretheremanygoodonesleft?
Why,IamsureIshouldn’tbeworthabakedonionmyself…perhapswithyouthrownin.”
“That’stoolittle;I’dgivetwoforyou.”
“AndIwouldn’tgivemorethanoneforyou.Nomoreofyourjokes!Zametovisnomorethanaboy.
Icanpullhishairandonemustdrawhimnotrepelhim.
You’llneverimproveamanbyrepellinghim,especiallyaboy.
Onehastobetwiceascarefulwithaboy.Oh,youprogressivedullards!Youdon’tunderstand.
Youharmyourselvesrunninganothermandown….
Butifyouwanttoknow,wereallyhavesomethingincommon.”
“Ishouldliketoknowwhat.”
“Why,it’sallaboutahouse-painter….Wearegettinghimoutofamess!Thoughindeedthere’snothingtofearnow.Thematterisabsolutelyself-evident.Weonlyputonsteam.”
“Apainter?”
“Why,haven’tItoldyouaboutit?Ionlytoldyouthebeginningthenaboutthemurderoftheoldpawnbroker-woman.Well,thepainterismixedupinit…”
“Oh,Iheardaboutthatmurderbeforeandwasratherinterestedinit…partly…foronereason….Ireadaboutitinthepapers,too….”
“Lizavetawasmurdered,too,”Nastasyablurtedout,suddenlyaddressingRaskolnikov.Sheremainedintheroomallthetime,standingbythedoorlistening.
“Lizaveta,”murmuredRaskolnikovhardlyaudibly.
“Lizaveta,whosoldoldclothes.Didn’tyouknowher?Sheusedtocomehere.Shemendedashirtforyou,too.”
Raskolnikovturnedtothewallwhereinthedirty,yellowpaperhepickedoutoneclumsy,whiteflowerwithbrownlinesonitandbeganexamininghowmanypetalstherewereinit,howmanyscallopsinthepetalsandhowmanylinesonthem.
Hefelthisarmsandlegsaslifelessasthoughtheyhadbeencutoff.
Hedidnotattempttomove,butstaredobstinatelyattheflower.
“Butwhataboutthepainter?”ZossimovinterruptedNastasya’schatterwithmarkeddispleasure.Shesighedandwassilent.
“Why,hewasaccusedofthemurder,”Razumihinwentonhotly.
“Wasthereevidenceagainsthimthen?”
“Evidence,indeed!Evidencethatwasnoevidence,andthat’swhatwehavetoprove.
Itwasjustastheypitchedonthosefellows,KochandPestryakov,atfirst.Foo!
howstupidlyit’salldone,itmakesonesick,thoughit’snotone’sbusiness!Pestryakovmaybecomingto-night….
Bytheway,Rodya,you’veheardaboutthebusinessalready;ithappenedbeforeyouwereill,thedaybeforeyoufaintedatthepoliceofficewhiletheyweretalkingaboutit.”
ZossimovlookedcuriouslyatRaskolnikov.Hedidnotstir.
“ButIsay,Razumihin,Iwonderatyou.Whatabusybodyyouare!”Zossimovobserved.
“MaybeIam,butwewillgethimoffanyway,”shoutedRazumihin,bringinghisfistdownonthetable.
“What’sthemostoffensiveisnottheirlying—onecanalwaysforgivelying—lyingisadelightfulthing,foritleadstotruth—whatisoffensiveisthattheylieandworshiptheirownlying….
IrespectPorfiry,but…Whatthrewthemoutatfirst?
Thedoorwaslocked,andwhentheycamebackwiththeporteritwasopen.
SoitfollowedthatKochandPestryakovwerethemurderers—thatwastheirlogic!”
“Butdon’texciteyourself;theysimplydetainedthem,theycouldnothelpthat….And,bytheway,I’vemetthatmanKoch.Heusedtobuyunredeemedpledgesfromtheoldwoman?Eh?”
“Yes,heisaswindler.Hebuysupbaddebts,too.Hemakesaprofessionofit.Butenoughofhim!Doyouknowwhatmakesmeangry?
It’stheirsickeningrotten,petrifiedroutine….
Andthiscasemightbethemeansofintroducinganewmethod.
Onecanshowfromthepsychologicaldataalonehowtogetonthetrackoftherealman.‘Wehavefacts,’theysay.
Butfactsarenoteverything—atleasthalfthebusinessliesinhowyouinterpretthem!”
“Canyouinterpretthem,then?”
“Anyway,onecan’tholdone’stonguewhenonehasafeeling,atangiblefeeling,thatonemightbeahelpifonly….Eh!Doyouknowthedetailsofthecase?”
“Iamwaitingtohearaboutthepainter.”
“Oh,yes!Well,here’sthestory.
Earlyonthethirddayafterthemurder,whentheywerestilldandlingKochandPestryakov—thoughtheyaccountedforeverysteptheytookanditwasasplainasapikestaff-anunexpectedfactturnedup.
ApeasantcalledDushkin,whokeepsadram-shopfacingthehouse,broughttothepoliceofficeajeweller’scasecontainingsomegoldear-rings,andtoldalongrigamarole.
‘Thedaybeforeyesterday,justaftereighto’clock’—markthedayandthehour!
—’ajourneymanhouse-painter,Nikolay,whohadbeenintoseemealreadythatday,broughtmethisboxofgoldear-ringsandstones,andaskedmetogivehimtworoublesforthem.
WhenIaskedhimwherehegotthem,hesaidthathepickedthemupinthestreet.Ididnotaskhimanythingmore.’IamtellingyouDushkin’sstory.
‘Igavehimanote’—aroublethatis—’forIthoughtifhedidnotpawnitwithmehewouldwithanother.
Itwouldallcometothesamething—he’dspenditondrink,sothethinghadbetterbewithme.
Thefurtheryouhideitthequickeryouwillfindit,andifanythingturnsup,ifIhearanyrumours,I’lltakeittothepolice.’
Ofcourse,that’salltaradiddle;helieslikeahorse,forIknowthisDushkin,heisapawnbrokerandareceiverofstolengoods,andhedidnotcheatNikolayoutofathirty-roubletrinketinordertogiveittothepolice.Hewassimplyafraid.
Butnomatter,toreturntoDushkin’sstory.
‘I’veknownthispeasant,NikolayDementyev,fromachild;hecomesfromthesameprovinceanddistrictofZaraïsk,wearebothRyazanmen.
AndthoughNikolayisnotadrunkard,hedrinks,andIknewhehadajobinthathouse,paintingworkwithDmitri,whocomesfromthesamevillage,too.
Assoonashegottheroublehechangedit,hadacoupleofglasses,tookhischangeandwentout.ButIdidnotseeDmitriwithhimthen.
AndthenextdayIheardthatsomeonehadmurderedAlyonaIvanovnaandhersister,LizavetaIvanovna,withanaxe.
Iknewthem,andIfeltsuspiciousabouttheear-ringsatonce,forIknewthemurderedwomanlentmoneyonpledges.
Iwenttothehouse,andbegantomakecarefulinquirieswithoutsayingawordtoanyone.
FirstofallIasked,“IsNikolayhere?”
DmitritoldmethatNikolayhadgoneoffonthespree;hehadcomehomeatdaybreakdrunk,stayedinthehouseabouttenminutes,andwentoutagain.
Dmitrididn’tseehimagainandisfinishingthejobalone.
Andtheirjobisonthesamestaircaseasthemurder,onthesecondfloor.
WhenIheardallthatIdidnotsayawordtoanyone’—that’sDushkin’stale—’butIfoundoutwhatIcouldaboutthemurder,andwenthomefeelingassuspiciousasever.
Andateighto’clockthismorning’—thatwasthethirdday,youunderstand—’IsawNikolaycomingin,notsober,thoughnottosayverydrunk—hecouldunderstandwhatwassaidtohim.
Hesatdownonthebenchanddidnotspeak.
TherewasonlyonestrangerinthebarandamanIknewasleeponabenchandourtwoboys.“HaveyouseenDmitri?”saidI.“No,Ihaven’t,”saidhe.“Andyou’venotbeenhereeither?”
“Notsincethedaybeforeyesterday,”saidhe.“Andwheredidyousleeplastnight?”“InPeski,withtheKolomenskymen.”
“Andwheredidyougetthoseear-rings?”Iasked.
“Ifoundtheminthestreet,”andthewayhesaiditwasabitqueer;hedidnotlookatme.
“Didyouhearwhathappenedthatveryevening,atthatveryhour,onthatsamestaircase?”
saidI.“No,”saidhe,“Ihadnotheard,”andallthewhilehewaslistening,hiseyeswerestaringoutofhisheadandheturnedaswhiteaschalk.
Itoldhimallaboutitandhetookhishatandbegangettingup.Iwantedtokeephim.
“Waitabit,Nikolay,”saidI,“won’tyouhaveadrink?”
AndIsignedtotheboytoholdthedoor,andIcameoutfrombehindthebar;buthedartedoutanddownthestreettotheturningatarun.Ihavenotseenhimsince.
Thenmydoubtswereatanend—itwashisdoing,asclearascouldbe….’”
“Ishouldthinkso,”saidZossimov.
“Wait!Heartheend.
OfcoursetheysoughthighandlowforNikolay;theydetainedDushkinandsearchedhishouse;Dmitri,too,wasarrested;theKolomenskymenalsowereturnedinsideout.
AndthedaybeforeyesterdaytheyarrestedNikolayinatavernattheendofthetown.
Hehadgonethere,takenthesilvercrossoffhisneckandaskedforadramforit.Theygaveittohim.
Afewminutesafterwardsthewomanwenttothecowshed,andthroughacrackinthewallshesawinthestableadjoininghehadmadeanooseofhissashfromthebeam,stoodonablockofwood,andwastryingtoputhisneckinthenoose.
Thewomanscreechedherhardest;peopleranin.‘Sothat’swhatyouareupto!’
‘Takeme,’hesays,‘tosuch-and-suchapoliceofficer;I’llconfesseverything.’
Well,theytookhimtothatpolicestation—thatishere—withasuitableescort.
Sotheyaskedhimthisandthat,howoldheis,‘twenty-two,’andsoon.
Atthequestion,‘WhenyouwereworkingwithDmitri,didn’tyouseeanyoneonthestaircaseatsuch-and-suchatime?’
—answer:‘Tobesurefolksmayhavegoneupanddown,butIdidnotnoticethem.’
‘Anddidn’tyouhearanything,anynoise,andsoon?’‘Weheardnothingspecial.’
‘Anddidyouhear,Nikolay,thatonthesamedayWidowSo-and-soandhersisterweremurderedandrobbed?’‘Ineverknewathingaboutit.
ThefirstIheardofitwasfromAfanasyPavlovitchthedaybeforeyesterday.’‘Andwheredidyoufindtheear-rings?’‘Ifoundthemonthepavement.’
‘Whydidn’tyougotoworkwithDmitritheotherday?’‘BecauseIwasdrinking.’‘Andwherewereyoudrinking?’‘Oh,insuch-and-suchaplace.’‘WhydidyourunawayfromDushkin’s?’‘BecauseIwasawfullyfrightened.’‘Whatwereyoufrightenedof?’‘ThatIshouldbeaccused.’
‘Howcouldyoubefrightened,ifyoufeltfreefromguilt?’
Now,Zossimov,youmaynotbelieveme,thatquestionwasputliterallyinthosewords.
Iknowitforafact,itwasrepeatedtomeexactly!Whatdoyousaytothat?”
“Well,anyway,there’stheevidence.”
“Iamnottalkingoftheevidencenow,Iamtalkingaboutthatquestion,oftheirownideaofthemselves.
Well,sotheysqueezedandsqueezedhimandheconfessed:‘Ididnotfinditinthestreet,butintheflatwhereIwaspaintingwithDmitri.’‘Andhowwasthat?’
‘Why,DmitriandIwerepaintingthereallday,andwewerejustgettingreadytogo,andDmitritookabrushandpaintedmyface,andheranoffandIafterhim.
Iranafterhim,shoutingmyhardest,andatthebottomofthestairsIranrightagainsttheporterandsomegentlemen—andhowmanygentlemenwerethereIdon’tremember.
Andtheportersworeatme,andtheotherporterswore,too,andtheporter’swifecameout,andsworeatus,too;andagentlemancameintotheentrywithalady,andhesworeatus,too,forDmitriandIlayrightacrosstheway.
IgotholdofDmitri’shairandknockedhimdownandbeganbeatinghim.
AndDmitri,too,caughtmebythehairandbeganbeatingme.
Butwediditallnotfortemperbutinafriendlyway,forsport.
AndthenDmitriescapedandranintothestreet,andIranafterhim;butIdidnotcatchhim,andwentbacktotheflatalone;Ihadtoclearupmythings.
Ibeganputtingthemtogether,expectingDmitritocome,andthereinthepassage,inthecornerbythedoor,Isteppedonthebox.
Isawitlyingtherewrappedupinpaper.
Itookoffthepaper,sawsomelittlehooks,undidthem,andintheboxweretheear-rings….’”
“Behindthedoor?Lyingbehindthedoor?Behindthedoor?”Raskolnikovcriedsuddenly,staringwithablanklookofterroratRazumihin,andheslowlysatuponthesofa,leaningonhishand.
“Yes…why?What’sthematter?What’swrong?”Razumihin,too,gotupfromhisseat.
“Nothing,”Raskolnikovansweredfaintly,turningtothewall.Allweresilentforawhile.
“Hemusthavewakedfromadream,”Razumihinsaidatlast,lookinginquiringlyatZossimov.Thelatterslightlyshookhishead.
“Well,goon,”saidZossimov.“Whatnext?”
“Whatnext?Assoonashesawtheear-rings,forgettingDmitriandeverything,hetookuphiscapandrantoDushkinand,asweknow,gotaroublefromhim.
Hetoldaliesayinghefoundtheminthestreet,andwentoffdrinking.
Hekeepsrepeatinghisoldstoryaboutthemurder:‘Iknownothingofit,neverheardofittillthedaybeforeyesterday.’
‘Andwhydidn’tyoucometothepolicetillnow?’‘Iwasfrightened.’‘Andwhydidyoutrytohangyourself?’‘Fromanxiety.’‘Whatanxiety?’‘ThatIshouldbeaccusedofit.’Well,that’sthewholestory.
Andnowwhatdoyousupposetheydeducedfromthat?”
“Why,there’snosupposing.There’saclue,suchasitis,afact.Youwouldn’thaveyourpaintersetfree?”
“Nowthey’vesimplytakenhimforthemurderer.Theyhaven’tashadowofdoubt.”
“That’snonsense.Youareexcited.Butwhatabouttheear-rings?
Youmustadmitthat,ifontheverysamedayandhourear-ringsfromtheoldwoman’sboxhavecomeintoNikolay’shands,theymusthavecometheresomehow.That’sagooddealinsuchacase.”
“Howdidtheygetthere?Howdidtheygetthere?”criedRazumihin.
“Howcanyou,adoctor,whosedutyitistostudymanandwhohasmoreopportunitythananyoneelseforstudyinghumannature—howcanyoufailtoseethecharacterofthemaninthewholestory?
Don’tyouseeatoncethattheanswershehasgivenintheexaminationaretheholytruth?
Theycameintohishandpreciselyashehastoldus—hesteppedontheboxandpickeditup.”
“Theholytruth!Butdidn’theownhimselfthathetoldalieatfirst?”
“Listentome,listenattentively.TheporterandKochandPestryakovandtheotherporterandthewifeofthefirstporterandthewomanwhowassittingintheporter’slodgeandthemanKryukov,whohadjustgotoutofacabatthatminuteandwentinattheentrywithaladyonhisarm,thatiseightortenwitnesses,agreethatNikolayhadDmitriontheground,waslyingonhimbeatinghim,whileDmitrihungontohishair,beatinghim,too.
Theylayrightacrosstheway,blockingthethoroughfare.
Theywereswornatonallsideswhilethey‘likechildren’(theverywordsofthewitnesses)werefallingoveroneanother,squealing,fightingandlaughingwiththefunniestfaces,and,chasingoneanotherlikechildren,theyranintothestreet.Nowtakecarefulnote.
Thebodiesupstairswerewarm,youunderstand,warmwhentheyfoundthem!
Ifthey,orNikolayalone,hadmurderedthemandbrokenopentheboxes,orsimplytakenpartintherobbery,allowmetoaskyouonequestion:dotheirstateofmind,theirsquealsandgigglesandchildishscufflingatthegatefitinwithaxes,bloodshed,fiendishcunning,robbery?
They’djustkilledthem,notfiveortenminutesbefore,forthebodieswerestillwarm,andatonce,leavingtheflatopen,knowingthatpeoplewouldgothereatonce,flingingawaytheirbooty,theyrolledaboutlikechildren,laughingandattractinggeneralattention.
Andthereareadozenwitnessestosweartothat!”
“Ofcourseitisstrange!It’simpossible,indeed,but…”
“No,brother,nobuts.Andiftheear-ringsbeingfoundinNikolay’shandsattheverydayandhourofthemurderconstitutesanimportantpieceofcircumstantialevidenceagainsthim—althoughtheexplanationgivenbyhimaccountsforit,andthereforeitdoesnottellseriouslyagainsthim—onemusttakeintoconsiderationthefactswhichprovehiminnocent,especiallyastheyarefactsthatcannotbedenied.
Anddoyousuppose,fromthecharacterofourlegalsystem,thattheywillaccept,orthattheyareinapositiontoaccept,thisfact—restingsimplyonapsychologicalimpossibility—asirrefutableandconclusivelybreakingdownthecircumstantialevidencefortheprosecution?
No,theywon’tacceptit,theycertainlywon’t,becausetheyfoundthejewel-caseandthemantriedtohanghimself,‘whichhecouldnothavedoneifhehadn’tfeltguilty.’
That’sthepoint,that’swhatexcitesme,youmustunderstand!”
“Oh,Iseeyouareexcited!Waitabit.Iforgottoaskyou;whatproofistherethattheboxcamefromtheoldwoman?”
“That’sbeenproved,”saidRazumihinwithapparentreluctance,frowning.“Kochrecognisedthejewel-caseandgavethenameoftheowner,whoprovedconclusivelythatitwashis.”
“That’sbad.Nowanotherpoint.DidanyoneseeNikolayatthetimethatKochandPestryakovweregoingupstairsatfirst,andistherenoevidenceaboutthat?”
“Nobodydidseehim,”Razumihinansweredwithvexation.“That’stheworstofit.
EvenKochandPestryakovdidnotnoticethemontheirwayupstairs,though,indeed,theirevidencecouldnothavebeenworthmuch.
Theysaidtheysawtheflatwasopen,andthattheremustbeworkgoingoninit,buttheytooknospecialnoticeandcouldnotrememberwhetherthereactuallyweremenatworkinit.”
“Hm!...Sotheonlyevidenceforthedefenceisthattheywerebeatingoneanotherandlaughing.Thatconstitutesastrongpresumption,but…Howdoyouexplainthefactsyourself?”
“HowdoIexplainthem?Whatistheretoexplain?It’sclear.
Atanyrate,thedirectioninwhichexplanationistobesoughtisclear,andthejewel-casepointstoit.
Therealmurdererdroppedthoseear-rings.
Themurdererwasupstairs,lockedin,whenKochandPestryakovknockedatthedoor.
Koch,likeanass,didnotstayatthedoor;sothemurdererpoppedoutandrandown,too;forhehadnootherwayofescape.
HehidfromKoch,PestryakovandtheporterintheflatwhenNikolayandDmitrihadjustrunoutofit.
Hestoppedtherewhiletheporterandothersweregoingupstairs,waitedtilltheywereoutofhearing,andthenwentcalmlydownstairsattheveryminutewhenDmitriandNikolayranoutintothestreetandtherewasnooneintheentry;possiblyhewasseen,butnotnoticed.
Therearelotsofpeoplegoinginandout.
Hemusthavedroppedtheear-ringsoutofhispocketwhenhestoodbehindthedoor,anddidnotnoticehedroppedthem,becausehehadotherthingstothinkof.
Thejewel-caseisaconclusiveproofthathedidstandthere….That’showIexplainit.”
“Tooclever!No,myboy,you’retooclever.Thatbeatseverything.”
“But,why,why?”
“Why,becauseeverythingfitstoowell…it’stoomelodramatic.”
“A-ach!”Razumihinwasexclaiming,butatthatmomentthedooropenedandapersonagecameinwhowasastrangertoallpresent.
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