Thiswasagentlemannolongeryoung,ofastiffandportlyappearance,andacautiousandsourcountenance. Hebeganbystoppingshortinthedoorway,staringabouthimwithoffensiveandundisguisedastonishment,asthoughaskinghimselfwhatsortofplacehehadcometo. Mistrustfullyandwithanaffectationofbeingalarmedandalmostaffronted,hescannedRaskolnikov’slowandnarrow“cabin.” WiththesameamazementhestaredatRaskolnikov,wholayundressed,dishevelled,unwashed,onhismiserabledirtysofa,lookingfixedlyathim. Thenwiththesamedeliberationhescrutinisedtheuncouth,unkemptfigureandunshavenfaceofRazumihin,wholookedhimboldlyandinquiringlyinthefacewithoutrisingfromhisseat. Aconstrainedsilencelastedforacoupleofminutes,andthen,asmightbeexpected,somescene-shiftingtookplace. Reflecting,probablyfromcertainfairlyunmistakablesigns,thathewouldgetnothinginthis“cabin”byattemptingtooverawethem,thegentlemansoftenedsomewhat,andcivilly,thoughwithsomeseverity,emphasisingeverysyllableofhisquestion,addressedZossimov: “RodionRomanovitchRaskolnikov,astudent,orformerlyastudent?” Zossimovmadeaslightmovement,andwouldhaveanswered,hadnotRazumihinanticipatedhim. “Hereheislyingonthesofa!Whatdoyouwant?” Thisfamiliar“whatdoyouwant”seemedtocutthegroundfromthefeetofthepompousgentleman.HewasturningtoRazumihin,butcheckedhimselfintimeandturnedtoZossimovagain. “ThisisRaskolnikov,”mumbledZossimov,noddingtowardshim. Thenhegaveaprolongedyawn,openinghismouthaswideaspossible. Thenhelazilyputhishandintohiswaistcoat-pocket,pulledoutahugegoldwatchinaroundhunter’scase,openedit,lookedatitandasslowlyandlazilyproceededtoputitback. Raskolnikovhimselflaywithoutspeaking,onhisback,gazingpersistently,thoughwithoutunderstanding,atthestranger. Nowthathisfacewasturnedawayfromthestrangefloweronthepaper,itwasextremelypaleandworealookofanguish,asthoughhehadjustundergoneanagonisingoperationorjustbeentakenfromtherack. Butthenew-comergraduallybegantoarousehisattention,thenhiswonder,thensuspicionandevenalarm. WhenZossimovsaid“ThisisRaskolnikov”hejumpedupquickly,satonthesofaandwithanalmostdefiant,butweakandbreaking,voicearticulated: “Yes,IamRaskolnikov!Whatdoyouwant?” Thevisitorscrutinisedhimandpronouncedimpressively: “PyotrPetrovitchLuzhin.IbelieveIhavereasontohopethatmynameisnotwhollyunknowntoyou?” ButRaskolnikov,whohadexpectedsomethingquitedifferent,gazedblanklyanddreamilyathim,makingnoreply,asthoughheheardthenameofPyotrPetrovitchforthefirsttime. “Isitpossiblethatyoucanuptothepresenthavereceivednoinformation?”askedPyotrPetrovitch,somewhatdisconcerted. InreplyRaskolnikovsanklanguidlybackonthepillow,puthishandsbehindhisheadandgazedattheceiling. AlookofdismaycameintoLuzhin’sface. ZossimovandRazumihinstaredathimmoreinquisitivelythanever,andatlastheshowedunmistakablesignsofembarrassment. “Ihadpresumedandcalculated,”hefaltered,“thataletterpostedmorethantendays,ifnotafortnightago…” “Isay,whyareyoustandinginthedoorway?”Razumihininterruptedsuddenly.“Ifyou’vesomethingtosay,sitdown.Nastasyaandyouaresocrowded.Nastasya,makeroom.Here’sachair,threadyourwayin!” Hemovedhischairbackfromthetable,madealittlespacebetweenthetableandhisknees,andwaitedinarathercrampedpositionforthevisitorto“threadhiswayin.” Theminutewassochosenthatitwasimpossibletorefuse,andthevisitorsqueezedhiswaythrough,hurryingandstumbling. Reachingthechair,hesatdown,lookingsuspiciouslyatRazumihin. “Noneedtobenervous,”thelatterblurtedout. “Rodyahasbeenillforthelastfivedaysanddeliriousforthree,butnowheisrecoveringandhasgotanappetite. Thisishisdoctor,whohasjusthadalookathim. IamacomradeofRodya’s,likehim,formerlyastudent,andnowIamnursinghim;sodon’tyoutakeanynoticeofus,butgoonwithyourbusiness.” “Thankyou.ButshallInotdisturbtheinvalidbymypresenceandconversation?”PyotrPetrovitchaskedofZossimov. “N-no,”mumbledZossimov;“youmayamusehim.”Heyawnedagain. “Hehasbeenconsciousalongtime,sincethemorning,”wentonRazumihin,whosefamiliarityseemedsomuchlikeunaffectedgood-naturethatPyotrPetrovitchbegantobemorecheerful,partly,perhaps,becausethisshabbyandimpudentpersonhadintroducedhimselfasastudent. “Hm!”Razumihinclearedhisthroatloudly.Luzhinlookedathiminquiringly. Luzhinshruggedhisshoulders. “YourmammahadcommencedalettertoyouwhileIwassojourninginherneighbourhood. OnmyarrivalhereIpurposelyallowedafewdaystoelapsebeforecomingtoseeyou,inorderthatImightbefullyassuredthatyouwereinfullpossessionofthetidings;butnow,tomyastonishment…” “Iknow,Iknow!”Raskolnikovcriedsuddenlywithimpatientvexation.“Soyouarethefiancé?Iknow,andthat’senough!” TherewasnodoubtaboutPyotrPetrovitch’sbeingoffendedthistime,buthesaidnothing.Hemadeaviolentefforttounderstandwhatitallmeant.Therewasamoment’ssilence. MeanwhileRaskolnikov,whohadturnedalittletowardshimwhenheanswered,begansuddenlystaringathimagainwithmarkedcuriosity,asthoughhehadnothadagoodlookathimyet,orasthoughsomethingnewhadstruckhim;herosefromhispillowonpurposetostareathim. TherecertainlywassomethingpeculiarinPyotrPetrovitch’swholeappearance,somethingwhichseemedtojustifythetitleof“fiancé”sounceremoniouslyappliedtohim. Inthefirstplace,itwasevident,fartoomuchsoindeed,thatPyotrPetrovitchhadmadeeageruseofhisfewdaysinthecapitaltogethimselfupandrighimselfoutinexpectationofhisbetrothed—aperfectlyinnocentandpermissibleproceeding,indeed. Evenhisown,perhapstoocomplacent,consciousnessoftheagreeableimprovementinhisappearancemighthavebeenforgiveninsuchcircumstances,seeingthatPyotrPetrovitchhadtakenuptheroleoffiancé. Allhisclotheswerefreshfromthetailor’sandwereallright,exceptforbeingtoonewandtoodistinctlyappropriate. Eventhestylishnewroundhathadthesamesignificance. PyotrPetrovitchtreatedittoorespectfullyandheldittoocarefullyinhishands. Theexquisitepairoflavendergloves,realLouvain,toldthesametale,ifonlyfromthefactofhisnotwearingthem,butcarryingtheminhishandforshow. LightandyouthfulcolourspredominatedinPyotrPetrovitch’sattire. Heworeacharmingsummerjacketofafawnshade,lightthintrousers,awaistcoatofthesame,newandfinelinen,acravatofthelightestcambricwithpinkstripesonit,andthebestofitwas,thisallsuitedPyotrPetrovitch. Hisveryfreshandevenhandsomefacelookedyoungerthanhisforty-fiveyearsatalltimes. Hisdark,mutton-chopwhiskersmadeanagreeablesettingonbothsides,growingthicklyuponhisshining,clean-shavenchin. Evenhishair,touchedhereandtherewithgrey,thoughithadbeencombedandcurledatahairdresser’s,didnotgivehimastupidappearance,ascurledhairusuallydoes,byinevitablysuggestingaGermanonhiswedding-day. Iftherereallywassomethingunpleasingandrepulsiveinhisrathergood-lookingandimposingcountenance,itwasduetoquiteothercauses. AfterscanningMr.Luzhinunceremoniously,Raskolnikovsmiledmalignantly,sankbackonthepillowandstaredattheceilingasbefore. ButMr.Luzhinhardenedhisheartandseemedtodeterminetotakenonoticeoftheiroddities. “Ifeelthegreatestregretatfindingyouinthissituation,”hebegan,againbreakingthesilencewithaneffort. “IfIhadbeenawareofyourillnessIshouldhavecomeearlier.Butyouknowwhatbusinessis. Ihave,too,averyimportantlegalaffairintheSenate,nottomentionotherpreoccupationswhichyoumaywellconjecture. Iamexpectingyourmammaandsisteranyminute.” Raskolnikovmadeamovementandseemedabouttospeak;hisfaceshowedsomeexcitement.PyotrPetrovitchpaused,waited,butasnothingfollowed,hewenton: ”...Anyminute.Ihavefoundalodgingforthemontheirarrival.” “Where?”askedRaskolnikovweakly. “Verynearhere,inBakaleyev’shouse.” “That’sinVoskresensky,”putinRazumihin.“Therearetwostoreysofrooms,letbyamerchantcalledYushin;I’vebeenthere.” “Adisgustingplace—filthy,stinkingand,what’smore,ofdoubtfulcharacter. Thingshavehappenedthere,andthereareallsortsofqueerpeoplelivingthere. AndIwentthereaboutascandalousbusiness.It’scheap,though…” “Icouldnot,ofcourse,findoutsomuchaboutit,forIamastrangerinPetersburgmyself,”PyotrPetrovitchrepliedhuffily. “However,thetworoomsareexceedinglyclean,andasitisforsoshortatime…Ihavealreadytakenapermanent,thatis,ourfutureflat,”hesaid,addressingRaskolnikov,“andIamhavingitdoneup. AndmeanwhileIammyselfcrampedforroominalodgingwithmyfriendAndreySemyonovitchLebeziatnikov,intheflatofMadameLippevechsel;itwashewhotoldmeofBakaleyev’shouse,too…” “Lebeziatnikov?”saidRaskolnikovslowly,asifrecallingsomething. “Yes,AndreySemyonovitchLebeziatnikov,aclerkintheMinistry.Doyouknowhim?” “Yes…no,”Raskolnikovanswered. “Excuseme,Ifanciedsofromyourinquiry.Iwasoncehisguardian….Averyniceyoungmanandadvanced. Iliketomeetyoungpeople:onelearnsnewthingsfromthem.” Luzhinlookedroundhopefullyatthemall. “Howdoyoumean?”askedRazumihin. “Inthemostseriousandessentialmatters,”PyotrPetrovitchreplied,asthoughdelightedatthequestion. “Yousee,it’stenyearssinceIvisitedPetersburg. Allthenovelties,reforms,ideashavereachedusintheprovinces,buttoseeitallmoreclearlyonemustbeinPetersburg. Andit’smynotionthatyouobserveandlearnmostbywatchingtheyoungergeneration.AndIconfessIamdelighted…” “Yourquestionisawideone.Imaybemistaken,butIfancyIfindclearerviews,more,sotosay,criticism,morepracticality…” “That’strue,”Zossimovletdrop. “Nonsense!There’snopracticality.”Razumihinflewathim. “Practicalityisadifficultthingtofind;itdoesnotdropdownfromheaven. Andforthelasttwohundredyearswehavebeendivorcedfromallpracticallife. Ideas,ifyoulike,arefermenting,”hesaidtoPyotrPetrovitch,“anddesireforgoodexists,thoughit’sinachildishform,andhonestyyoumayfind,althoughtherearecrowdsofbrigands.Anyway,there’snopracticality.Practicalitygoeswellshod.” “Idon’tagreewithyou,”PyotrPetrovitchreplied,withevidentenjoyment. “Ofcourse,peopledogetcarriedawayandmakemistakes,butonemusthaveindulgence;thosemistakesaremerelyevidenceofenthusiasmforthecauseandofabnormalexternalenvironment. Iflittlehasbeendone,thetimehasbeenbutshort;ofmeansIwillnotspeak. It’smypersonalview,ifyoucaretoknow,thatsomethinghasbeenaccomplishedalready. Newvaluableideas,newvaluableworksarecirculatingintheplaceofourolddreamyandromanticauthors. Literatureistakingamaturerform,manyinjuriousprejudicehavebeenrootedupandturnedintoridicule…. Inaword,wehavecutourselvesoffirrevocablyfromthepast,andthat,tomythinking,isagreatthing…” “He’slearntitbyhearttoshowoff!”Raskolnikovpronouncedsuddenly. “What?”askedPyotrPetrovitch,notcatchinghiswords;buthereceivednoreply. “That’salltrue,”Zossimovhastenedtointerpose. “Isn’titso?”PyotrPetrovitchwenton,glancingaffablyatZossimov. “Youmustadmit,”hewenton,addressingRazumihinwithashadeoftriumphandsuperciliousness—healmostadded“youngman”—”thatthereisanadvance,or,astheysaynow,progressinthenameofscienceandeconomictruth…” “No,notacommonplace!Hitherto,forinstance,ifIweretold,‘lovethyneighbour,’whatcameofit?” PyotrPetrovitchwenton,perhapswithexcessivehaste. “Itcametomytearingmycoatinhalftosharewithmyneighbourandwebothwerelefthalfnaked. AsaRussianproverbhasit,‘Catchseveralharesandyouwon’tcatchone.’ Sciencenowtellsus,loveyourselfbeforeallmen,foreverythingintheworldrestsonself-interest. Youloveyourselfandmanageyourownaffairsproperlyandyourcoatremainswhole. Economictruthaddsthatthebetterprivateaffairsareorganisedinsociety—themorewholecoats,sotosay—thefirmerareitsfoundationsandthebetteristhecommonwelfareorganisedtoo. Therefore,inacquiringwealthsolelyandexclusivelyformyself,Iamacquiring,sotospeak,forall,andhelpingtobringtopassmyneighbour’sgettingalittlemorethanatorncoat;andthatnotfromprivate,personalliberality,butasaconsequenceofthegeneraladvance. Theideaissimple,butunhappilyithasbeenalongtimereachingus,beinghinderedbyidealismandsentimentality. Andyetitwouldseemtowantverylittlewittoperceiveit…” “Excuseme,I’veverylittlewitmyself,”Razumihincutinsharply,“andsoletusdropit. Ibeganthisdiscussionwithanobject,butI’vegrownsosickduringthelastthreeyearsofthischatteringtoamuseoneself,ofthisincessantflowofcommonplaces,alwaysthesame,that,byJove,Iblushevenwhenotherpeopletalklikethat. Youareinahurry,nodoubt,toexhibityouracquirements;andIdon’tblameyou,that’squitepardonable. Ionlywantedtofindoutwhatsortofmanyouare,forsomanyunscrupulouspeoplehavegotholdoftheprogressivecauseoflateandhavesodistortedintheirowninterestseverythingtheytouched,thatthewholecausehasbeendraggedinthemire.That’senough!” “Excuseme,sir,”saidLuzhin,affronted,andspeakingwithexcessivedignity.“DoyoumeantosuggestsounceremoniouslythatItoo…” “Oh,mydearsir…howcouldI?...Come,that’senough,”Razumihinconcluded,andheturnedabruptlytoZossimovtocontinuetheirpreviousconversation. PyotrPetrovitchhadthegoodsensetoacceptthedisavowal.Hemadeuphismindtotakeleaveinanotherminuteortwo. “Itrustouracquaintance,”hesaid,addressingRaskolnikov,“may,uponyourrecoveryandinviewofthecircumstancesofwhichyouareaware,becomecloser…Aboveall,Ihopeforyourreturntohealth…” Raskolnikovdidnoteventurnhishead.PyotrPetrovitchbegangettingupfromhischair. “Oneofhercustomersmusthavekilledher,”Zossimovdeclaredpositively. “Notadoubtofit,”repliedRazumihin.“Porfirydoesn’tgivehisopinion,butisexaminingallwhohaveleftpledgeswithherthere.” “Examiningthem?”Raskolnikovaskedaloud. “Howdoeshegetholdofthem?”askedZossimov. “Kochhasgiventhenamesofsomeofthem,othernamesareonthewrappersofthepledgesandsomehavecomeforwardofthemselves.” “Itmusthavebeenacunningandpractisedruffian!Theboldnessofit!Thecoolness!” “That’sjustwhatitwasn’t!”interposedRazumihin. “That’swhatthrowsyoualloffthescent. ButImaintainthatheisnotcunning,notpractised,andprobablythiswashisfirstcrime! Thesuppositionthatitwasacalculatedcrimeandacunningcriminaldoesn’twork. Supposehimtohavebeeninexperienced,andit’sclearthatitwasonlyachancethatsavedhim—andchancemaydoanything. Why,hedidnotforeseeobstacles,perhaps!Andhowdidhesettowork? Hetookjewelsworthtenortwentyroubles,stuffinghispocketswiththem,ransackedtheoldwoman’strunks,herrags—andtheyfoundfifteenhundredroubles,besidesnotes,inaboxinthetopdrawerofthechest! Hedidnotknowhowtorob;hecouldonlymurder. Itwashisfirstcrime,Iassureyou,hisfirstcrime;helosthishead. Andhegotoffmorebyluckthangoodcounsel!” “Youaretalkingofthemurderoftheoldpawnbroker,Ibelieve?” PyotrPetrovitchputin,addressingZossimov. Hewasstanding,hatandglovesinhand,butbeforedepartinghefeltdisposedtothrowoffafewmoreintellectualphrases. Hewasevidentlyanxioustomakeafavourableimpressionandhisvanityovercamehisprudence. “Oh,yes,beingintheneighbourhood.” “Ican’tsaythat;butanothercircumstanceinterestsmeinthecase—thewholequestion,sotosay. Nottospeakofthefactthatcrimehasbeengreatlyontheincreaseamongthelowerclassesduringthelastfiveyears,nottospeakofthecasesofrobberyandarsoneverywhere,whatstrikesmeasthestrangestthingisthatinthehigherclasses,too,crimeisincreasingproportionately. Inoneplaceonehearsofastudent’srobbingthemailonthehighroad;inanotherplacepeopleofgoodsocialpositionforgefalsebanknotes;inMoscowoflateawholeganghasbeencapturedwhousedtoforgelotterytickets,andoneoftheringleaderswasalecturerinuniversalhistory;thenoursecretaryabroadwasmurderedfromsomeobscuremotiveofgain…. Andifthisoldwoman,thepawnbroker,hasbeenmurderedbysomeoneofahigherclassinsociety—forpeasantsdon’tpawngoldtrinkets—howarewetoexplainthisdemoralisationofthecivilisedpartofoursociety?” “Therearemanyeconomicchanges,”putinZossimov. “Howarewetoexplainit?”Razumihincaughthimup.“Itmightbeexplainedbyourinveterateimpracticality.” “WhatanswerhadyourlecturerinMoscowtomaketothequestionwhyhewasforgingnotes? ‘Everybodyisgettingrichonewayoranother,soIwanttomakehastetogetrichtoo.’ Idon’tremembertheexactwords,buttheupshotwasthathewantsmoneyfornothing,withoutwaitingorworking! We’vegrownusedtohavingeverythingready-made,towalkingoncrutches,tohavingourfoodchewedforus. Thenthegreathourstruck,[*]andeverymanshowedhimselfinhistruecolours.” [*]Theemancipationoftheserfsin1861ismeant.--TRANSLATOR'SNOTE. “Butmorality?Andsotospeak,principles…” “Butwhydoyouworryaboutit?”Raskolnikovinterposedsuddenly.“It’sinaccordancewithyourtheory!” “Inaccordancewithmytheory?” “Why,carryoutlogicallythetheoryyouwereadvocatingjustnow,anditfollowsthatpeoplemaybekilled…” “Uponmyword!”criedLuzhin. “No,that’snotso,”putinZossimov. Raskolnikovlaywithawhitefaceandtwitchingupperlip,breathingpainfully. “There’sameasureinallthings,”Luzhinwentonsuperciliously.“Economicideasarenotanincitementtomurder,andonehasbuttosuppose…” “Andisittrue,”Raskolnikovinterposedoncemoresuddenly,againinavoicequiveringwithfuryanddelightininsultinghim,“isittruethatyoutoldyourfiancé...withinanhourofheracceptance,thatwhatpleasedyoumost…wasthatshewasabeggar…becauseitwasbettertoraiseawifefrompoverty,sothatyoumayhavecompletecontroloverher,andreproachherwithyourbeingherbenefactor?” “Uponmyword,”Luzhincriedwrathfullyandirritably,crimsonwithconfusion,“todistortmywordsinthisway! Excuseme,allowmetoassureyouthatthereportwhichhasreachedyou,orrather,letmesay,hasbeenconveyedtoyou,hasnofoundationintruth,andI…suspectwho…inaword…thisarrow…inaword,yourmamma…Sheseemedtomeinotherthings,withallherexcellentqualities,ofasomewhathigh-flownandromanticwayofthinking…. ButIwasathousandmilesfromsupposingthatshewouldmisunderstandandmisrepresentthingsinsofancifulaway….Andindeed…indeed…” “Itellyouwhat,”criedRaskolnikov,raisinghimselfonhispillowandfixinghispiercing,glitteringeyesuponhim,“Itellyouwhat.” “What?”Luzhinstoodstill,waitingwithadefiantandoffendedface.Silencelastedforsomeseconds. “Why,ifeveragain…youdaretomentionasingleword…aboutmymother…Ishallsendyouflyingdownstairs!” “What’sthematterwithyou?”criedRazumihin. “Sothat’showitis?”Luzhinturnedpaleandbithislip. “Letmetellyou,sir,”hebegandeliberately,doinghisutmosttorestrainhimselfbutbreathinghard,“atthefirstmomentIsawyouyouwereill-disposedtome,butIremainedhereonpurposetofindoutmore. Icouldforgiveagreatdealinasickmanandaconnection,butyou…neverafterthis…” “Iamnotill,”criedRaskolnikov. ButLuzhinwasalreadyleavingwithoutfinishinghisspeech,squeezingbetweenthetableandthechair;Razumihingotupthistimetolethimpass. Withoutglancingatanyone,andnotevennoddingtoZossimov,whohadforsometimebeenmakingsignstohimtoletthesickmanalone,hewentout,liftinghishattothelevelofhisshoulderstoavoidcrushingitashestoopedtogooutofthedoor. Andeventhecurveofhisspinewasexpressiveofthehorribleinsulthehadreceived. “Howcouldyou—howcouldyou!”Razumihinsaid,shakinghisheadinperplexity. “Letmealone—letmealoneallofyou!”Raskolnikovcriedinafrenzy.“Willyoueverleaveofftormentingme?Iamnotafraidofyou!Iamnotafraidofanyone,anyonenow!Getawayfromme!Iwanttobealone,alone,alone!” “Comealong,”saidZossimov,noddingtoRazumihin. “Butwecan’tleavehimlikethis!” “Comealong,”Zossimovrepeatedinsistently,andhewentout.Razumihinthoughtaminuteandrantoovertakehim. “Itmightbeworsenottoobeyhim,”saidZossimovonthestairs.“Hemustn’tbeirritated.” “What’sthematterwithhim?” “Ifonlyhecouldgetsomefavourableshock,that’swhatwoulddoit!Atfirsthewasbetter…. Youknowhehasgotsomethingonhismind!Somefixedideaweighingonhim…. Iamverymuchafraidso;hemusthave!” “Perhapsit’sthatgentleman,PyotrPetrovitch.FromhisconversationIgatherheisgoingtomarryhissister,andthathehadreceivedaletteraboutitjustbeforehisillness….” “Yes,confoundtheman!hemayhaveupsetthecasealtogether. Buthaveyounoticed,hetakesnointerestinanything,hedoesnotrespondtoanythingexceptonepointonwhichheseemsexcited—that’sthemurder?” “Yes,yes,”Razumihinagreed,“Inoticedthat,too.Heisinterested,frightened.Itgavehimashockonthedayhewasillinthepoliceoffice;hefainted.” “TellmemoreaboutthatthiseveningandI’lltellyousomethingafterwards.Heinterestsmeverymuch!InhalfanhourI’llgoandseehimagain….There’llbenoinflammationthough.” “Thanks!AndI’llwaitwithPashenkameantimeandwillkeepwatchonhimthroughNastasya….” Raskolnikov,leftalone,lookedwithimpatienceandmiseryatNastasya,butshestilllingered. “Won’tyouhavesometeanow?”sheasked. “Later!Iamsleepy!Leaveme.” Heturnedabruptlytothewall;Nastasyawentout.