English
Thiswasagentlemannolongeryoung,ofastiffandportlyappearance,andacautiousandsourcountenance.
Hebeganbystoppingshortinthedoorway,staringabouthimwithoffensiveandundisguisedastonishment,asthoughaskinghimselfwhatsortofplacehehadcometo.
Mistrustfullyandwithanaffectationofbeingalarmedandalmostaffronted,hescannedRaskolnikov’slowandnarrowcabin.
WiththesameamazementhestaredatRaskolnikov,wholayundressed,dishevelled,unwashed,onhismiserabledirtysofa,lookingfixedlyathim.
Thenwiththesamedeliberationhescrutinisedtheuncouth,unkemptfigureandunshavenfaceofRazumihin,wholookedhimboldlyandinquiringlyinthefacewithoutrisingfromhisseat.
Aconstrainedsilencelastedforacoupleofminutes,andthen,asmightbeexpected,somescene-shiftingtookplace.
Reflecting,probablyfromcertainfairlyunmistakablesigns,thathewouldgetnothinginthiscabinbyattemptingtooverawethem,thegentlemansoftenedsomewhat,andcivilly,thoughwithsomeseverity,emphasisingeverysyllableofhisquestion,addressedZossimov:
RodionRomanovitchRaskolnikov,astudent,orformerlyastudent?
Zossimovmadeaslightmovement,andwouldhaveanswered,hadnotRazumihinanticipatedhim.
Hereheislyingonthesofa!Whatdoyouwant?
Thisfamiliarwhatdoyouwantseemedtocutthegroundfromthefeetofthepompousgentleman.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.
WhenZossimovsaidThisisRaskolnikovhejumpedupquickly,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,andwaitedinarathercrampedpositionforthevisitortothreadhiswayin.
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.
Yourmamma,beganLuzhin.
Hm!Razumihinclearedhisthroatloudly.Luzhinlookedathiminquiringly.
That’sallright,goon.
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,somethingwhichseemedtojustifythetitleoffiancésounceremoniouslyappliedtohim.
Inthefirstplace,itwasevident,fartoomuchsoindeed,thatPyotrPetrovitchhadmadeeageruseofhisfewdaysinthecapitaltogethimselfupandrighimselfoutinexpectationofhisbetrothedaperfectlyinnocentandpermissibleproceeding,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.
Yes,rooms
Adisgustingplacefilthy,stinkingand,what’smore,ofdoubtfulcharacter.
Thingshavehappenedthere,andthereareallsortsofqueerpeoplelivingthere.
AndIwentthereaboutascandalousbusiness.It’scheap,though
Icouldnot,ofcourse,findoutsomuchaboutit,forIamastrangerinPetersburgmyself,PyotrPetrovitchrepliedhuffily.
However,thetworoomsareexceedinglyclean,andasitisforsoshortatimeIhavealreadytakenapermanent,thatis,ourfutureflat,hesaid,addressingRaskolnikov,andIamhavingitdoneup.
AndmeanwhileIammyselfcrampedforroominalodgingwithmyfriendAndreySemyonovitchLebeziatnikov,intheflatofMadameLippevechsel;itwashewhotoldmeofBakaleyev’shouse,too
Lebeziatnikov?saidRaskolnikovslowly,asifrecallingsomething.
Yes,AndreySemyonovitchLebeziatnikov,aclerkintheMinistry.Doyouknowhim?
Yesno,Raskolnikovanswered.
Excuseme,Ifanciedsofromyourinquiry.Iwasoncehisguardian.Averyniceyoungmanandadvanced.
Iliketomeetyoungpeople:onelearnsnewthingsfromthem.
Luzhinlookedroundhopefullyatthemall.
Howdoyoumean?askedRazumihin.
Inthemostseriousandessentialmatters,PyotrPetrovitchreplied,asthoughdelightedatthequestion.
Yousee,it’stenyearssinceIvisitedPetersburg.
Allthenovelties,reforms,ideashavereachedusintheprovinces,buttoseeitallmoreclearlyonemustbeinPetersburg.
Andit’smynotionthatyouobserveandlearnmostbywatchingtheyoungergeneration.AndIconfessIamdelighted
Atwhat?
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,addressingRazumihinwithashadeoftriumphandsuperciliousnesshealmostaddedyoungmanthatthereisanadvance,or,astheysaynow,progressinthenameofscienceandeconomictruth
Acommonplace.
No,notacommonplace!Hitherto,forinstance,ifIweretold,lovethyneighbour,’whatcameofit?
PyotrPetrovitchwenton,perhapswithexcessivehaste.
Itcametomytearingmycoatinhalftosharewithmyneighbourandwebothwerelefthalfnaked.
AsaRussianproverbhasit,Catchseveralharesandyouwon’tcatchone.’
Sciencenowtellsus,loveyourselfbeforeallmen,foreverythingintheworldrestsonself-interest.
Youloveyourselfandmanageyourownaffairsproperlyandyourcoatremainswhole.
Economictruthaddsthatthebetterprivateaffairsareorganisedinsocietythemorewholecoats,sotosaythefirmerareitsfoundationsandthebetteristhecommonwelfareorganisedtoo.
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,mydearsirhowcouldI?...Come,that’senough,Razumihinconcluded,andheturnedabruptlytoZossimovtocontinuetheirpreviousconversation.
PyotrPetrovitchhadthegoodsensetoacceptthedisavowal.Hemadeuphismindtotakeleaveinanotherminuteortwo.
Itrustouracquaintance,hesaid,addressingRaskolnikov,may,uponyourrecoveryandinviewofthecircumstancesofwhichyouareaware,becomecloserAboveall,Ihopeforyourreturntohealth
Raskolnikovdidnoteventurnhishead.PyotrPetrovitchbegangettingupfromhischair.
Oneofhercustomersmusthavekilledher,Zossimovdeclaredpositively.
Notadoubtofit,repliedRazumihin.Porfirydoesn’tgivehisopinion,butisexaminingallwhohaveleftpledgeswithherthere.
Examiningthem?Raskolnikovaskedaloud.
Yes.Whatthen?
Nothing.
Howdoeshegetholdofthem?askedZossimov.
Kochhasgiventhenamesofsomeofthem,othernamesareonthewrappersofthepledgesandsomehavecomeforwardofthemselves.
Itmusthavebeenacunningandpractisedruffian!Theboldnessofit!Thecoolness!
That’sjustwhatitwasn’t!interposedRazumihin.
That’swhatthrowsyoualloffthescent.
ButImaintainthatheisnotcunning,notpractised,andprobablythiswashisfirstcrime!
Thesuppositionthatitwasacalculatedcrimeandacunningcriminaldoesn’twork.
Supposehimtohavebeeninexperienced,andit’sclearthatitwasonlyachancethatsavedhimandchancemaydoanything.
Why,hedidnotforeseeobstacles,perhaps!Andhowdidhesettowork?
Hetookjewelsworthtenortwentyroubles,stuffinghispocketswiththem,ransackedtheoldwoman’strunks,herragsandtheyfoundfifteenhundredroubles,besidesnotes,inaboxinthetopdrawerofthechest!
Hedidnotknowhowtorob;hecouldonlymurder.
Itwashisfirstcrime,Iassureyou,hisfirstcrime;helosthishead.
Andhegotoffmorebyluckthangoodcounsel!
Youaretalkingofthemurderoftheoldpawnbroker,Ibelieve?
PyotrPetrovitchputin,addressingZossimov.
Hewasstanding,hatandglovesinhand,butbeforedepartinghefeltdisposedtothrowoffafewmoreintellectualphrases.
Hewasevidentlyanxioustomakeafavourableimpressionandhisvanityovercamehisprudence.
Yes.You’veheardofit?
Oh,yes,beingintheneighbourhood.
Doyouknowthedetails?
Ican’tsaythat;butanothercircumstanceinterestsmeinthecasethewholequestion,sotosay.
Nottospeakofthefactthatcrimehasbeengreatlyontheincreaseamongthelowerclassesduringthelastfiveyears,nottospeakofthecasesofrobberyandarsoneverywhere,whatstrikesmeasthestrangestthingisthatinthehigherclasses,too,crimeisincreasingproportionately.
Inoneplaceonehearsofastudent’srobbingthemailonthehighroad;inanotherplacepeopleofgoodsocialpositionforgefalsebanknotes;inMoscowoflateawholeganghasbeencapturedwhousedtoforgelotterytickets,andoneoftheringleaderswasalecturerinuniversalhistory;thenoursecretaryabroadwasmurderedfromsomeobscuremotiveofgain.
Andifthisoldwoman,thepawnbroker,hasbeenmurderedbysomeoneofahigherclassinsocietyforpeasantsdon’tpawngoldtrinketshowarewetoexplainthisdemoralisationofthecivilisedpartofoursociety?
Therearemanyeconomicchanges,putinZossimov.
Howarewetoexplainit?Razumihincaughthimup.Itmightbeexplainedbyourinveterateimpracticality.
Howdoyoumean?
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,thatwhatpleasedyoumostwasthatshewasabeggarbecauseitwasbettertoraiseawifefrompoverty,sothatyoumayhavecompletecontroloverher,andreproachherwithyourbeingherbenefactor?
Uponmyword,Luzhincriedwrathfullyandirritably,crimsonwithconfusion,todistortmywordsinthisway!
Excuseme,allowmetoassureyouthatthereportwhichhasreachedyou,orrather,letmesay,hasbeenconveyedtoyou,hasnofoundationintruth,andIsuspectwhoinawordthisarrowinaword,yourmammaSheseemedtomeinotherthings,withallherexcellentqualities,ofasomewhathigh-flownandromanticwayofthinking.
ButIwasathousandmilesfromsupposingthatshewouldmisunderstandandmisrepresentthingsinsofancifulaway.Andindeedindeed
Itellyouwhat,criedRaskolnikov,raisinghimselfonhispillowandfixinghispiercing,glitteringeyesuponhim,Itellyouwhat.
What?Luzhinstoodstill,waitingwithadefiantandoffendedface.Silencelastedforsomeseconds.
Why,ifeveragainyoudaretomentionasinglewordaboutmymotherIshallsendyouflyingdownstairs!
What’sthematterwithyou?criedRazumihin.
Sothat’showitis?Luzhinturnedpaleandbithislip.
Letmetellyou,sir,hebegandeliberately,doinghisutmosttorestrainhimselfbutbreathinghard,atthefirstmomentIsawyouyouwereill-disposedtome,butIremainedhereonpurposetofindoutmore.
Icouldforgiveagreatdealinasickmanandaconnection,butyouneverafterthis
Iamnotill,criedRaskolnikov.
Somuchtheworse
Gotohell!
ButLuzhinwasalreadyleavingwithoutfinishinghisspeech,squeezingbetweenthetableandthechair;Razumihingotupthistimetolethimpass.
Withoutglancingatanyone,andnotevennoddingtoZossimov,whohadforsometimebeenmakingsignstohimtoletthesickmanalone,hewentout,liftinghishattothelevelofhisshoulderstoavoidcrushingitashestoopedtogooutofthedoor.
Andeventhecurveofhisspinewasexpressiveofthehorribleinsulthehadreceived.
Howcouldyouhowcouldyou!Razumihinsaid,shakinghisheadinperplexity.
Letmealoneletmealoneallofyou!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,hedoesnotrespondtoanythingexceptonepointonwhichheseemsexcitedthat’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.
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