English
Raskolnikovwasalreadyenteringtheroom.
Hecameinlookingasthoughhehadtheutmostdifficultynottoburstoutlaughingagain.
BehindhimRazumihinstrodeingawkyandawkward,shamefacedandredasapeony,withanutterlycrestfallenandferociousexpression.
HisfaceandwholefigurereallywereridiculousatthatmomentandamplyjustifiedRaskolnikov’slaughter.
Raskolnikov,notwaitingforanintroduction,bowedtoPorfiryPetrovitch,whostoodinthemiddleoftheroomlookinginquiringlyatthem.
Heheldouthishandandshookhands,stillapparentlymakingdesperateeffortstosubduehismirthandutterafewwordstointroducehimself.
ButhehadnosoonersucceededinassumingaseriousairandmutteringsomethingwhenhesuddenlyglancedagainasthoughaccidentallyatRazumihin,andcouldnolongercontrolhimself:hisstifledlaughterbrokeoutthemoreirresistiblythemorehetriedtorestrainit.
TheextraordinaryferocitywithwhichRazumihinreceivedthis“spontaneous”mirthgavethewholescenetheappearanceofmostgenuinefunandnaturalness.
Razumihinstrengthenedthisimpressionasthoughonpurpose.
“Fool!Youfiend,”heroared,wavinghisarmwhichatoncestruckalittleroundtablewithanemptytea-glassonit.Everythingwassentflyingandcrashing.
“Butwhybreakchairs,gentlemen?Youknowit’salosstotheCrown,”PorfiryPetrovitchquotedgaily.
Raskolnikovwasstilllaughing,withhishandinPorfiryPetrovitch’s,butanxiousnottooverdoit,awaitedtherightmomenttoputanaturalendtoit.
Razumihin,completelyputtoconfusionbyupsettingthetableandsmashingtheglass,gazedgloomilyatthefragments,cursedandturnedsharplytothewindowwherehestoodlookingoutwithhisbacktothecompanywithafiercelyscowlingcountenance,seeingnothing.
PorfiryPetrovitchlaughedandwasreadytogoonlaughing,butobviouslylookedforexplanations.
Zametovhadbeensittinginthecorner,butheroseatthevisitors’entranceandwasstandinginexpectationwithasmileonhislips,thoughhelookedwithsurpriseandevenitseemedincredulityatthewholesceneandatRaskolnikovwithacertainembarrassment.
Zametov’sunexpectedpresencestruckRaskolnikovunpleasantly.
“I’vegottothinkofthat,”hethought.“Excuseme,please,”hebegan,affectingextremeembarrassment.“Raskolnikov.”
“Notatall,verypleasanttoseeyou…andhowpleasantlyyou’vecomein….Why,won’theevensaygood-morning?”PorfiryPetrovitchnoddedatRazumihin.
“UponmyhonourIdon’tknowwhyheisinsucharagewithme.IonlytoldhimaswecamealongthathewaslikeRomeo…andprovedit.Andthatwasall,Ithink!”
“Pig!”ejaculatedRazumihin,withoutturninground.
“Theremusthavebeenverygravegroundsforit,ifheissofuriousattheword,”Porfirylaughed.
“Oh,yousharplawyer!...Damnyouall!”
snappedRazumihin,andsuddenlyburstingoutlaughinghimself,hewentuptoPorfirywithamorecheerfulfaceasthoughnothinghadhappened.“That’lldo!Weareallfools.Tocometobusiness.
ThisismyfriendRodionRomanovitchRaskolnikov;inthefirstplacehehasheardofyouandwantstomakeyouracquaintance,andsecondly,hehasalittlematterofbusinesswithyou.Bah!Zametov,whatbroughtyouhere?Haveyoumetbefore?Haveyouknowneachotherlong?”
“Whatdoesthismean?”thoughtRaskolnikovuneasily.
Zametovseemedtakenaback,butnotverymuchso.
“Why,itwasatyourroomswemetyesterday,”hesaideasily.
“ThenIhavebeensparedthetrouble.Alllastweekhewasbeggingmetointroducehimtoyou.Porfiryandyouhavesniffedeachotheroutwithoutme.Whereisyourtobacco?”
PorfiryPetrovitchwaswearingadressing-gown,verycleanlinen,andtrodden-downslippers.
Hewasamanofaboutfiveandthirty,short,stouteventocorpulence,andcleanshaven.
Heworehishaircutshortandhadalargeroundhead,particularlyprominentattheback.
Hissoft,round,rathersnub-nosedfacewasofasicklyyellowishcolour,buthadavigorousandratherironicalexpression.
Itwouldhavebeengood-naturedexceptforalookintheeyes,whichshonewithawatery,mawkishlightunderalmostwhite,blinkingeyelashes.
Theexpressionofthoseeyeswasstrangelyoutofkeepingwithhissomewhatwomanishfigure,andgaveitsomethingfarmoreseriousthancouldbeguessedatfirstsight.
AssoonasPorfiryPetrovitchheardthathisvisitorhadalittlematterofbusinesswithhim,hebeggedhimtositdownonthesofaandsatdownhimselfontheotherend,waitingforhimtoexplainhisbusiness,withthatcarefulandover-seriousattentionwhichisatonceoppressiveandembarrassing,especiallytoastranger,andespeciallyifwhatyouarediscussingisinyouropinionoffartoolittleimportanceforsuchexceptionalsolemnity.
ButinbriefandcoherentphrasesRaskolnikovexplainedhisbusinessclearlyandexactly,andwassowellsatisfiedwithhimselfthatheevensucceededintakingagoodlookatPorfiry.
PorfiryPetrovitchdidnotoncetakehiseyesoffhim.
Razumihin,sittingoppositeatthesametable,listenedwarmlyandimpatiently,lookingfromonetotheothereverymomentwithratherexcessiveinterest.
“Fool,”Raskolnikovsworetohimself.
“Youhavetogiveinformationtothepolice,”Porfiryreplied,withamostbusinesslikeair,“thathavinglearntofthisincident,thatisofthemurder,youbegtoinformthelawyerinchargeofthecasethatsuchandsuchthingsbelongtoyou,andthatyoudesiretoredeemthem…or…buttheywillwritetoyou.”
“That’sjustthepoint,thatatthepresentmoment,”Raskolnikovtriedhisutmosttofeignembarrassment,“Iamnotquiteinfunds…andeventhistriflingsumisbeyondme…Ionlywanted,yousee,forthepresenttodeclarethatthethingsaremine,andthatwhenIhavemoney….”
“That’snomatter,”answeredPorfiryPetrovitch,receivinghisexplanationofhispecuniarypositioncoldly,“butyoucan,ifyouprefer,writestraighttome,tosay,thathavingbeeninformedofthematter,andclaimingsuchandsuchasyourproperty,youbeg…”
“Onanordinarysheetofpaper?”Raskolnikovinterruptedeagerly,againinterestedinthefinancialsideofthequestion.
“Oh,themostordinary,”andsuddenlyPorfiryPetrovitchlookedwithobviousironyathim,screwinguphiseyesand,asitwere,winkingathim.
ButperhapsitwasRaskolnikov’sfancy,foritalllastedbutamoment.
Therewascertainlysomethingofthesort,Raskolnikovcouldhaveswornhewinkedathim,goodnessknowswhy.
“Heknows,”flashedthroughhismindlikelightning.
“Forgivemytroublingyouaboutsuchtrifles,”hewenton,alittledisconcerted,“thethingsareonlyworthfiveroubles,butIprizethemparticularlyforthesakeofthosefromwhomtheycametome,andImustconfessthatIwasalarmedwhenIheard…”
“That’swhyyouweresomuchstruckwhenImentionedtoZossimovthatPorfirywasinquiringforeveryonewhohadpledges!”Razumihinputinwithobviousintention.
Thiswasreallyunbearable.Raskolnikovcouldnothelpglancingathimwithaflashofvindictiveangerinhisblackeyes,butimmediatelyrecollectedhimself.
“Youseemtobejeeringatme,brother?”
hesaidtohim,withawell-feignedirritability.
“IdaresayIdoseemtoyouabsurdlyanxiousaboutsuchtrash;butyoumustn’tthinkmeselfishorgraspingforthat,andthesetwothingsmaybeanythingbuttrashinmyeyes.
Itoldyoujustnowthatthesilverwatch,thoughit’snotworthacent,istheonlythingleftusofmyfather’s.
Youmaylaughatme,butmymotherishere,”heturnedsuddenlytoPorfiry,“andifsheknew,”heturnedagainhurriedlytoRazumihin,carefullymakinghisvoicetremble,“thatthewatchwaslost,shewouldbeindespair!Youknowwhatwomenare!”
“Notabitofit!Ididn’tmeanthatatall!Quitethecontrary!”shoutedRazumihindistressed.
“Wasitright?Wasitnatural?DidIoverdoit?”Raskolnikovaskedhimselfinatremor.“WhydidIsaythataboutwomen?”
“Oh,yourmotheriswithyou?”PorfiryPetrovitchinquired.
“Yes.”
“Whendidshecome?”
“Lastnight.”
Porfirypausedasthoughreflecting.
“Yourthingswouldnotinanycasebelost,”hewentoncalmlyandcoldly.“Ihavebeenexpectingyouhereforsometime.”
Andasthoughthatwasamatterofnoimportance,hecarefullyofferedtheash-traytoRazumihin,whowasruthlesslyscatteringcigaretteashoverthecarpet.
Raskolnikovshuddered,butPorfirydidnotseemtobelookingathim,andwasstillconcernedwithRazumihin’scigarette.
“What?Expectinghim?Why,didyouknowthathehadpledgesthere?”criedRazumihin.
PorfiryPetrovitchaddressedhimselftoRaskolnikov.
“Yourthings,theringandthewatch,werewrappeduptogether,andonthepaperyournamewaslegiblywritteninpencil,togetherwiththedateonwhichyouleftthemwithher…”
“Howobservantyouare!”Raskolnikovsmiledawkwardly,doinghisveryutmosttolookhimstraightintheface,buthefailed,andsuddenlyadded:
“IsaythatbecauseIsupposetherewereagreatmanypledges…thatitmustbedifficulttorememberthemall….Butyourememberthemallsoclearly,and…and…”
“Stupid!Feeble!”hethought.“WhydidIaddthat?”
“Butweknowallwhohadpledges,andyouaretheonlyonewhohasn’tcomeforward,”Porfiryansweredwithhardlyperceptibleirony.
“Ihaven’tbeenquitewell.”
“Iheardthattoo.Iheard,indeed,thatyouwereingreatdistressaboutsomething.Youlookpalestill.”
“Iamnotpaleatall….No,Iamquitewell,”Raskolnikovsnappedoutrudelyandangrily,completelychanginghistone.
Hisangerwasmounting,hecouldnotrepressit.
“AndinmyangerIshallbetraymyself,”flashedthroughhismindagain.“Whyaretheytorturingme?”
“Notquitewell!”Razumihincaughthimup.“Whatnext!
Hewasunconsciousanddeliriousallyesterday.
Wouldyoubelieve,Porfiry,assoonasourbackswereturned,hedressed,thoughhecouldhardlystand,andgaveustheslipandwentoffonaspreesomewheretillmidnight,deliriousallthetime!Wouldyoubelieveit!Extraordinary!”
“Reallydelirious?Youdon’tsayso!”Porfiryshookhisheadinawomanishway.
“Nonsense!Don’tyoubelieveit!Butyoudon’tbelieveitanyway,”Raskolnikovletslipinhisanger.ButPorfiryPetrovitchdidnotseemtocatchthosestrangewords.
“Buthowcouldyouhavegoneoutifyouhadn’tbeendelirious?”Razumihingothotsuddenly.“Whatdidyougooutfor?Whatwastheobjectofit?Andwhyonthesly?
Wereyouinyoursenseswhenyoudidit?
NowthatalldangerisoverIcanspeakplainly.”
“Iwasawfullysickofthemyesterday.”RaskolnikovaddressedPorfirysuddenlywithasmileofinsolentdefiance,“Iranawayfromthemtotakelodgingswheretheywouldn’tfindme,andtookalotofmoneywithme.Mr.Zametovtheresawit.
Isay,Mr.Zametov,wasIsensibleordeliriousyesterday;settleourdispute.”
HecouldhavestrangledZametovatthatmoment,sohatefulwerehisexpressionandhissilencetohim.
“Inmyopinionyoutalkedsensiblyandevenartfully,butyouwereextremelyirritable,”Zametovpronounceddryly.
“AndNikodimFomitchwastellingmeto-day,”putinPorfiryPetrovitch,“thathemetyouverylatelastnightinthelodgingofamanwhohadbeenrunover.”
“Andthere,”saidRazumihin,“weren’tyoumadthen?
Yougaveyourlastpennytothewidowforthefuneral.
Ifyouwantedtohelp,givefifteenortwentyeven,butkeepthreeroublesforyourselfatleast,butheflungawayallthetwenty-fiveatonce!”
“MaybeIfoundatreasuresomewhereandyouknownothingofit?Sothat’swhyIwasliberalyesterday….
Mr.ZametovknowsI’vefoundatreasure!
Excuseus,please,fordisturbingyouforhalfanhourwithsuchtrivialities,”hesaid,turningtoPorfiryPetrovitch,withtremblinglips.“Weareboringyou,aren’twe?”
“Ohno,quitethecontrary,quitethecontrary!Ifonlyyouknewhowyouinterestme!It’sinterestingtolookonandlisten…andIamreallygladyouhavecomeforwardatlast.”
“Butyoumightgiveussometea!Mythroat’sdry,”criedRazumihin.
“Capitalidea!Perhapswewillallkeepyoucompany.Wouldn’tyoulike…somethingmoreessentialbeforetea?”
“Getalongwithyou!”
PorfiryPetrovitchwentouttoordertea.
Raskolnikov’sthoughtswereinawhirl.Hewasinterribleexasperation.
“Theworstofitistheydon’tdisguiseit;theydon’tcaretostandonceremony!
Andhowifyoudidn’tknowmeatall,didyoucometotalktoNikodimFomitchaboutme?
Sotheydon’tcaretohidethattheyaretrackingmelikeapackofdogs.Theysimplyspitinmyface.”Hewasshakingwithrage.
“Come,strikemeopenly,don’tplaywithmelikeacatwithamouse.
It’shardlycivil,PorfiryPetrovitch,butperhapsIwon’tallowit!
Ishallgetupandthrowthewholetruthinyouruglyfaces,andyou’llseehowIdespiseyou.”Hecouldhardlybreathe.“Andwhatifit’sonlymyfancy?
WhatifIammistaken,andthroughinexperienceIgetangryanddon’tkeepupmynastypart?Perhapsit’sallunintentional.
Alltheirphrasesaretheusualones,butthereissomethingaboutthem….
Itallmightbesaid,butthereissomething.Whydidhesaybluntly,‘Withher’?
WhydidZametovaddthatIspokeartfully?Whydotheyspeakinthattone?Yes,thetone….
Razumihinissittinghere,whydoesheseenothing?
Thatinnocentblockheadneverdoesseeanything!Feverishagain!DidPorfirywinkatmejustnow?Ofcourseit’snonsense!Whatcouldhewinkfor?
Aretheytryingtoupsetmynervesoraretheyteasingme?Eitherit’sillfancyortheyknow!EvenZametovisrude….IsZametovrude?Zametovhaschangedhismind.Iforesawhewouldchangehismind!
Heisathomehere,whileit’smyfirstvisit.
Porfirydoesnotconsiderhimavisitor;sitswithhisbacktohim.
They’reasthickasthieves,nodoubt,overme!
Notadoubttheyweretalkingaboutmebeforewecame.Dotheyknowabouttheflat?Ifonlythey’dmakehaste!
WhenIsaidthatIranawaytotakeaflatheletitpass….
Iputthatincleverlyaboutaflat,itmaybeofuseafterwards….Delirious,indeed…ha-ha-ha!Heknowsallaboutlastnight!Hedidn’tknowofmymother’sarrival!
Thehaghadwrittenthedateoninpencil!Youarewrong,youwon’tcatchme!
Therearenofacts…it’sallsupposition!Youproducefacts!
Theflatevenisn’tafactbutdelirium.Iknowwhattosaytothem….Dotheyknowabouttheflat?Iwon’tgowithoutfindingout.WhatdidIcomefor?
Butmybeingangrynow,maybeisafact!Fool,howirritableIam!
Perhapsthat’sright;toplaytheinvalid….Heisfeelingme.Hewilltrytocatchme.WhydidIcome?”
Allthisflashedlikelightningthroughhismind.
PorfiryPetrovitchreturnedquickly.Hebecamesuddenlymorejovial.
“Yourpartyyesterday,brother,hasleftmyheadrather….AndIamoutofsortsaltogether,”hebeganinquiteadifferenttone,laughingtoRazumihin.
“Wasitinteresting?Ileftyouyesterdayatthemostinterestingpoint.Whogotthebestofit?”
“Oh,noone,ofcourse.Theygotontoeverlastingquestions,floatedoffintospace.”
“Onlyfancy,Rodya,whatwegotontoyesterday.Whetherthereissuchathingascrime.Itoldyouthatwetalkedourheadsoff.”
“Whatistherestrange?It’saneverydaysocialquestion,”Raskolnikovansweredcasually.
“Thequestionwasn’tputquitelikethat,”observedPorfiry.
“Notquite,that’strue,”Razumihinagreedatonce,gettingwarmandhurriedasusual.
“Listen,Rodion,andtellusyouropinion,Iwanttohearit.
Iwasfightingtoothandnailwiththemandwantedyoutohelpme.Itoldthemyouwerecoming….Itbeganwiththesocialistdoctrine.
Youknowtheirdoctrine;crimeisaprotestagainsttheabnormalityofthesocialorganisationandnothingmore,andnothingmore;noothercausesadmitted!...”
“Youarewrongthere,”criedPorfiryPetrovitch;hewasnoticeablyanimatedandkeptlaughingashelookedatRazumihin,whichmadehimmoreexcitedthanever.
“Nothingisadmitted,”Razumihininterruptedwithheat.
“Iamnotwrong.I’llshowyoutheirpamphlets.
Everythingwiththemis‘theinfluenceofenvironment,’andnothingelse.Theirfavouritephrase!
Fromwhichitfollowsthat,ifsocietyisnormallyorganised,allcrimewillceaseatonce,sincetherewillbenothingtoprotestagainstandallmenwillbecomerighteousinoneinstant.
Humannatureisnottakenintoaccount,itisexcluded,it’snotsupposedtoexist!
Theydon’trecognisethathumanity,developingbyahistoricallivingprocess,willbecomeatlastanormalsociety,buttheybelievethatasocialsystemthathascomeoutofsomemathematicalbrainisgoingtoorganiseallhumanityatonceandmakeitjustandsinlessinaninstant,quickerthananylivingprocess!
That’swhytheyinstinctivelydislikehistory,‘nothingbutuglinessandstupidityinit,’andtheyexplainitallasstupidity!
That’swhytheysodislikethelivingprocessoflife;theydon’twantalivingsoul!
Thelivingsouldemandslife,thesoulwon’tobeytherulesofmechanics,thesoulisanobjectofsuspicion,thesoulisretrograde!
ButwhattheywantthoughitsmellsofdeathandcanbemadeofIndia-rubber,atleastisnotalive,hasnowill,isservileandwon’trevolt!
Anditcomesintheendtotheirreducingeverythingtothebuildingofwallsandtheplanningofroomsandpassagesinaphalanstery!
Thephalansteryisready,indeed,butyourhumannatureisnotreadyforthephalanstery—itwantslife,ithasn’tcompleteditsvitalprocess,it’stoosoonforthegraveyard!Youcan’tskipovernaturebylogic.
Logicpresupposesthreepossibilities,buttherearemillions!
Cutawayamillion,andreduceitalltothequestionofcomfort!
That’stheeasiestsolutionoftheproblem!
It’sseductivelyclearandyoumusn’tthinkaboutit.
That’sthegreatthing,youmustn’tthink!
Thewholesecretoflifeintwopagesofprint!”
“Nowheisoff,beatingthedrum!Catchholdofhim,do!”laughedPorfiry.
“Canyouimagine,”heturnedtoRaskolnikov,“sixpeopleholdingforthlikethatlastnight,inoneroom,withpunchasapreliminary!
No,brother,youarewrong,environmentaccountsforagreatdealincrime;Icanassureyouofthat.”
“Oh,Iknowitdoes,butjusttellme:amanoffortyviolatesachildoften;wasitenvironmentdrovehimtoit?”
“Well,strictlyspeaking,itdid,”Porfiryobservedwithnoteworthygravity;“acrimeofthatnaturemaybeverywellascribedtotheinfluenceofenvironment.”
Razumihinwasalmostinafrenzy.“Oh,ifyoulike,”heroared.
“I’llprovetoyouthatyourwhiteeyelashesmayverywellbeascribedtotheChurchofIvantheGreat’sbeingtwohundredandfiftyfeethigh,andIwillproveitclearly,exactly,progressively,andevenwithaLiberaltendency!Iundertaketo!Willyoubetonit?”
“Done!Let’shear,please,howhewillproveit!”
“Heisalwayshumbugging,confoundhim,”criedRazumihin,jumpingupandgesticulating.“What’stheuseoftalkingtoyou?
Hedoesallthatonpurpose;youdon’tknowhim,Rodion!
Hetooktheirsideyesterday,simplytomakefoolsofthem.Andthethingshesaidyesterday!Andtheyweredelighted!
Hecankeepitupforafortnighttogether.
Lastyearhepersuadedusthathewasgoingintoamonastery:hestucktoitfortwomonths.
Notlongagohetookitintohisheadtodeclarehewasgoingtogetmarried,thathehadeverythingreadyforthewedding.Heorderednewclothesindeed.Weallbegantocongratulatehim.
Therewasnobride,nothing,allpurefantasy!”
“Ah,youarewrong!Igottheclothesbefore.Itwasthenewclothesinfactthatmademethinkoftakingyouin.”
“Areyousuchagooddissembler?”Raskolnikovaskedcarelessly.
“Youwouldn’thavesupposedit,eh?Waitabit,Ishalltakeyouin,too.Ha-ha-ha!No,I’lltellyouthetruth.
Allthesequestionsaboutcrime,environment,children,recalltomymindanarticleofyourswhichinterestedmeatthetime.
‘OnCrime’...orsomethingofthesort,Iforgetthetitle,IreaditwithpleasuretwomonthsagointhePeriodicalReview.”
“Myarticle?InthePeriodicalReview?”Raskolnikovaskedinastonishment.“IcertainlydidwriteanarticleuponabooksixmonthsagowhenIlefttheuniversity,butIsentittotheWeeklyReview.”
“ButitcameoutinthePeriodical.”
“AndtheWeeklyReviewceasedtoexist,sothat’swhyitwasn’tprintedatthetime.”
“That’strue;butwhenitceasedtoexist,theWeeklyReviewwasamalgamatedwiththePeriodical,andsoyourarticleappearedtwomonthsagointhelatter.Didn’tyouknow?”
Raskolnikovhadnotknown.
“Why,youmightgetsomemoneyoutofthemforthearticle!Whatastrangepersonyouare!
Youleadsuchasolitarylifethatyouknownothingofmattersthatconcernyoudirectly.It’safact,Iassureyou.”
“Bravo,Rodya!Iknewnothingaboutiteither!”criedRazumihin.
“I’llrunto-daytothereading-roomandaskforthenumber.Twomonthsago?Whatwasthedate?
Itdoesn’tmatterthough,Iwillfindit.Thinkofnottellingus!”
“Howdidyoufindoutthatthearticlewasmine?It’sonlysignedwithaninitial.”
“Ionlylearntitbychance,theotherday.Throughtheeditor;Iknowhim….Iwasverymuchinterested.”
“Ianalysed,ifIremember,thepsychologyofacriminalbeforeandafterthecrime.”
“Yes,andyoumaintainedthattheperpetrationofacrimeisalwaysaccompaniedbyillness.
Very,veryoriginal,but…itwasnotthatpartofyourarticlethatinterestedmesomuch,butanideaattheendofthearticlewhichIregrettosayyoumerelysuggestedwithoutworkingitoutclearly.
Thereis,ifyourecollect,asuggestionthattherearecertainpersonswhocan…thatis,notpreciselyareableto,buthaveaperfectrighttocommitbreachesofmoralityandcrimes,andthatthelawisnotforthem.”
Raskolnikovsmiledattheexaggeratedandintentionaldistortionofhisidea.
“What?Whatdoyoumean?Arighttocrime?Butnotbecauseoftheinfluenceofenvironment?”Razumihininquiredwithsomealarmeven.
“No,notexactlybecauseofit,”answeredPorfiry.
“Inhisarticleallmenaredividedinto‘ordinary’and‘extraordinary.’
Ordinarymenhavetoliveinsubmission,havenorighttotransgressthelaw,because,don’tyousee,theyareordinary.
Butextraordinarymenhavearighttocommitanycrimeandtotransgressthelawinanyway,justbecausetheyareextraordinary.
Thatwasyouridea,ifIamnotmistaken?”
“Whatdoyoumean?Thatcan’tberight?”Razumihinmutteredinbewilderment.
Raskolnikovsmiledagain.Hesawthepointatonce,andknewwheretheywantedtodrivehim.Hedecidedtotakeupthechallenge.
“Thatwasn’tquitemycontention,”hebegansimplyandmodestly.
“YetIadmitthatyouhavestateditalmostcorrectly;perhaps,ifyoulike,perfectlyso.”
(Italmostgavehimpleasuretoadmitthis.)
“TheonlydifferenceisthatIdon’tcontendthatextraordinarypeoplearealwaysboundtocommitbreachesofmorals,asyoucallit.
Infact,Idoubtwhethersuchanargumentcouldbepublished.
Isimplyhintedthatan‘extraordinary’manhastheright…thatisnotanofficialright,butaninnerrighttodecideinhisownconsciencetooverstep…certainobstacles,andonlyincaseitisessentialforthepracticalfulfilmentofhisidea(sometimes,perhaps,ofbenefittothewholeofhumanity).
Yousaythatmyarticleisn’tdefinite;IamreadytomakeitasclearasIcan.
PerhapsIamrightinthinkingyouwantmeto;verywell.
ImaintainthatifthediscoveriesofKeplerandNewtoncouldnothavebeenmadeknownexceptbysacrificingthelivesofone,adozen,ahundred,ormoremen,Newtonwouldhavehadtheright,wouldindeedhavebeenindutybound…toeliminatethedozenorthehundredmenforthesakeofmakinghisdiscoveriesknowntothewholeofhumanity.
ButitdoesnotfollowfromthatthatNewtonhadarighttomurderpeoplerightandleftandtostealeverydayinthemarket.
Then,Iremember,Imaintaininmyarticlethatall…well,legislatorsandleadersofmen,suchasLycurgus,Solon,Mahomet,Napoleon,andsoon,wereallwithoutexceptioncriminals,fromtheveryfactthat,makinganewlaw,theytransgressedtheancientone,handeddownfromtheirancestorsandheldsacredbythepeople,andtheydidnotstopshortatbloodshedeither,ifthatbloodshed—oftenofinnocentpersonsfightingbravelyindefenceofancientlaw—wereofusetotheircause.
It’sremarkable,infact,thatthemajority,indeed,ofthesebenefactorsandleadersofhumanitywereguiltyofterriblecarnage.
Inshort,Imaintainthatallgreatmenorevenmenalittleoutofthecommon,thatistosaycapableofgivingsomenewword,mustfromtheirverynaturebecriminals—moreorless,ofcourse.
Otherwiseit’shardforthemtogetoutofthecommonrut;andtoremaininthecommonrutiswhattheycan’tsubmitto,fromtheirverynatureagain,andtomymindtheyoughtnot,indeed,tosubmittoit.
Youseethatthereisnothingparticularlynewinallthat.
Thesamethinghasbeenprintedandreadathousandtimesbefore.
Asformydivisionofpeopleintoordinaryandextraordinary,Iacknowledgethatit’ssomewhatarbitrary,butIdon’tinsistuponexactnumbers.
Ionlybelieveinmyleadingideathatmenareingeneraldividedbyalawofnatureintotwocategories,inferior(ordinary),thatis,sotosay,materialthatservesonlytoreproduceitskind,andmenwhohavethegiftorthetalenttoutteranewword.
Thereare,ofcourse,innumerablesub-divisions,butthedistinguishingfeaturesofbothcategoriesarefairlywellmarked.
Thefirstcategory,generallyspeaking,aremenconservativeintemperamentandlaw-abiding;theyliveundercontrolandlovetobecontrolled.
Tomythinkingitistheirdutytobecontrolled,becausethat’stheirvocation,andthereisnothinghumiliatinginitforthem.
Thesecondcategoryalltransgressthelaw;theyaredestroyersordisposedtodestructionaccordingtotheircapacities.
Thecrimesofthesemenareofcourserelativeandvaried;forthemostparttheyseekinveryvariedwaysthedestructionofthepresentforthesakeofthebetter.
Butifsuchaoneisforcedforthesakeofhisideatostepoveracorpseorwadethroughblood,hecan,Imaintain,findwithinhimself,inhisconscience,asanctionforwadingthroughblood—thatdependsontheideaanditsdimensions,notethat.
It’sonlyinthatsenseIspeakoftheirrighttocrimeinmyarticle(yourememberitbeganwiththelegalquestion).
There’snoneedforsuchanxiety,however;themasseswillscarcelyeveradmitthisright,theypunishthemorhangthem(moreorless),andindoingsofulfilquitejustlytheirconservativevocation.
Butthesamemassessetthesecriminalsonapedestalinthenextgenerationandworshipthem(moreorless).
Thefirstcategoryisalwaysthemanofthepresent,thesecondthemanofthefuture.
Thefirstpreservetheworldandpeopleit,thesecondmovetheworldandleadittoitsgoal.Eachclasshasanequalrighttoexist.
Infact,allhaveequalrightswithme—and_vivelaguerreéternelle_—tilltheNewJerusalem,ofcourse!”
“ThenyoubelieveintheNewJerusalem,doyou?”
“Ido,”Raskolnikovansweredfirmly;ashesaidthesewordsandduringthewholeprecedingtiradehekepthiseyesononespotonthecarpet.
“And…anddoyoubelieveinGod?Excusemycuriosity.”
“Ido,”repeatedRaskolnikov,raisinghiseyestoPorfiry.
“And…doyoubelieveinLazarus’risingfromthedead?”
“I…Ido.Whydoyouaskallthis?”
“Youbelieveitliterally?”
“Literally.”
“Youdon’tsayso….Iaskedfromcuriosity.Excuseme.Butletusgobacktothequestion;theyarenotalwaysexecuted.Some,onthecontrary…”
“Triumphintheirlifetime?Oh,yes,someattaintheirendsinthislife,andthen…”
“Theybeginexecutingotherpeople?”
“Ifit’snecessary;indeed,forthemostparttheydo.Yourremarkisverywitty.”
“Thankyou.Buttellmethis:howdoyoudistinguishthoseextraordinarypeoplefromtheordinaryones?Aretheresignsattheirbirth?
Ifeelthereoughttobemoreexactitude,moreexternaldefinition.
Excusethenaturalanxietyofapracticallaw-abidingcitizen,butcouldn’ttheyadoptaspecialuniform,forinstance,couldn’ttheywearsomething,bebrandedinsomeway?
Foryouknowifconfusionarisesandamemberofonecategoryimaginesthathebelongstotheother,beginsto‘eliminateobstacles’asyousohappilyexpressedit,then…”
“Oh,thatveryoftenhappens!Thatremarkiswittierthantheother.”
“Thankyou.”
“Noreasonto;buttakenotethatthemistakecanonlyariseinthefirstcategory,thatisamongtheordinarypeople(asIperhapsunfortunatelycalledthem).
Inspiteoftheirpredispositiontoobedienceverymanyofthem,throughaplayfulnessofnature,sometimesvouchsafedeventothecow,liketoimaginethemselvesadvancedpeople,‘destroyers,’andtopushthemselvesintothe‘newmovement,’andthisquitesincerely.
Meanwhilethereallynewpeopleareveryoftenunobservedbythem,orevendespisedasreactionariesofgrovellingtendencies.
ButIdon’tthinkthereisanyconsiderabledangerhere,andyoureallyneednotbeuneasyfortheynevergoveryfar.
Ofcourse,theymighthaveathrashingsometimesforlettingtheirfancyrunawaywiththemandtoteachthemtheirplace,butnomore;infact,eventhisisn’tnecessaryastheycastigatethemselves,fortheyareveryconscientious:someperformthisserviceforoneanotherandotherschastisethemselveswiththeirownhands….
Theywillimposevariouspublicactsofpenitenceuponthemselveswithabeautifulandedifyingeffect;infactyou’venothingtobeuneasyabout….It’salawofnature.”
“Well,youhavecertainlysetmymindmoreatrestonthatscore;butthere’sanotherthingworriesme.
Tellme,please,aretheremanypeoplewhohavetherighttokillothers,theseextraordinarypeople?
Iamreadytobowdowntothem,ofcourse,butyoumustadmitit’salarmingifthereareagreatmanyofthem,eh?”
“Oh,youneedn’tworryaboutthateither,”Raskolnikovwentoninthesametone.
“Peoplewithnewideas,peoplewiththefaintestcapacityforsayingsomethingnew,areextremelyfewinnumber,extraordinarilysoinfact.
Onethingonlyisclear,thattheappearanceofallthesegradesandsub-divisionsofmenmustfollowwithunfailingregularitysomelawofnature.
Thatlaw,ofcourse,isunknownatpresent,butIamconvincedthatitexists,andonedaymaybecomeknown.
Thevastmassofmankindismerematerial,andonlyexistsinorderbysomegreateffort,bysomemysteriousprocess,bymeansofsomecrossingofracesandstocks,tobringintotheworldatlastperhapsonemanoutofathousandwithasparkofindependence.
Oneintenthousandperhaps—Ispeakroughly,approximately—isbornwithsomeindependence,andwithstillgreaterindependenceoneinahundredthousand.
Themanofgeniusisoneofmillions,andthegreatgeniuses,thecrownofhumanity,appearonearthperhapsoneinmanythousandmillions.
InfactIhavenotpeepedintotheretortinwhichallthistakesplace.
Buttherecertainlyisandmustbeadefinitelaw,itcannotbeamatterofchance.”
“Why,areyoubothjoking?”Razumihincriedatlast.“Thereyousit,makingfunofoneanother.Areyouserious,Rodya?”
Raskolnikovraisedhispaleandalmostmournfulfaceandmadenoreply.
Andtheunconcealed,persistent,nervous,anddiscourteoussarcasmofPorfiryseemedstrangetoRazumihinbesidethatquietandmournfulface.
“Well,brother,ifyouarereallyserious…Youareright,ofcourse,insayingthatit’snotnew,thatit’slikewhatwe’vereadandheardathousandtimesalready;butwhatisreallyoriginalinallthis,andisexclusivelyyourown,tomyhorror,isthatyousanctionbloodshedinthenameofconscience,and,excusemysayingso,withsuchfanaticism….
That,Itakeit,isthepointofyourarticle.
Butthatsanctionofbloodshedbyconscienceistomymind…moreterriblethantheofficial,legalsanctionofbloodshed….”
“Youarequiteright,itismoreterrible,”Porfiryagreed.
“Yes,youmusthaveexaggerated!Thereissomemistake,Ishallreadit.Youcan’tthinkthat!Ishallreadit.”
“Allthatisnotinthearticle,there’sonlyahintofit,”saidRaskolnikov.
“Yes,yes.”Porfirycouldn’tsitstill.
“Yourattitudetocrimeisprettycleartomenow,but…excusemeformyimpertinence(Iamreallyashamedtobeworryingyoulikethis),yousee,you’veremovedmyanxietyastothetwogradesgettingmixed,but…therearevariouspracticalpossibilitiesthatmakemeuneasy!
WhatifsomemanoryouthimaginesthatheisaLycurgusorMahomet—afutureoneofcourse—andsupposehebeginstoremoveallobstacles….
Hehassomegreatenterprisebeforehimandneedsmoneyforit…andtriestogetit…doyousee?”
Zametovgaveasuddenguffawinhiscorner.Raskolnikovdidnotevenraisehiseyestohim.
“Imustadmit,”hewentoncalmly,“thatsuchcasescertainlymustarise.Thevainandfoolishareparticularlyapttofallintothatsnare;youngpeopleespecially.”
“Yes,yousee.Wellthen?”
“Whatthen?”Raskolnikovsmiledinreply;“that’snotmyfault.Soitisandsoitalwayswillbe.
Hesaidjustnow(henoddedatRazumihin)thatIsanctionbloodshed.
Societyistoowellprotectedbyprisons,banishment,criminalinvestigators,penalservitude.There’snoneedtobeuneasy.Youhavebuttocatchthethief.”
“Andwhatifwedocatchhim?”
“Thenhegetswhathedeserves.”
“Youarecertainlylogical.Butwhatofhisconscience?”
“Whydoyoucareaboutthat?”
“Simplyfromhumanity.”
“Ifhehasaconsciencehewillsufferforhismistake.Thatwillbehispunishment—aswellastheprison.”
“Buttherealgeniuses,”askedRazumihinfrowning,“thosewhohavetherighttomurder?Oughtn’ttheytosufferatallevenforthebloodthey’veshed?”
“Whythewordought?It’snotamatterofpermissionorprohibition.
Hewillsufferifheissorryforhisvictim.
Painandsufferingarealwaysinevitableforalargeintelligenceandadeepheart.
Thereallygreatmenmust,Ithink,havegreatsadnessonearth,”headdeddreamily,notinthetoneoftheconversation.
Heraisedhiseyes,lookedearnestlyatthemall,smiled,andtookhiscap.Hewastooquietbycomparisonwithhismannerathisentrance,andhefeltthis.Everyonegotup.
“Well,youmayabuseme,beangrywithmeifyoulike,”PorfiryPetrovitchbeganagain,“butIcan’tresist.
Allowmeonelittlequestion(IknowIamtroublingyou).
ThereisjustonelittlenotionIwanttoexpress,simplythatImaynotforgetit.”
“Verygood,tellmeyourlittlenotion,”Raskolnikovstoodwaiting,paleandgravebeforehim.
“Well,yousee…Ireallydon’tknowhowtoexpressitproperly….It’saplayful,psychologicalidea….
Whenyouwerewritingyourarticle,surelyyoucouldn’thavehelped,he-he!
fancyingyourself…justalittle,an‘extraordinary’man,utteringanewwordinyoursense….That’sso,isn’tit?”
“Quitepossibly,”Raskolnikovansweredcontemptuously.
Razumihinmadeamovement.
“And,ifso,couldyoubringyourselfincaseofworldlydifficultiesandhardshiporforsomeservicetohumanity—tooverstepobstacles?...Forinstance,torobandmurder?”
Andagainhewinkedwithhislefteye,andlaughednoiselesslyjustasbefore.
“IfIdidIcertainlyshouldnottellyou,”Raskolnikovansweredwithdefiantandhaughtycontempt.
“No,Iwasonlyinterestedonaccountofyourarticle,fromaliterarypointofview…”
“Foo!howobviousandinsolentthatis!”Raskolnikovthoughtwithrepulsion.
“Allowmetoobserve,”heanswereddryly,“thatIdon’tconsidermyselfaMahometoraNapoleon,noranypersonageofthatkind,andnotbeingoneofthemIcannottellyouhowIshouldact.”
“Oh,come,don’tweallthinkourselvesNapoleonsnowinRussia?”PorfiryPetrovitchsaidwithalarmingfamiliarity.
Somethingpeculiarbetrayeditselfintheveryintonationofhisvoice.
“PerhapsitwasoneofthesefutureNapoleonswhodidforAlyonaIvanovnalastweek?”Zametovblurtedoutfromthecorner.
Raskolnikovdidnotspeak,butlookedfirmlyandintentlyatPorfiry.Razumihinwasscowlinggloomily.
Heseemedbeforethistobenoticingsomething.Helookedangrilyaround.Therewasaminuteofgloomysilence.Raskolnikovturnedtogo.
“Areyougoingalready?”Porfirysaidamiably,holdingouthishandwithexcessivepoliteness.“Very,verygladofyouracquaintance.
Asforyourrequest,havenouneasiness,writejustasItoldyou,or,betterstill,cometomethereyourselfinadayortwo…to-morrow,indeed.
Ishallbethereateleveno’clockforcertain.
We’llarrangeitall;we’llhaveatalk.
Asoneofthelasttobethere,youmightperhapsbeabletotellussomething,”headdedwithamostgood-naturedexpression.
“Youwanttocross-examinemeofficiallyindueform?”Raskolnikovaskedsharply.
“Oh,why?That’snotnecessaryforthepresent.Youmisunderstandme.
Ilosenoopportunity,yousee,and…I’vetalkedwithallwhohadpledges….
Iobtainedevidencefromsomeofthem,andyouarethelast….
Yes,bytheway,”hecried,seeminglysuddenlydelighted,“Ijustremember,whatwasIthinkingof?”
heturnedtoRazumihin,“youweretalkingmyearsoffaboutthatNikolay…ofcourse,Iknow,Iknowverywell,”heturnedtoRaskolnikov,“thatthefellowisinnocent,butwhatisonetodo?WehadtotroubleDmitritoo….
Thisisthepoint,thisisall:whenyouwentupthestairsitwaspastseven,wasn’tit?”
“Yes,”answeredRaskolnikov,withanunpleasantsensationattheverymomenthespokethatheneednothavesaidit.
“Thenwhenyouwentupstairsbetweensevenandeight,didn’tyouseeinaflatthatstoodopenonasecondstorey,doyouremember?twoworkmenoratleastoneofthem?
Theywerepaintingthere,didn’tyounoticethem?It’svery,veryimportantforthem.”
“Painters?No,Ididn’tseethem,”Raskolnikovansweredslowly,asthoughransackinghismemory,whileatthesameinstanthewasrackingeverynerve,almostswooningwithanxietytoconjectureasquicklyaspossiblewherethetraplayandnottooverlookanything.
“No,Ididn’tseethem,andIdon’tthinkInoticedaflatlikethatopen….
Butonthefourthstorey”(hehadmasteredthetrapnowandwastriumphant)“IremembernowthatsomeonewasmovingoutoftheflatoppositeAlyonaIvanovna’s….Iremember…Irememberitclearly.
Someporterswerecarryingoutasofaandtheysqueezedmeagainstthewall.
Butpainters…no,Idon’trememberthattherewereanypainters,andIdon’tthinkthattherewasaflatopenanywhere,no,therewasn’t.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”Razumihinshoutedsuddenly,asthoughhehadreflectedandrealised.
“Why,itwasonthedayofthemurderthepainterswereatwork,andhewastherethreedaysbefore?Whatareyouasking?”
“Foo!Ihavemuddledit!”
Porfiryslappedhimselfontheforehead.“Deucetakeit!Thisbusinessisturningmybrain!”
headdressedRaskolnikovsomewhatapologetically.
“Itwouldbesuchagreatthingforustofindoutwhetheranyonehadseenthembetweensevenandeightattheflat,soIfanciedyoucouldperhapshavetoldussomething….Iquitemuddledit.”
“Thenyoushouldbemorecareful,”Razumihinobservedgrimly.
Thelastwordswereutteredinthepassage.PorfiryPetrovitchsawthemtothedoorwithexcessivepoliteness.
Theywentoutintothestreetgloomyandsullen,andforsomestepstheydidnotsayaword.Raskolnikovdrewadeepbreath.
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