English
“Canthisbestilladream?”Raskolnikovthoughtoncemore.
Helookedcarefullyandsuspiciouslyattheunexpectedvisitor.
“Svidrigailov!Whatnonsense!Itcan’tbe!”hesaidatlastaloudinbewilderment.
Hisvisitordidnotseematallsurprisedatthisexclamation.
“I’vecometoyoufortworeasons.Inthefirstplace,Iwantedtomakeyourpersonalacquaintance,asIhavealreadyheardagreatdealaboutyouthatisinterestingandflattering;secondly,Icherishthehopethatyoumaynotrefusetoassistmeinamatterdirectlyconcerningthewelfareofyoursister,AvdotyaRomanovna.
Forwithoutyoursupportshemightnotletmecomenearhernow,forsheisprejudicedagainstme,butwithyourassistanceIreckonon…”
“Youreckonwrongly,”interruptedRaskolnikov.
“Theyonlyarrivedyesterday,mayIaskyou?”
Raskolnikovmadenoreply.
“Itwasyesterday,Iknow.Ionlyarrivedmyselfthedaybefore.
Well,letmetellyouthis,RodionRomanovitch,Idon’tconsideritnecessarytojustifymyself,butkindlytellmewhatwasthereparticularlycriminalonmypartinallthisbusiness,speakingwithoutprejudice,withcommonsense?”
Raskolnikovcontinuedtolookathiminsilence.
“ThatinmyownhouseIpersecutedadefencelessgirland‘insultedherwithmyinfamousproposals’—isthatit?(Iamanticipatingyou.)
Butyou’veonlytoassumethatI,too,amamanetnihilhumanum...inaword,thatIamcapableofbeingattractedandfallinginlove(whichdoesnotdependonourwill),theneverythingcanbeexplainedinthemostnaturalmanner.
Thequestionis,amIamonster,oramImyselfavictim?AndwhatifIamavictim?
InproposingtotheobjectofmypassiontoelopewithmetoAmericaorSwitzerland,ImayhavecherishedthedeepestrespectforherandmayhavethoughtthatIwaspromotingourmutualhappiness!
Reasonistheslaveofpassion,youknow;why,probably,Iwasdoingmoreharmtomyselfthananyone!”
“Butthat’snotthepoint,”Raskolnikovinterruptedwithdisgust.
“It’ssimplythatwhetheryouarerightorwrong,wedislikeyou.
Wedon’twanttohaveanythingtodowithyou.Weshowyouthedoor.Goout!”
Svidrigailovbrokeintoasuddenlaugh.
“Butyou’re…butthere’snogettingroundyou,”hesaid,laughinginthefrankestway.“Ihopedtogetroundyou,butyoutookuptherightlineatonce!”
“Butyouaretryingtogetroundmestill!”
“Whatofit?Whatofit?”criedSvidrigailov,laughingopenly.
“ButthisiswhattheFrenchcallbonneguerre,andthemostinnocentformofdeception!
...Butstillyouhaveinterruptedme;onewayoranother,Irepeatagain:therewouldneverhavebeenanyunpleasantnessexceptforwhathappenedinthegarden.MarfaPetrovna…”
“YouhavegotridofMarfaPetrovna,too,sotheysay?”Raskolnikovinterruptedrudely.
“Oh,you’veheardthat,too,then?You’dbesureto,though….
Butasforyourquestion,Ireallydon’tknowwhattosay,thoughmyownconscienceisquiteatrestonthatscore.
Don’tsupposethatIaminanyapprehensionaboutit.
Allwasregularandinorder;themedicalinquirydiagnosedapoplexyduetobathingimmediatelyafteraheavydinnerandabottleofwine,andindeeditcouldhaveprovednothingelse.
ButI’lltellyouwhatIhavebeenthinkingtomyselfoflate,onmywayhereinthetrain,especially:didn’tIcontributetoallthat…calamity,morally,inaway,byirritationorsomethingofthesort.
ButIcametotheconclusionthatthat,too,wasquiteoutofthequestion.”
Raskolnikovlaughed.
“Iwonderyoutroubleyourselfaboutit!”
“Butwhatareyoulaughingat?Onlyconsider,Istruckherjusttwicewithaswitch—therewerenomarkseven…don’tregardmeasacynic,please;Iamperfectlyawarehowatrociousitwasofmeandallthat;butIknowforcertain,too,thatMarfaPetrovnawasverylikelypleasedatmy,sotosay,warmth.
Thestoryofyoursisterhadbeenwrungouttothelastdrop;forthelastthreedaysMarfaPetrovnahadbeenforcedtositathome;shehadnothingtoshowherselfwithinthetown.
Besides,shehadboredthemsowiththatletter(youheardaboutherreadingtheletter).
Andallofasuddenthosetwoswitchesfellfromheaven!
Herfirstactwastoorderthecarriagetobegotout….
Nottospeakofthefactthattherearecaseswhenwomenarevery,verygladtobeinsultedinspiteofalltheirshowofindignation.
Thereareinstancesofitwitheveryone;humanbeingsingeneral,indeed,greatlylovetobeinsulted,haveyounoticedthat?Butit’sparticularlysowithwomen.
Onemightevensayit’stheironlyamusement.”
AtonetimeRaskolnikovthoughtofgettingupandwalkingoutandsofinishingtheinterview.Butsomecuriosityandevenasortofprudencemadehimlingerforamoment.
“Youarefondoffighting?”heaskedcarelessly.
“No,notvery,”Svidrigailovanswered,calmly.
“AndMarfaPetrovnaandIscarcelyeverfought.
Welivedveryharmoniously,andshewasalwayspleasedwithme.
Ionlyusedthewhiptwiceinalloursevenyears(notcountingathirdoccasionofaveryambiguouscharacter).
Thefirsttime,twomonthsafterourmarriage,immediatelyafterwearrivedinthecountry,andthelasttimewasthatofwhichwearespeaking.
DidyousupposeIwassuchamonster,suchareactionary,suchaslavedriver?Ha,ha!
Bytheway,doyouremember,RodionRomanovitch,howafewyearsago,inthosedaysofbeneficentpublicity,anobleman,I’veforgottenhisname,wasputtoshameeverywhere,inallthepapers,forhavingthrashedaGermanwomanintherailwaytrain.Youremember?
Itwasinthosedays,thatveryyearIbelieve,the‘disgracefulactionoftheAge’tookplace(youknow,‘TheEgyptianNights,’thatpublicreading,youremember?Thedarkeyes,youknow!
Ah,thegoldendaysofouryouth,wherearethey?).
Well,asforthegentlemanwhothrashedtheGerman,Ifeelnosympathywithhim,becauseafterallwhatneedisthereforsympathy?
ButImustsaythattherearesometimessuchprovoking‘Germans’thatIdon’tbelievethereisaprogressivewhocouldquiteanswerforhimself.
Noonelookedatthesubjectfromthatpointofviewthen,butthat’sthetrulyhumanepointofview,Iassureyou.”
Aftersayingthis,Svidrigailovbrokeintoasuddenlaughagain.Raskolnikovsawclearlythatthiswasamanwithafirmpurposeinhismindandabletokeepittohimself.
“Iexpectyou’venottalkedtoanyoneforsomedays?”heasked.
“Scarcelyanyone.Isupposeyouarewonderingatmybeingsuchanadaptableman?”
“No,Iamonlywonderingatyourbeingtooadaptableaman.”
“BecauseIamnotoffendedattherudenessofyourquestions?Isthatit?Butwhytakeoffence?
Asyouasked,soIanswered,”hereplied,withasurprisingexpressionofsimplicity.
“Youknow,there’shardlyanythingItakeinterestin,”hewenton,asitweredreamily,“especiallynow,I’venothingtodo….
YouarequiteatlibertytoimaginethoughthatIammakinguptoyouwithamotive,particularlyasItoldyouIwanttoseeyoursisteraboutsomething.
ButI’llconfessfrankly,Iamverymuchbored.
Thelastthreedaysespecially,soIamdelightedtoseeyou….
Don’tbeangry,RodionRomanovitch,butyouseemtobesomehowawfullystrangeyourself.
Saywhatyoulike,there’ssomethingwrongwithyou,andnow,too…notthisveryminute,Imean,butnow,generally….
Well,well,Iwon’t,Iwon’t,don’tscowl!
Iamnotsuchabear,youknow,asyouthink.”
Raskolnikovlookedgloomilyathim.
“Youarenotabear,perhaps,atall,”hesaid.“Ifancyindeedthatyouareamanofverygoodbreeding,oratleastknowhowonoccasiontobehavelikeone.”
“Iamnotparticularlyinterestedinanyone’sopinion,”Svidrigailovanswered,drylyandevenwithashadeofhaughtiness,“andthereforewhynotbevulgarattimeswhenvulgarityissuchaconvenientcloakforourclimate…andespeciallyifonehasanaturalpropensitythatway,”headded,laughingagain.
“ButI’veheardyouhavemanyfriendshere.Youare,astheysay,‘notwithoutconnections.’Whatcanyouwantwithme,then,unlessyou’vesomespecialobject?”
“That’struethatIhavefriendshere,”Svidrigailovadmitted,notreplyingtothechiefpoint.“I’vemetsomealready.
I’vebeenloungingaboutforthelastthreedays,andI’veseenthem,orthey’veseenme.That’samatterofcourse.
Iamwelldressedandreckonednotapoorman;theemancipationoftheserfshasn’taffectedme;mypropertyconsistschieflyofforestsandwatermeadows.
Therevenuehasnotfallenoff;but…Iamnotgoingtoseethem,Iwassickofthemlongago.
I’vebeenherethreedaysandhavecalledonnoone….Whatatownitis!
Howhasitcomeintoexistenceamongus,tellmethat?
Atownofofficialsandstudentsofallsorts.
Yes,there’sagreatdealIdidn’tnoticewhenIwashereeightyearsago,kickingupmyheels….
Myonlyhopenowisinanatomy,byJove,itis!”
“Anatomy?”
“Butasfortheseclubs,Dussauts,parades,orprogress,indeed,maybe—well,allthatcangoonwithoutme,”hewenton,againwithoutnoticingthequestion.“Besides,whowantstobeacard-sharper?”
“Why,haveyoubeenacard-sharperthen?”
“HowcouldIhelpbeing?Therewasaregularsetofus,menofthebestsociety,eightyearsago;wehadafinetime.
Andallmenofbreeding,youknow,poets,menofproperty.
AndindeedasaruleinourRussiansocietythebestmannersarefoundamongthosewho’vebeenthrashed,haveyounoticedthat?I’vedeterioratedinthecountry.
ButIdidgetintoprisonfordebt,throughalowGreekwhocamefromNezhin.
ThenMarfaPetrovnaturnedup;shebargainedwithhimandboughtmeoffforthirtythousandsilverpieces(Iowedseventythousand).
Wewereunitedinlawfulwedlockandsheboremeoffintothecountrylikeatreasure.
YouknowshewasfiveyearsolderthanI.Shewasveryfondofme.
ForsevenyearsIneverleftthecountry.
And,takenote,thatallmylifesheheldadocumentoverme,theIOUforthirtythousandroubles,soifIweretoelecttoberestiveaboutanythingIshouldbetrappedatonce!Andshewouldhavedoneit!
Womenfindnothingincompatibleinthat.”
“Ifithadn’tbeenforthat,wouldyouhavegivenhertheslip?”
“Idon’tknowwhattosay.Itwasscarcelythedocumentrestrainedme.Ididn’twanttogoanywhereelse.
MarfaPetrovnaherselfinvitedmetogoabroad,seeingIwasbored,butI’vebeenabroadbefore,andalwaysfeltsickthere.
Fornoreason,butthesunrise,thebayofNaples,thesea—youlookatthemanditmakesyousad.
What’smostrevoltingisthatoneisreallysad!No,it’sbetterathome.
Hereatleastoneblamesothersforeverythingandexcusesoneself.
IshouldhavegoneperhapsonanexpeditiontotheNorthPole,because_j’ailevinmauvais_andhatedrinking,andthere’snothingleftbutwine.Ihavetriedit.
But,Isay,I’vebeentoldBergisgoingupinagreatballoonnextSundayfromtheYusupovGardenandwilltakeuppassengersatafee.Isittrue?”
“Why,wouldyougoup?”
“I…No,oh,no,”mutteredSvidrigailovreallyseemingtobedeepinthought.
“Whatdoeshemean?Isheinearnest?”Raskolnikovwondered.
“No,thedocumentdidn’trestrainme,”Svidrigailovwenton,meditatively.
“Itwasmyowndoing,notleavingthecountry,andnearlyayearagoMarfaPetrovnagavemebackthedocumentonmyname-dayandmademeapresentofaconsiderablesumofmoney,too.Shehadafortune,youknow.
‘YouseehowItrustyou,ArkadyIvanovitch’—thatwasactuallyherexpression.Youdon’tbelievesheusedit?
ButdoyouknowImanagedtheestatequitedecently,theyknowmeintheneighbourhood.Iorderedbooks,too.
MarfaPetrovnaatfirstapproved,butafterwardsshewasafraidofmyover-studying.”
“YouseemtobemissingMarfaPetrovnaverymuch?”
“Missingher?Perhaps.Really,perhapsIam.And,bytheway,doyoubelieveinghosts?”
“Whatghosts?”
“Why,ordinaryghosts.”
“Doyoubelieveinthem?”
“Perhapsnot,pourvousplaire....Iwouldn’tsaynoexactly.”
“Doyouseethem,then?”
Svidrigailovlookedathimratheroddly.
“MarfaPetrovnaispleasedtovisitme,”hesaid,twistinghismouthintoastrangesmile.
“Howdoyoumean‘sheispleasedtovisityou’?”
“Shehasbeenthreetimes.Isawherfirstontheverydayofthefuneral,anhouraftershewasburied.
ItwasthedaybeforeIlefttocomehere.
Thesecondtimewasthedaybeforeyesterday,atdaybreak,onthejourneyatthestationofMalayaVishera,andthethirdtimewastwohoursagointheroomwhereIamstaying.Iwasalone.”
“Wereyouawake?”
“Quiteawake.Iwaswideawakeeverytime.Shecomes,speakstomeforaminuteandgoesoutatthedoor—alwaysatthedoor.Icanalmosthearher.”
“Whatmademethinkthatsomethingofthesortmustbehappeningtoyou?”Raskolnikovsaidsuddenly.
Atthesamemomenthewassurprisedathavingsaidit.Hewasmuchexcited.
“What!Didyouthinkso?”Svidrigailovaskedinastonishment.“Didyoureally?Didn’tIsaythattherewassomethingincommonbetweenus,eh?”
“Youneversaidso!”Raskolnikovcriedsharplyandwithheat.
“Didn’tI?”
“No!”
“IthoughtIdid.WhenIcameinandsawyoulyingwithyoureyesshut,pretending,Isaidtomyselfatonce,‘Here’stheman.’”
“Whatdoyoumeanby‘theman?’Whatareyoutalkingabout?”criedRaskolnikov.
“WhatdoImean?Ireallydon’tknow….”Svidrigailovmutteredingenuously,asthoughhe,too,werepuzzled.
Foraminutetheyweresilent.Theystaredineachother’sfaces.
“That’sallnonsense!”Raskolnikovshoutedwithvexation.“Whatdoesshesaywhenshecomestoyou?”
“She!Wouldyoubelieveit,shetalksofthesilliesttriflesand—manisastrangecreature—itmakesmeangry.
Thefirsttimeshecamein(Iwastiredyouknow:thefuneralservice,thefuneralceremony,thelunchafterwards.AtlastIwasleftaloneinmystudy.
Ilightedacigarandbegantothink),shecameinatthedoor.
‘You’vebeensobusyto-day,ArkadyIvanovitch,youhaveforgottentowindthedining-roomclock,’shesaid.
AllthosesevenyearsI’vewoundthatclockeveryweek,andifIforgotitshewouldalwaysremindme.ThenextdayIsetoffonmywayhere.
Igotoutatthestationatdaybreak;I’dbeenasleep,tiredout,withmyeyeshalfopen,Iwasdrinkingsomecoffee.
IlookedupandtherewassuddenlyMarfaPetrovnasittingbesidemewithapackofcardsinherhands.
‘ShallItellyourfortuneforthejourney,ArkadyIvanovitch?’
Shewasagreathandattellingfortunes.
Ishallneverforgivemyselffornotaskingherto.
Iranawayinafright,and,besides,thebellrang.
Iwassittingto-day,feelingveryheavyafteramiserabledinnerfromacookshop;Iwassittingsmoking,allofasuddenMarfaPetrovnaagain.
Shecameinverysmartinanewgreensilkdresswithalongtrain.‘Goodday,ArkadyIvanovitch!Howdoyoulikemydress?Aniskacan’tmakelikethis.’
(Aniskawasadressmakerinthecountry,oneofourformerserfgirlswhohadbeentrainedinMoscow,aprettywench.)Shestoodturningroundbeforeme.
Ilookedatthedress,andthenIlookedcarefully,verycarefully,atherface.
‘Iwonderyoutroubletocometomeaboutsuchtrifles,MarfaPetrovna.’
‘Goodgracious,youwon’tletonedisturbyouaboutanything!’
ToteaseherIsaid,‘Iwanttogetmarried,MarfaPetrovna.’
‘That’sjustlikeyou,ArkadyIvanovitch;itdoesyouverylittlecredittocomelookingforabridewhenyou’vehardlyburiedyourwife.
Andifyoucouldmakeagoodchoice,atleast,butIknowitwon’tbeforyourhappinessorhers,youwillonlybealaughing-stocktoallgoodpeople.’
Thenshewentoutandhertrainseemedtorustle.Isn’titnonsense,eh?”
“Butperhapsyouaretellinglies?”Raskolnikovputin.
“Irarelylie,”answeredSvidrigailovthoughtfully,apparentlynotnoticingtherudenessofthequestion.
“Andinthepast,haveyoueverseenghostsbefore?”
“Y-yes,Ihaveseenthem,butonlyonceinmylife,sixyearsago.
Ihadaserf,Filka;justafterhisburialIcalledoutforgetting‘Filka,mypipe!’
Hecameinandwenttothecupboardwheremypipeswere.
Isatstillandthought‘heisdoingitoutofrevenge,’becausewehadaviolentquarreljustbeforehisdeath.
‘Howdareyoucomeinwithaholeinyourelbow?’Isaid.‘Goaway,youscamp!’
Heturnedandwentout,andnevercameagain.
Ididn’ttellMarfaPetrovnaatthetime.
Iwantedtohaveaservicesungforhim,butIwasashamed.”
“Youshouldgotoadoctor.”
“IknowIamnotwell,withoutyourtellingme,thoughIdon’tknowwhat’swrong;IbelieveIamfivetimesasstrongasyouare.
Ididn’taskyouwhetheryoubelievethatghostsareseen,butwhetheryoubelievethattheyexist.”
“No,Iwon’tbelieveit!”Raskolnikovcried,withpositiveanger.
“Whatdopeoplegenerallysay?”mutteredSvidrigailov,asthoughspeakingtohimself,lookingasideandbowinghishead.
“Theysay,‘Youareill,sowhatappearstoyouisonlyunrealfantasy.’Butthat’snotstrictlylogical.
Iagreethatghostsonlyappeartothesick,butthatonlyprovesthattheyareunabletoappearexcepttothesick,notthattheydon’texist.”
“Nothingofthesort,”Raskolnikovinsistedirritably.
“No?Youdon’tthinkso?”
Svidrigailovwenton,lookingathimdeliberately.
“Butwhatdoyousaytothisargument(helpmewithit):ghostsare,asitwere,shredsandfragmentsofotherworlds,thebeginningofthem.
Amaninhealthhas,ofcourse,noreasontoseethem,becauseheisaboveallamanofthisearthandisboundforthesakeofcompletenessandordertoliveonlyinthislife.
Butassoonasoneisill,assoonasthenormalearthlyorderoftheorganismisbroken,onebeginstorealisethepossibilityofanotherworld;andthemoreseriouslyilloneis,thecloserbecomesone’scontactwiththatotherworld,sothatassoonasthemandieshestepsstraightintothatworld.Ithoughtofthatlongago.
Ifyoubelieveinafuturelife,youcouldbelieveinthat,too.”
“Idon’tbelieveinafuturelife,”saidRaskolnikov.
Svidrigailovsatlostinthought.
“Andwhatifthereareonlyspidersthere,orsomethingofthatsort,”hesaidsuddenly.
“Heisamadman,”thoughtRaskolnikov.
“Wealwaysimagineeternityassomethingbeyondourconception,somethingvast,vast!Butwhymustitbevast?
Insteadofallthat,whatifit’sonelittleroom,likeabathhouseinthecountry,blackandgrimyandspidersineverycorner,andthat’salleternityis?Isometimesfancyitlikethat.”
“Canitbeyoucanimaginenothingjusterandmorecomfortingthanthat?”Raskolnikovcried,withafeelingofanguish.
“Juster?Andhowcanwetell,perhapsthatisjust,anddoyouknowit’swhatIwouldcertainlyhavemadeit,”answeredSvidrigailov,withavaguesmile.
ThishorribleanswersentacoldchillthroughRaskolnikov.Svidrigailovraisedhishead,lookedathim,andsuddenlybeganlaughing.
“Onlythink,”hecried,“halfanhouragowehadneverseeneachother,weregardedeachotherasenemies;thereisamatterunsettledbetweenus;we’vethrownitaside,andawaywe’vegoneintotheabstract!
Wasn’tIrightinsayingthatwewerebirdsofafeather?”
“Kindlyallowme,”Raskolnikovwentonirritably,“toaskyoutoexplainwhyyouhavehonouredmewithyourvisit…and…andIaminahurry,Ihavenotimetowaste.Iwanttogoout.”
“Byallmeans,byallmeans.Yoursister,AvdotyaRomanovna,isgoingtobemarriedtoMr.Luzhin,PyotrPetrovitch?”
“Canyourefrainfromanyquestionaboutmysisterandfrommentioninghername?Ican’tunderstandhowyoudareutterhernameinmypresence,ifyoureallyareSvidrigailov.”
“Why,butI’vecomeheretospeakabouther;howcanIavoidmentioningher?”
“Verygood,speak,butmakehaste.”
“IamsurethatyoumusthaveformedyourownopinionofthisMr.Luzhin,whoisaconnectionofminethroughmywife,ifyouhaveonlyseenhimforhalfanhour,orheardanyfactsabouthim.HeisnomatchforAvdotyaRomanovna.
IbelieveAvdotyaRomanovnaissacrificingherselfgenerouslyandimprudentlyforthesakeof…forthesakeofherfamily.
IfanciedfromallIhadheardofyouthatyouwouldbeverygladifthematchcouldbebrokenoffwithoutthesacrificeofworldlyadvantages.
NowIknowyoupersonally,Iamconvincedofit.”
“Allthisisverynaïve…excuseme,Ishouldhavesaidimpudentonyourpart,”saidRaskolnikov.
“YoumeantosaythatIamseekingmyownends.
Don’tbeuneasy,RodionRomanovitch,ifIwereworkingformyownadvantage,Iwouldnothavespokenoutsodirectly.Iamnotquiteafool.
Iwillconfesssomethingpsychologicallycuriousaboutthat:justnow,defendingmyloveforAvdotyaRomanovna,IsaidIwasmyselfthevictim.
Well,letmetellyouthatI’venofeelingoflovenow,nottheslightest,sothatIwondermyselfindeed,forIreallydidfeelsomething…”
“Throughidlenessanddepravity,”Raskolnikovputin.
“Icertainlyamidleanddepraved,butyoursisterhassuchqualitiesthatevenIcouldnothelpbeingimpressedbythem.Butthat’sallnonsense,asIseemyselfnow.”
“Haveyouseenthatlong?”
“Ibegantobeawareofitbefore,butwasonlyperfectlysureofitthedaybeforeyesterday,almostatthemomentIarrivedinPetersburg.
IstillfanciedinMoscow,though,thatIwascomingtotrytogetAvdotyaRomanovna’shandandtocutoutMr.Luzhin.”
“Excusemeforinterruptingyou;kindlybebrief,andcometotheobjectofyourvisit.Iaminahurry,Iwanttogoout…”
“Withthegreatestpleasure.Onarrivinghereanddeterminingonacertain…journey,Ishouldliketomakesomenecessarypreliminaryarrangements.
Ileftmychildrenwithanaunt;theyarewellprovidedfor;andtheyhavenoneedofmepersonally.AndanicefatherIshouldmake,too!
IhavetakennothingbutwhatMarfaPetrovnagavemeayearago.That’senoughforme.
Excuseme,Iamjustcomingtothepoint.
Beforethejourneywhichmaycomeoff,IwanttosettleMr.Luzhin,too.
It’snotthatIdetesthimsomuch,butitwasthroughhimIquarrelledwithMarfaPetrovnawhenIlearnedthatshehaddishedupthismarriage.
IwantnowtoseeAvdotyaRomanovnathroughyourmediation,andifyoulikeinyourpresence,toexplaintoherthatinthefirstplaceshewillnevergainanythingbutharmfromMr.Luzhin.
Then,beggingherpardonforallpastunpleasantness,tomakeherapresentoftenthousandroublesandsoassisttherupturewithMr.Luzhin,arupturetowhichIbelievesheisherselfnotdisinclined,ifshecouldseethewaytoit.”
“Youarecertainlymad,”criedRaskolnikovnotsomuchangeredasastonished.“Howdareyoutalklikethat!”
“Iknewyouwouldscreamatme;butinthefirstplace,thoughIamnotrich,thistenthousandroublesisperfectlyfree;Ihaveabsolutelynoneedforit.
IfAvdotyaRomanovnadoesnotacceptit,Ishallwasteitinsomemorefoolishway.That’sthefirstthing.
Secondly,myconscienceisperfectlyeasy;Imaketheofferwithnoulteriormotive.
Youmaynotbelieveit,butintheendAvdotyaRomanovnaandyouwillknow.
Thepointis,thatIdidactuallycauseyoursister,whomIgreatlyrespect,sometroubleandunpleasantness,andso,sincerelyregrettingit,Iwant—nottocompensate,nottorepayherfortheunpleasantness,butsimplytodosomethingtoheradvantage,toshowthatIamnot,afterall,privilegedtodonothingbutharm.
Iftherewereamillionthfractionofself-interestinmyoffer,Ishouldnothavemadeitsoopenly;andIshouldnothaveofferedhertenthousandonly,whenfiveweeksagoIofferedhermore,Besides,Imay,perhaps,verysoonmarryayounglady,andthataloneoughttopreventsuspicionofanydesignonAvdotyaRomanovna.
Inconclusion,letmesaythatinmarryingMr.Luzhin,sheistakingmoneyjustthesame,onlyfromanotherman.
Don’tbeangry,RodionRomanovitch,thinkitovercoollyandquietly.”
Svidrigailovhimselfwasexceedinglycoolandquietashewassayingthis.
“Ibegyoutosaynomore,”saidRaskolnikov.“Inanycasethisisunpardonableimpertinence.”
“Notintheleast.Thenamanmaydonothingbutharmtohisneighbourinthisworld,andispreventedfromdoingthetiniestbitofgoodbytrivialconventionalformalities.That’sabsurd.
IfIdied,forinstance,andleftthatsumtoyoursisterinmywill,surelyshewouldn’trefuseit?”
“Verylikelyshewould.”
“Oh,no,indeed.However,ifyourefuseit,sobeit,thoughtenthousandroublesisacapitalthingtohaveonoccasion.InanycaseIbegyoutorepeatwhatIhavesaidtoAvdotyaRomanovna.”
“No,Iwon’t.”
“Inthatcase,RodionRomanovitch,Ishallbeobligedtotryandseehermyselfandworryherbydoingso.”
“AndifIdotellher,willyounottrytoseeher?”
“Idon’tknowreallywhattosay.Ishouldlikeverymuchtoseeheroncemore.”
“Don’thopeforit.”
“I’msorry.Butyoudon’tknowme.Perhapswemaybecomebetterfriends.”
“Youthinkwemaybecomefriends?”
“Andwhynot?”Svidrigailovsaid,smiling.Hestoodupandtookhishat.
“Ididn’tquiteintendtodisturbyouandIcameherewithoutreckoningonit…thoughIwasverymuchstruckbyyourfacethismorning.”
“Wheredidyouseemethismorning?”Raskolnikovaskeduneasily.
“Isawyoubychance….Ikeptfancyingthereissomethingaboutyoulikeme….Butdon’tbeuneasy.
Iamnotintrusive;Iusedtogetonallrightwithcard-sharpers,andIneverboredPrinceSvirbey,agreatpersonagewhoisadistantrelationofmine,andIcouldwriteaboutRaphael’sMadonnainMadamPrilukov’salbum,andIneverleftMarfaPetrovna’ssideforsevenyears,andIusedtostaythenightatViazemsky’shouseintheHayMarketintheolddays,andImaygoupinaballoonwithBerg,perhaps.”
“Oh,allright.Areyoustartingsoononyourtravels,mayIask?”
“Whattravels?”
“Why,onthat‘journey’;youspokeofityourself.”
“Ajourney?Oh,yes.Ididspeakofajourney.Well,that’sawidesubject….
ifonlyyouknewwhatyouareasking,”headded,andgaveasudden,loud,shortlaugh.
“PerhapsI’llgetmarriedinsteadofthejourney.They’remakingamatchforme.”
“Here?”
“Yes.”
“Howhaveyouhadtimeforthat?”
“ButIamveryanxioustoseeAvdotyaRomanovnaonce.Iearnestlybegit.Well,good-byeforthepresent.Oh,yes.Ihaveforgottensomething.
Tellyoursister,RodionRomanovitch,thatMarfaPetrovnarememberedherinherwillandleftherthreethousandroubles.That’sabsolutelycertain.
MarfaPetrovnaarrangeditaweekbeforeherdeath,anditwasdoneinmypresence.
AvdotyaRomanovnawillbeabletoreceivethemoneyintwoorthreeweeks.”
“Areyoutellingthetruth?”
“Yes,tellher.Well,yourservant.Iamstayingverynearyou.”
Ashewentout,SvidrigailovranupagainstRazumihininthedoorway.
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