English
Itwasnearlyeighto’clock.ThetwoyoungmenhurriedtoBakaleyev’s,toarrivebeforeLuzhin.
“Why,whowasthat?”askedRazumihin,assoonastheywereinthestreet.
“ItwasSvidrigailov,thatlandownerinwhosehousemysisterwasinsultedwhenshewastheirgoverness.
Throughhispersecutingherwithhisattentions,shewasturnedoutbyhiswife,MarfaPetrovna.
ThisMarfaPetrovnabeggedDounia’sforgivenessafterwards,andshe’sjustdiedsuddenly.
Itwasofherweweretalkingthismorning.
Idon’tknowwhyI’mafraidofthatman.
Hecamehereatonceafterhiswife’sfuneral.
Heisverystrange,andisdeterminedondoingsomething….
WemustguardDouniafromhim…that’swhatIwantedtotellyou,doyouhear?”
“Guardher!WhatcanhedotoharmAvdotyaRomanovna?Thankyou,Rodya,forspeakingtomelikethat….Wewill,wewillguardher.Wheredoeshelive?”
“Idon’tknow.”
“Whydidn’tyouask?Whatapity!I’llfindout,though.”
“Didyouseehim?”askedRaskolnikovafterapause.
“Yes,Inoticedhim,Inoticedhimwell.”
“Youdidreallyseehim?Yousawhimclearly?”Raskolnikovinsisted.
“Yes,Irememberhimperfectly,Ishouldknowhiminathousand;Ihaveagoodmemoryforfaces.”
Theyweresilentagain.
“Hm!...that’sallright,”mutteredRaskolnikov.“Doyouknow,Ifancied…Ikeepthinkingthatitmayhavebeenanhallucination.”
“Whatdoyoumean?Idon’tunderstandyou.”
“Well,youallsay,”Raskolnikovwenton,twistinghismouthintoasmile,“thatIammad.IthoughtjustnowthatperhapsIreallyammad,andhaveonlyseenaphantom.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”
“Why,whocantell?PerhapsIamreallymad,andperhapseverythingthathappenedallthesedaysmaybeonlyimagination.”
“Ach,Rodya,youhavebeenupsetagain!...Butwhatdidhesay,whatdidhecomefor?”
Raskolnikovdidnotanswer.Razumihinthoughtaminute.
“Nowletmetellyoumystory,”hebegan,“Icametoyou,youwereasleep.
ThenwehaddinnerandthenIwenttoPorfiry’s,Zametovwasstillwithhim.Itriedtobegin,butitwasnouse.Icouldn’tspeakintherightway.
Theydon’tseemtounderstandandcan’tunderstand,butarenotabitashamed.
IdrewPorfirytothewindow,andbegantalkingtohim,butitwasstillnouse.HelookedawayandIlookedaway.
AtlastIshookmyfistinhisuglyface,andtoldhimasacousinI’dbrainhim.
Hemerelylookedatme,Icursedandcameaway.Thatwasall.Itwasverystupid.ToZametovIdidn’tsayaword.
But,yousee,IthoughtI’dmadeamessofit,butasIwentdownstairsabrilliantideastruckme:whyshouldwetrouble?
Ofcourseifyouwereinanydangeroranything,butwhyneedyoucare?Youneedn’tcareahangforthem.
Weshallhavealaughatthemafterwards,andifIwereinyourplaceI’dmystifythemmorethanever.Howashamedthey’llbeafterwards!Hangthem!
Wecanthrashthemafterwards,butlet’slaughatthemnow!”
“Tobesure,”answeredRaskolnikov.“Butwhatwillyousayto-morrow?”hethoughttohimself.
Strangetosay,tillthatmomentithadneveroccurredtohimtowonderwhatRazumihinwouldthinkwhenheknew.
Ashethoughtit,Raskolnikovlookedathim.
Razumihin’saccountofhisvisittoPorfiryhadverylittleinterestforhim,somuchhadcomeandgonesincethen.
InthecorridortheycameuponLuzhin;hehadarrivedpunctuallyateight,andwaslookingforthenumber,sothatallthreewentintogetherwithoutgreetingorlookingatoneanother.
Theyoungmenwalkedinfirst,whilePyotrPetrovitch,forgoodmanners,lingeredalittleinthepassage,takingoffhiscoat.
PulcheriaAlexandrovnacameforwardatoncetogreethiminthedoorway,Douniawaswelcomingherbrother.
PyotrPetrovitchwalkedinandquiteamiably,thoughwithredoubleddignity,bowedtotheladies.
Helooked,however,asthoughhewerealittleputoutandcouldnotyetrecoverhimself.
PulcheriaAlexandrovna,whoseemedalsoalittleembarrassed,hastenedtomakethemallsitdownattheroundtablewhereasamovarwasboiling.
DouniaandLuzhinwerefacingoneanotheronoppositesidesofthetable.
RazumihinandRaskolnikovwerefacingPulcheriaAlexandrovna,RazumihinwasnexttoLuzhinandRaskolnikovwasbesidehissister.
Amoment’ssilencefollowed.PyotrPetrovitchdeliberatelydrewoutacambrichandkerchiefreekingofscentandblewhisnosewithanairofabenevolentmanwhofelthimselfslighted,andwasfirmlyresolvedtoinsistonanexplanation.
Inthepassagetheideahadoccurredtohimtokeeponhisovercoatandwalkaway,andsogivethetwoladiesasharpandemphaticlessonandmakethemfeelthegravityoftheposition.
Buthecouldnotbringhimselftodothis.
Besides,hecouldnotendureuncertainty,andhewantedanexplanation:ifhisrequesthadbeensoopenlydisobeyed,therewassomethingbehindit,andinthatcaseitwasbettertofinditoutbeforehand;itrestedwithhimtopunishthemandtherewouldalwaysbetimeforthat.
“Itrustyouhadafavourablejourney,”heinquiredofficiallyofPulcheriaAlexandrovna.
“Oh,very,PyotrPetrovitch.”
“Iamgratifiedtohearit.AndAvdotyaRomanovnaisnotover-fatiguedeither?”
“Iamyoungandstrong,Idon’tgettired,butitwasagreatstrainformother,”answeredDounia.
“That’sunavoidable!ournationalrailwaysareofterriblelength.
‘MotherRussia,’astheysay,isavastcountry….
Inspiteofallmydesiretodoso,Iwasunabletomeetyouyesterday.
ButItrustallpassedoffwithoutinconvenience?”
“Oh,no,PyotrPetrovitch,itwasallterriblydisheartening,”PulcheriaAlexandrovnahastenedtodeclarewithpeculiarintonation,“andifDmitriProkofitchhadnotbeensentus,IreallybelievebyGodHimself,weshouldhavebeenutterlylost.Here,heis!
DmitriProkofitchRazumihin,”sheadded,introducinghimtoLuzhin.
“Ihadthepleasure…yesterday,”mutteredPyotrPetrovitchwithahostileglancesidelongatRazumihin;thenhescowledandwassilent.
PyotrPetrovitchbelongedtothatclassofpersons,onthesurfaceverypoliteinsociety,whomakeagreatpointofpunctiliousness,butwho,directlytheyarecrossedinanything,arecompletelydisconcerted,andbecomemorelikesacksofflourthanelegantandlivelymenofsociety.
Againallwassilent;Raskolnikovwasobstinatelymute,AvdotyaRomanovnawasunwillingtoopentheconversationtoosoon.
Razumihinhadnothingtosay,soPulcheriaAlexandrovnawasanxiousagain.
“MarfaPetrovnaisdead,haveyouheard?”shebeganhavingrecoursetoherleadingitemofconversation.
“Tobesure,Iheardso.Iwasimmediatelyinformed,andIhavecometomakeyouacquaintedwiththefactthatArkadyIvanovitchSvidrigailovsetoffinhasteforPetersburgimmediatelyafterhiswife’sfuneral.
SoatleastIhaveexcellentauthorityforbelieving.”
“ToPetersburg?here?”Douniaaskedinalarmandlookedathermother.
“Yes,indeed,anddoubtlessnotwithoutsomedesign,havinginviewtherapidityofhisdeparture,andallthecircumstancesprecedingit.”
“Goodheavens!won’theleaveDouniainpeaceevenhere?”criedPulcheriaAlexandrovna.
“IimaginethatneitheryounorAvdotyaRomanovnahaveanygroundsforuneasiness,unless,ofcourse,youareyourselvesdesirousofgettingintocommunicationwithhim.
FormypartIamonmyguard,andamnowdiscoveringwhereheislodging.”
“Oh,PyotrPetrovitch,youwouldnotbelievewhatafrightyouhavegivenme,”PulcheriaAlexandrovnawenton:“I’veonlyseenhimtwice,butIthoughthimterrible,terrible!
IamconvincedthathewasthecauseofMarfaPetrovna’sdeath.”
“It’simpossibletobecertainaboutthat.Ihavepreciseinformation.
Idonotdisputethathemayhavecontributedtoacceleratethecourseofeventsbythemoralinfluence,sotosay,oftheaffront;butastothegeneralconductandmoralcharacteristicsofthatpersonage,Iaminagreementwithyou.
Idonotknowwhetherheiswelloffnow,andpreciselywhatMarfaPetrovnalefthim;thiswillbeknowntomewithinaveryshortperiod;butnodoubthereinPetersburg,ifhehasanypecuniaryresources,hewillrelapseatonceintohisoldways.
Heisthemostdepraved,andabjectlyviciousspecimenofthatclassofmen.
IhaveconsiderablereasontobelievethatMarfaPetrovna,whowassounfortunateastofallinlovewithhimandtopayhisdebtseightyearsago,wasofservicetohimalsoinanotherway.
Solelybyherexertionsandsacrifices,acriminalcharge,involvinganelementoffantasticandhomicidalbrutalityforwhichhemightwellhavebeensentencedtoSiberia,washushedup.
That’sthesortofmanheis,ifyoucaretoknow.”
“Goodheavens!”criedPulcheriaAlexandrovna.Raskolnikovlistenedattentively.
“Areyouspeakingthetruthwhenyousaythatyouhavegoodevidenceofthis?”Douniaaskedsternlyandemphatically.
“IonlyrepeatwhatIwastoldinsecretbyMarfaPetrovna.
Imustobservethatfromthelegalpointofviewthecasewasfarfromclear.
Therewas,andIbelievestillis,livinghereawomancalledResslich,aforeigner,wholentsmallsumsofmoneyatinterest,anddidothercommissions,andwiththiswomanSvidrigailovhadforalongwhilecloseandmysteriousrelations.
Shehadarelation,anieceIbelieve,livingwithher,adeafanddumbgirloffifteen,orperhapsnotmorethanfourteen.
Resslichhatedthisgirl,andgrudgedhereverycrust;sheusedtobeathermercilessly.
Onedaythegirlwasfoundhanginginthegarret.Attheinquesttheverdictwassuicide.
Aftertheusualproceedingsthematterended,but,lateron,informationwasgiventhatthechildhadbeen…cruellyoutragedbySvidrigailov.
Itistrue,thiswasnotclearlyestablished,theinformationwasgivenbyanotherGermanwomanofloosecharacterwhosewordcouldnotbetrusted;nostatementwasactuallymadetothepolice,thankstoMarfaPetrovna’smoneyandexertions;itdidnotgetbeyondgossip.
Andyetthestoryisaverysignificantone.
Youheard,nodoubt,AvdotyaRomanovna,whenyouwerewiththemthestoryoftheservantPhilipwhodiedofilltreatmenthereceivedsixyearsago,beforetheabolitionofserfdom.”
“Iheard,onthecontrary,thatthisPhiliphangedhimself.”
“Quiteso,butwhatdrovehim,orratherperhapsdisposedhim,tosuicidewasthesystematicpersecutionandseverityofMr.Svidrigailov.”
“Idon’tknowthat,”answeredDounia,dryly.
“IonlyheardaqueerstorythatPhilipwasasortofhypochondriac,asortofdomesticphilosopher,theservantsusedtosay,‘hereadhimselfsilly,’andthathehangedhimselfpartlyonaccountofMr.Svidrigailov’smockeryofhimandnothisblows.
WhenIwastherehebehavedwelltotheservants,andtheywereactuallyfondofhim,thoughtheycertainlydidblamehimforPhilip’sdeath.”
“Iperceive,AvdotyaRomanovna,thatyouseemdisposedtoundertakehisdefenceallofasudden,”Luzhinobserved,twistinghislipsintoanambiguoussmile,“there’snodoubtthatheisanastuteman,andinsinuatingwhereladiesareconcerned,ofwhichMarfaPetrovna,whohasdiedsostrangely,isaterribleinstance.
Myonlydesirehasbeentobeofservicetoyouandyourmotherwithmyadvice,inviewoftherenewedeffortswhichmaycertainlybeanticipatedfromhim.
Formypartit’smyfirmconviction,thathewillendinadebtor’sprisonagain.
MarfaPetrovnahadnottheslightestintentionofsettlinganythingsubstantialonhim,havingregardforhischildren’sinterests,and,ifshelefthimanything,itwouldonlybethemerestsufficiency,somethinginsignificantandephemeral,whichwouldnotlastayearforamanofhishabits.”
“PyotrPetrovitch,Ibegyou,”saidDounia,“saynomoreofMr.Svidrigailov.Itmakesmemiserable.”
“Hehasjustbeentoseeme,”saidRaskolnikov,breakinghissilenceforthefirsttime.
Therewereexclamationsfromall,andtheyallturnedtohim.EvenPyotrPetrovitchwasroused.
“Anhourandahalfago,hecameinwhenIwasasleep,wakedme,andintroducedhimself,”Raskolnikovcontinued.
“Hewasfairlycheerfulandatease,andquitehopesthatweshallbecomefriends.
Heisparticularlyanxious,bytheway,Dounia,foraninterviewwithyou,atwhichheaskedmetoassist.
Hehasapropositiontomaketoyou,andhetoldmeaboutit.
Hetoldme,too,thataweekbeforeherdeathMarfaPetrovnaleftyouthreethousandroublesinherwill,Dounia,andthatyoucanreceivethemoneyveryshortly.”
“ThankGod!”criedPulcheriaAlexandrovna,crossingherself.“Prayforhersoul,Dounia!”
“It’safact!”brokefromLuzhin.
“Tellus,whatmore?”DouniaurgedRaskolnikov.
“Thenhesaidthathewasn’trichandalltheestatewaslefttohischildrenwhoarenowwithanaunt,thenthathewasstayingsomewherenotfarfromme,butwhere,Idon’tknow,Ididn’task….”
“Butwhat,whatdoeshewanttoproposetoDounia?”criedPulcheriaAlexandrovnainafright.“Didhetellyou?”
“Yes.”
“Whatwasit?”
“I’lltellyouafterwards.”
Raskolnikovceasedspeakingandturnedhisattentiontohistea.
PyotrPetrovitchlookedathiswatch.
“Iamcompelledtokeepabusinessengagement,andsoIshallnotbeinyourway,”headdedwithanairofsomepiqueandhebegangettingup.
“Don’tgo,PyotrPetrovitch,”saidDounia,“youintendedtospendtheevening.Besides,youwroteyourselfthatyouwantedtohaveanexplanationwithmother.”
“Preciselyso,AvdotyaRomanovna,”PyotrPetrovitchansweredimpressively,sittingdownagain,butstillholdinghishat.
“Icertainlydesiredanexplanationwithyouandyourhonouredmotheruponaveryimportantpointindeed.
ButasyourbrothercannotspeakopenlyinmypresenceofsomeproposalsofMr.Svidrigailov,I,too,donotdesireandamnotabletospeakopenly…inthepresenceofothers…ofcertainmattersofthegreatestgravity.
Moreover,mymostweightyandurgentrequesthasbeendisregarded….”
Assuminganaggrievedair,Luzhinrelapsedintodignifiedsilence.
“Yourrequestthatmybrothershouldnotbepresentatourmeetingwasdisregardedsolelyatmyinstance,”saidDounia.
“Youwrotethatyouhadbeeninsultedbymybrother;Ithinkthatthismustbeexplainedatonce,andyoumustbereconciled.
AndifRodyareallyhasinsultedyou,thenheshouldandwillapologise.”
PyotrPetrovitchtookastrongerline.
“Thereareinsults,AvdotyaRomanovna,whichnogoodwillcanmakeusforget.Thereisalineineverythingwhichitisdangeroustooverstep;andwhenithasbeenoverstepped,thereisnoreturn.”
“Thatwasn’twhatIwasspeakingofexactly,PyotrPetrovitch,”Douniainterruptedwithsomeimpatience.
“Pleaseunderstandthatourwholefuturedependsnowonwhetherallthisisexplainedandsetrightassoonaspossible.
ItellyoufranklyatthestartthatIcannotlookatitinanyotherlight,andifyouhavetheleastregardforme,allthisbusinessmustbeendedto-day,howeverhardthatmaybe.
Irepeatthatifmybrotheristoblamehewillaskyourforgiveness.”
“Iamsurprisedatyourputtingthequestionlikethat,”saidLuzhin,gettingmoreandmoreirritated.
“Esteeming,andsotosay,adoringyou,Imayatthesametime,verywellindeed,beabletodislikesomememberofyourfamily.
ThoughIlayclaimtothehappinessofyourhand,Icannotacceptdutiesincompatiblewith…”
“Ah,don’tbesoreadytotakeoffence,PyotrPetrovitch,”Douniainterruptedwithfeeling,“andbethesensibleandgenerousmanIhavealwaysconsidered,andwishtoconsider,youtobe.
I’vegivenyouagreatpromise,Iamyourbetrothed.
Trustmeinthismatterand,believeme,Ishallbecapableofjudgingimpartially.
Myassumingthepartofjudgeisasmuchasurpriseformybrotherasforyou.
WhenIinsistedonhiscomingtoourinterviewto-dayafteryourletter,ItoldhimnothingofwhatImeanttodo.
Understandthat,ifyouarenotreconciled,Imustchoosebetweenyou—itmustbeeitheryouorhe.
Thatishowthequestionrestsonyoursideandonhis.
Idon’twanttobemistakeninmychoice,andImustnotbe.
ForyoursakeImustbreakoffwithmybrother,formybrother’ssakeImustbreakoffwithyou.
Icanfindoutforcertainnowwhetherheisabrothertome,andIwanttoknowit;andofyou,whetherIamdeartoyou,whetheryouesteemme,whetheryouarethehusbandforme.”
“AvdotyaRomanovna,”Luzhindeclaredhuffily,“yourwordsareoftoomuchconsequencetome;Iwillsaymore,theyareoffensiveinviewofthepositionIhavethehonourtooccupyinrelationtoyou.
Tosaynothingofyourstrangeandoffensivesettingmeonalevelwithanimpertinentboy,youadmitthepossibilityofbreakingyourpromisetome.
Yousay‘youorhe,’showingtherebyofhowlittleconsequenceIaminyoureyes…Icannotletthispassconsideringtherelationshipand…theobligationsexistingbetweenus.”
“What!”criedDounia,flushing.
“Isetyourinterestbesideallthathashithertobeenmostpreciousinmylife,whathasmadeupthewholeofmylife,andhereyouareoffendedatmymakingtoolittleaccountofyou.”
Raskolnikovsmiledsarcastically,Razumihinfidgeted,butPyotrPetrovitchdidnotacceptthereproof;onthecontrary,ateverywordhebecamemorepersistentandirritable,asthoughherelishedit.
“Loveforthefuturepartnerofyourlife,foryourhusband,oughttooutweighyourloveforyourbrother,”hepronouncedsententiously,“andinanycaseIcannotbeputonthesamelevel….
AlthoughIsaidsoemphaticallythatIwouldnotspeakopenlyinyourbrother’spresence,nevertheless,Iintendnowtoaskyourhonouredmotherforanecessaryexplanationonapointofgreatimportancecloselyaffectingmydignity.
Yourson,”heturnedtoPulcheriaAlexandrovna,“yesterdayinthepresenceofMr.Razsudkin(or…Ithinkthat’sit?
excusemeIhaveforgottenyoursurname,”hebowedpolitelytoRazumihin)“insultedmebymisrepresentingtheideaIexpressedtoyouinaprivateconversation,drinkingcoffee,thatis,thatmarriagewithapoorgirlwhohashadexperienceoftroubleismoreadvantageousfromtheconjugalpointofviewthanwithonewhohaslivedinluxury,sinceitismoreprofitableforthemoralcharacter.
Yoursonintentionallyexaggeratedthesignificanceofmywordsandmadethemridiculous,accusingmeofmaliciousintentions,and,asfarasIcouldsee,relieduponyourcorrespondencewithhim.
Ishallconsidermyselfhappy,PulcheriaAlexandrovna,ifitispossibleforyoutoconvincemeofanoppositeconclusion,andtherebyconsideratelyreassureme.
KindlyletmeknowinwhattermspreciselyyourepeatedmywordsinyourlettertoRodionRomanovitch.”
“Idon’tremember,”falteredPulcheriaAlexandrovna.“IrepeatedthemasIunderstoodthem.Idon’tknowhowRodyarepeatedthemtoyou,perhapsheexaggerated.”
“Hecouldnothaveexaggeratedthem,exceptatyourinstigation.”
“PyotrPetrovitch,”PulcheriaAlexandrovnadeclaredwithdignity,“theproofthatDouniaandIdidnottakeyourwordsinaverybadsenseisthefactthatwearehere.”
“Good,mother,”saidDouniaapprovingly.
“Thenthisismyfaultagain,”saidLuzhin,aggrieved.
“Well,PyotrPetrovitch,youkeepblamingRodion,butyouyourselfhavejustwrittenwhatwasfalseabouthim,”PulcheriaAlexandrovnaadded,gainingcourage.
“Idon’trememberwritinganythingfalse.”
“Youwrote,”Raskolnikovsaidsharply,notturningtoLuzhin,“thatIgavemoneyyesterdaynottothewidowofthemanwhowaskilled,aswasthefact,buttohisdaughter(whomIhadneverseentillyesterday).
Youwrotethistomakedissensionbetweenmeandmyfamily,andforthatobjectaddedcoarseexpressionsabouttheconductofagirlwhomyoudon’tknow.Allthatismeanslander.”
“Excuseme,sir,”saidLuzhin,quiveringwithfury.
“Ienlargeduponyourqualitiesandconductinmylettersolelyinresponsetoyoursister’sandmother’sinquiries,howIfoundyou,andwhatimpressionyoumadeonme.
Asforwhatyou’vealludedtoinmyletter,besogoodastopointoutonewordoffalsehood,show,thatis,thatyoudidn’tthrowawayyourmoney,andthattherearenotworthlesspersonsinthatfamily,howeverunfortunate.”
“Tomythinking,you,withallyourvirtues,arenotworththelittlefingerofthatunfortunategirlatwhomyouthrowstones.”
“Wouldyougosofarthenastoletherassociatewithyourmotherandsister?”
“Ihavedonesoalready,ifyoucaretoknow.Imadehersitdownto-daywithmotherandDounia.”
“Rodya!”criedPulcheriaAlexandrovna.Douniacrimsoned,Razumihinknittedhisbrows.Luzhinsmiledwithloftysarcasm.
“Youmayseeforyourself,AvdotyaRomanovna,”hesaid,“whetheritispossibleforustoagree.
Ihopenowthatthisquestionisatanend,onceandforall.
Iwillwithdraw,thatImaynothinderthepleasuresoffamilyintimacy,andthediscussionofsecrets.”
Hegotupfromhischairandtookhishat.
“Butinwithdrawing,IventuretorequestthatforthefutureImaybesparedsimilarmeetings,and,sotosay,compromises.
Iappealparticularlytoyou,honouredPulcheriaAlexandrovna,onthissubject,themoreasmyletterwasaddressedtoyouandtonooneelse.”
PulcheriaAlexandrovnawasalittleoffended.
“Youseemtothinkwearecompletelyunderyourauthority,PyotrPetrovitch.
Douniahastoldyouthereasonyourdesirewasdisregarded,shehadthebestintentions.
Andindeedyouwriteasthoughyouwerelayingcommandsuponme.
Arewetoconsidereverydesireofyoursasacommand?
Letmetellyouonthecontrarythatyououghttoshowparticulardelicacyandconsiderationforusnow,becausewehavethrownupeverything,andhavecomehererelyingonyou,andsoweareinanycaseinasenseinyourhands.”
“Thatisnotquitetrue,PulcheriaAlexandrovna,especiallyatthepresentmoment,whenthenewshascomeofMarfaPetrovna’slegacy,whichseemsindeedveryapropos,judgingfromthenewtoneyoutaketome,”headdedsarcastically.
“Judgingfromthatremark,wemaycertainlypresumethatyouwerereckoningonourhelplessness,”Douniaobservedirritably.
“ButnowinanycaseIcannotreckononit,andIparticularlydesirenottohinderyourdiscussionofthesecretproposalsofArkadyIvanovitchSvidrigailov,whichhehasentrustedtoyourbrotherandwhichhave,Iperceive,agreatandpossiblyaveryagreeableinterestforyou.”
“Goodheavens!”criedPulcheriaAlexandrovna.
Razumihincouldnotsitstillonhischair.
“Aren’tyouashamednow,sister?”askedRaskolnikov.
“Iamashamed,Rodya,”saidDounia.“PyotrPetrovitch,goaway,”sheturnedtohim,whitewithanger.
PyotrPetrovitchhadapparentlynotatallexpectedsuchaconclusion.
Hehadtoomuchconfidenceinhimself,inhispowerandinthehelplessnessofhisvictims.Hecouldnotbelieveitevennow.Heturnedpale,andhislipsquivered.
“AvdotyaRomanovna,ifIgooutofthisdoornow,aftersuchadismissal,then,youmayreckononit,Iwillnevercomeback.Considerwhatyouaredoing.Mywordisnottobeshaken.”
“Whatinsolence!”criedDounia,springingupfromherseat.“Idon’twantyoutocomebackagain.”
“What!Sothat’showitstands!”
criedLuzhin,utterlyunabletothelastmomenttobelieveintheruptureandsocompletelythrownoutofhisreckoningnow.“Sothat’showitstands!
Butdoyouknow,AvdotyaRomanovna,thatImightprotest?”
“Whatrighthaveyoutospeaktoherlikethat?”
PulcheriaAlexandrovnaintervenedhotly.“Andwhatcanyouprotestabout?Whatrightshaveyou?
AmItogivemyDouniatoamanlikeyou?Goaway,leaveusaltogether!
Wearetoblameforhavingagreedtoawrongaction,andIaboveall….”
“Butyouhaveboundme,PulcheriaAlexandrovna,”Luzhinstormedinafrenzy,“byyourpromise,andnowyoudenyitand…besides…Ihavebeenledonaccountofthatintoexpenses….”
ThislastcomplaintwassocharacteristicofPyotrPetrovitch,thatRaskolnikov,palewithangerandwiththeeffortofrestrainingit,couldnothelpbreakingintolaughter.ButPulcheriaAlexandrovnawasfurious.
“Expenses?Whatexpenses?Areyouspeakingofourtrunk?
Buttheconductorbroughtitfornothingforyou.Mercyonus,wehaveboundyou!
Whatareyouthinkingabout,PyotrPetrovitch,itwasyouboundus,handandfoot,notwe!”
“Enough,mother,nomoreplease,”AvdotyaRomanovnaimplored.“PyotrPetrovitch,dobekindandgo!”
“Iamgoing,butonelastword,”hesaid,quiteunabletocontrolhimself.
“YourmammaseemstohaveentirelyforgottenthatImadeupmymindtotakeyou,sotospeak,afterthegossipofthetownhadspreadalloverthedistrictinregardtoyourreputation.
Disregardingpublicopinionforyoursakeandreinstatingyourreputation,Icertainlymightverywellreckononafittingreturn,andmightindeedlookforgratitudeonyourpart.Andmyeyeshaveonlynowbeenopened!
IseemyselfthatImayhaveactedvery,veryrecklesslyindisregardingtheuniversalverdict….”
“Doesthefellowwanthisheadsmashed?”criedRazumihin,jumpingup.
“Youareameanandspitefulman!”criedDounia.
“Notaword!Notamovement!”criedRaskolnikov,holdingRazumihinback;thengoingcloseuptoLuzhin,“Kindlyleavetheroom!”hesaidquietlyanddistinctly,“andnotawordmoreor…”
PyotrPetrovitchgazedathimforsomesecondswithapalefacethatworkedwithanger,thenheturned,wentout,andrarelyhasanymancarriedawayinhisheartsuchvindictivehatredashefeltagainstRaskolnikov.
Him,andhimalone,heblamedforeverything.
Itisnoteworthythatashewentdownstairshestillimaginedthathiscasewasperhapsnotutterlylost,andthat,sofarastheladieswereconcerned,allmight“verywellindeed”besetrightagain.
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