English
Lebeziatnikovlookedperturbed.
“I’vecometoyou,SofyaSemyonovna,”hebegan.
“Excuseme…IthoughtIshouldfindyou,”hesaid,addressingRaskolnikovsuddenly,“thatis,Ididn’tmeananything…ofthatsort…ButIjustthought…KaterinaIvanovnahasgoneoutofhermind,”heblurtedoutsuddenly,turningfromRaskolnikovtoSonia.
Soniascreamed.
“Atleastitseemsso.But…wedon’tknowwhattodo,yousee!
Shecameback—sheseemstohavebeenturnedoutsomewhere,perhapsbeaten….
Soitseemsatleast,...Shehadruntoyourfather’sformerchief,shedidn’tfindhimathome:hewasdiningatsomeothergeneral’s….
Onlyfancy,sherushedoffthere,totheothergeneral’s,and,imagine,shewassopersistentthatshemanagedtogetthechieftoseeher,hadhimfetchedoutfromdinner,itseems.Youcanimaginewhathappened.
Shewasturnedout,ofcourse;but,accordingtoherownstory,sheabusedhimandthrewsomethingathim.Onemaywellbelieveit….
Howitisshewasn’ttakenup,Ican’tunderstand!
Nowsheistellingeveryone,includingAmaliaIvanovna;butit’sdifficulttounderstandher,sheisscreamingandflingingherselfabout….
Ohyes,sheshoutsthatsinceeveryonehasabandonedher,shewilltakethechildrenandgointothestreetwithabarrel-organ,andthechildrenwillsinganddance,andshetoo,andcollectmoney,andwillgoeverydayunderthegeneral’swindow…‘toleteveryoneseewell-bornchildren,whosefatherwasanofficial,begginginthestreet.’
Shekeepsbeatingthechildrenandtheyareallcrying.
SheisteachingLidatosing‘MyVillage,’theboytodance,Polenkathesame.
Sheistearingupalltheclothes,andmakingthemlittlecapslikeactors;shemeanstocarryatinbasinandmakeittinkle,insteadofmusic….Shewon’tlistentoanything….Imaginethestateofthings!It’sbeyondanything!”
Lebeziatnikovwouldhavegoneon,butSonia,whohadheardhimalmostbreathless,snatcheduphercloakandhat,andranoutoftheroom,puttingonherthingsasshewent.
RaskolnikovfollowedherandLebeziatnikovcameafterhim.
“Shehascertainlygonemad!”hesaidtoRaskolnikov,astheywentoutintothestreet.
“Ididn’twanttofrightenSofyaSemyonovna,soIsaid‘itseemedlikeit,’butthereisn’tadoubtofit.
Theysaythatinconsumptionthetuberclessometimesoccurinthebrain;it’sapityIknownothingofmedicine.
Ididtrytopersuadeher,butshewouldn’tlisten.”
“Didyoutalktoheraboutthetubercles?”
“Notpreciselyofthetubercles.Besides,shewouldn’thaveunderstood!
ButwhatIsayis,thatifyouconvinceapersonlogicallythathehasnothingtocryabout,he’llstopcrying.That’sclear.Isityourconvictionthathewon’t?”
“Lifewouldbetooeasyifitwereso,”answeredRaskolnikov.
“Excuseme,excuseme;ofcourseitwouldberatherdifficultforKaterinaIvanovnatounderstand,butdoyouknowthatinParistheyhavebeenconductingseriousexperimentsastothepossibilityofcuringtheinsane,simplybylogicalargument?
Oneprofessorthere,ascientificmanofstanding,latelydead,believedinthepossibilityofsuchtreatment.
Hisideawasthatthere’snothingreallywrongwiththephysicalorganismoftheinsane,andthatinsanityis,sotosay,alogicalmistake,anerrorofjudgment,anincorrectviewofthings.
Hegraduallyshowedthemadmanhiserrorand,wouldyoubelieveit,theysayhewassuccessful?
Butashemadeuseofdouchestoo,howfarsuccesswasduetothattreatmentremainsuncertain….Soitseemsatleast.”
Raskolnikovhadlongceasedtolisten.Reachingthehousewherehelived,henoddedtoLebeziatnikovandwentinatthegate.Lebeziatnikovwokeupwithastart,lookedabouthimandhurriedon.
Raskolnikovwentintohislittleroomandstoodstillinthemiddleofit.Whyhadhecomebackhere?
Helookedattheyellowandtatteredpaper,atthedust,athissofa….
Fromtheyardcamealoudcontinuousknocking;someoneseemedtobehammering…Hewenttothewindow,roseontiptoeandlookedoutintotheyardforalongtimewithanairofabsorbedattention.
Buttheyardwasemptyandhecouldnotseewhowashammering.
Inthehouseonthelefthesawsomeopenwindows;onthewindow-sillswerepotsofsickly-lookinggeraniums.
Linenwashungoutofthewindows…Heknewitallbyheart.
Heturnedawayandsatdownonthesofa.
Never,neverhadhefelthimselfsofearfullyalone!
Yes,hefeltoncemorethathewouldperhapscometohateSonia,nowthathehadmadehermoremiserable.
“Whyhadhegonetohertobegforhertears?Whatneedhadhetopoisonherlife?Oh,themeannessofit!”
“Iwillremainalone,”hesaidresolutely,“andsheshallnotcometotheprison!”
Fiveminuteslaterheraisedhisheadwithastrangesmile.Thatwasastrangethought.
“PerhapsitreallywouldbebetterinSiberia,”hethoughtsuddenly.
Hecouldnothavesaidhowlonghesattherewithvaguethoughtssurgingthroughhismind.
AllatoncethedooropenedandDouniacamein.
Atfirstshestoodstillandlookedathimfromthedoorway,justashehaddoneatSonia;thenshecameinandsatdowninthesameplaceasyesterday,onthechairfacinghim.
Helookedsilentlyandalmostvacantlyather.
“Don’tbeangry,brother;I’veonlycomeforoneminute,”saidDounia.
Herfacelookedthoughtfulbutnotstern.Hereyeswerebrightandsoft.Hesawthatshetoohadcometohimwithlove.
“Brother,nowIknowall,all.DmitriProkofitchhasexplainedandtoldmeeverything.
Theyareworryingandpersecutingyouthroughastupidandcontemptiblesuspicion….
DmitriProkofitchtoldmethatthereisnodanger,andthatyouarewronginlookinguponitwithsuchhorror.
Idon’tthinkso,andIfullyunderstandhowindignantyoumustbe,andthatthatindignationmayhaveapermanenteffectonyou.That’swhatIamafraidof.
Asforyourcuttingyourselfofffromus,Idon’tjudgeyou,Idon’tventuretojudgeyou,andforgivemeforhavingblamedyouforit.
IfeelthatItoo,ifIhadsogreatatrouble,shouldkeepawayfromeveryone.
Ishalltellmothernothingofthis,butIshalltalkaboutyoucontinuallyandshalltellherfromyouthatyouwillcomeverysoon.
Don’tworryabouther;Iwillsethermindatrest;butdon’tyoutryhertoomuch—comeonceatleast;rememberthatsheisyourmother.
AndnowIhavecomesimplytosay”(Douniabegantogetup)“thatifyoushouldneedmeorshouldneed…allmylifeoranything…callme,andI’llcome.Good-bye!”
Sheturnedabruptlyandwenttowardsthedoor.
“Dounia!”Raskolnikovstoppedherandwenttowardsher.“ThatRazumihin,DmitriProkofitch,isaverygoodfellow.”
Douniaflushedslightly.
“Well?”sheasked,waitingamoment.
“Heiscompetent,hardworking,honestandcapableofreallove….Good-bye,Dounia.”
Douniaflushedcrimson,thensuddenlyshetookalarm.
“Butwhatdoesitmean,brother?Arewereallypartingforeverthatyou…givemesuchapartingmessage?”
“Nevermind….Good-bye.”
Heturnedaway,andwalkedtothewindow.Shestoodamoment,lookedathimuneasily,andwentouttroubled.
No,hewasnotcoldtoher.Therewasaninstant(theverylastone)whenhehadlongedtotakeherinhisarmsandsaygood-byetoher,andeventotellher,buthehadnotdaredeventotouchherhand.
“AfterwardsshemayshudderwhensheremembersthatIembracedher,andwillfeelthatIstoleherkiss.”
“Andwouldshestandthattest?”hewentonafewminuteslatertohimself.“No,shewouldn’t;girlslikethatcan’tstandthings!Theyneverdo.”
AndhethoughtofSonia.
Therewasabreathoffreshairfromthewindow.Thedaylightwasfading.Hetookuphiscapandwentout.
Hecouldnot,ofcourse,andwouldnotconsiderhowillhewas.
Butallthiscontinualanxietyandagonyofmindcouldnotbutaffecthim.
Andifhewerenotlyinginhighfeveritwasperhapsjustbecausethiscontinualinnerstrainhelpedtokeephimonhislegsandinpossessionofhisfaculties.
Butthisartificialexcitementcouldnotlastlong.
Hewanderedaimlessly.Thesunwassetting.
Aspecialformofmiseryhadbeguntooppresshimoflate.
Therewasnothingpoignant,nothingacuteaboutit;buttherewasafeelingofpermanence,ofeternityaboutit;itbroughtaforetasteofhopelessyearsofthiscoldleadenmisery,aforetasteofaneternity“onasquareyardofspace.”
Towardseveningthissensationusuallybegantoweighonhimmoreheavily.
“Withthisidiotic,purelyphysicalweakness,dependingonthesunsetorsomething,onecan’thelpdoingsomethingstupid!You’llgotoDounia,aswellastoSonia,”hemutteredbitterly.
Heheardhisnamecalled.Helookedround.Lebeziatnikovrusheduptohim.
“Onlyfancy,I’vebeentoyourroomlookingforyou.
Onlyfancy,she’scarriedoutherplan,andtakenawaythechildren.
SofyaSemyonovnaandIhavehadajobtofindthem.
Sheisrappingonafrying-panandmakingthechildrendance.Thechildrenarecrying.
Theykeepstoppingatthecross-roadsandinfrontofshops;there’sacrowdoffoolsrunningafterthem.Comealong!”
“AndSonia?”Raskolnikovaskedanxiously,hurryingafterLebeziatnikov.
“Simplyfrantic.Thatis,it’snotSofyaSemyonovna’sfrantic,butKaterinaIvanovna,thoughSofyaSemyonova’sfrantictoo.
ButKaterinaIvanovnaisabsolutelyfrantic.Itellyousheisquitemad.They’llbetakentothepolice.
Youcanfancywhataneffectthatwillhave….
Theyareonthecanalbank,nearthebridgenow,notfarfromSofyaSemyonovna’s,quiteclose.”
OnthecanalbanknearthebridgeandnottwohousesawayfromtheonewhereSonialodged,therewasacrowdofpeople,consistingprincipallyofgutterchildren.
ThehoarsebrokenvoiceofKaterinaIvanovnacouldbeheardfromthebridge,anditcertainlywasastrangespectaclelikelytoattractastreetcrowd.
KaterinaIvanovnainherolddresswiththegreenshawl,wearingatornstrawhat,crushedinahideouswayononeside,wasreallyfrantic.Shewasexhaustedandbreathless.
Herwastedconsumptivefacelookedmoresufferingthanever,andindeedoutofdoorsinthesunshineaconsumptivealwayslooksworsethanathome.
Butherexcitementdidnotflag,andeverymomentherirritationgrewmoreintense.
Sherushedatthechildren,shoutedatthem,coaxedthem,toldthembeforethecrowdhowtodanceandwhattosing,beganexplainingtothemwhyitwasnecessary,anddriventodesperationbytheirnotunderstanding,beatthem….
Thenshewouldmakearushatthecrowd;ifshenoticedanydecentlydressedpersonstoppingtolook,sheimmediatelyappealedtohimtoseewhatthesechildren“fromagenteel,onemaysayaristocratic,house”hadbeenbroughtto.
Ifsheheardlaughterorjeeringinthecrowd,shewouldrushatonceatthescoffersandbeginsquabblingwiththem.
Somepeoplelaughed,othersshooktheirheads,buteveryonefeltcuriousatthesightofthemadwomanwiththefrightenedchildren.
Thefrying-panofwhichLebeziatnikovhadspokenwasnotthere,atleastRaskolnikovdidnotseeit.
Butinsteadofrappingonthepan,KaterinaIvanovnabeganclappingherwastedhands,whenshemadeLidaandKolyadanceandPolenkasing.
Shetoojoinedinthesinging,butbrokedownatthesecondnotewithafearfulcough,whichmadehercurseindespairandevenshedtears.
WhatmadehermostfuriouswastheweepingandterrorofKolyaandLida.
Someefforthadbeenmadetodressthechildrenupasstreetsingersaredressed.
TheboyhadonaturbanmadeofsomethingredandwhitetolooklikeaTurk.
TherehadbeennocostumeforLida;shesimplyhadaredknittedcap,orratheranightcapthathadbelongedtoMarmeladov,decoratedwithabrokenpieceofwhiteostrichfeather,whichhadbeenKaterinaIvanovna’sgrandmother’sandhadbeenpreservedasafamilypossession.
Polenkawasinhereverydaydress;shelookedintimidperplexityathermother,andkeptatherside,hidinghertears.
Shedimlyrealisedhermother’scondition,andlookeduneasilyabouther.
Shewasterriblyfrightenedofthestreetandthecrowd.
SoniafollowedKaterinaIvanovna,weepingandbeseechinghertoreturnhome,butKaterinaIvanovnawasnottobepersuaded.
“Leaveoff,Sonia,leaveoff,”sheshouted,speakingfast,pantingandcoughing.
“Youdon’tknowwhatyouask;youarelikeachild!
I’vetoldyoubeforethatIamnotcomingbacktothatdrunkenGerman.
Leteveryone,letallPetersburgseethechildrenbegginginthestreets,thoughtheirfatherwasanhonourablemanwhoservedallhislifeintruthandfidelity,andonemaysaydiedintheservice.”
(KaterinaIvanovnahadbynowinventedthisfantasticstoryandthoroughlybelievedit.)“Letthatwretchofageneralseeit!
Andyouaresilly,Sonia:whathavewetoeat?Tellmethat.
Wehaveworriedyouenough,Iwon’tgoonso!Ah,RodionRomanovitch,isthatyou?”
shecried,seeingRaskolnikovandrushinguptohim.
“Explaintothissillygirl,please,thatnothingbettercouldbedone!
Evenorgan-grindersearntheirliving,andeveryonewillseeatoncethatwearedifferent,thatweareanhonourableandbereavedfamilyreducedtobeggary.
Andthatgeneralwilllosehispost,you’llsee!
Weshallperformunderhiswindowseveryday,andiftheTsardrivesby,I’llfallonmyknees,putthechildrenbeforeme,showthemtohim,andsay‘Defendusfather.’
Heisthefatherofthefatherless,heismerciful,he’llprotectus,you’llsee,andthatwretchofageneral….Lida,tenezvousdroite!Kolya,you’lldanceagain.Whyareyouwhimpering?Whimperingagain!Whatareyouafraidof,stupid?
Goodness,whatamItodowiththem,RodionRomanovitch?Ifyouonlyknewhowstupidtheyare!What’sonetodowithsuchchildren?”
Andshe,almostcryingherself—whichdidnotstopheruninterrupted,rapidflowoftalk—pointedtothecryingchildren.
Raskolnikovtriedtopersuadehertogohome,andevensaid,hopingtoworkonhervanity,thatitwasunseemlyforhertobewanderingaboutthestreetslikeanorgan-grinder,asshewasintendingtobecometheprincipalofaboarding-school.
“Aboarding-school,ha-ha-ha!Acastleintheair,”criedKaterinaIvanovna,herlaughendinginacough.
“No,RodionRomanovitch,thatdreamisover!Allhaveforsakenus!...Andthatgeneral….
Youknow,RodionRomanovitch,Ithrewaninkpotathim—ithappenedtobestandinginthewaiting-roombythepaperwhereyousignyourname.
Iwrotemyname,threwitathimandranaway.Oh,thescoundrels,thescoundrels!
Butenoughofthem,nowI’llprovideforthechildrenmyself,Iwon’tbowdowntoanybody!Shehashadtobearenoughforus!”shepointedtoSonia.“Polenka,howmuchhaveyougot?Showme!What,onlytwofarthings!Oh,themeanwretches!
Theygiveusnothing,onlyrunafterus,puttingtheirtonguesout.
There,whatisthatblockheadlaughingat?”(Shepointedtoamaninthecrowd.)
“It’sallbecauseKolyahereissostupid;Ihavesuchabotherwithhim.Whatdoyouwant,Polenka?TellmeinFrench,parlez-moifran¸ais.
Why,I’vetaughtyou,youknowsomephrases.
Elsehowareyoutoshowthatyouareofgoodfamily,wellbrought-upchildren,andnotatalllikeotherorgan-grinders?
Wearen’tgoingtohaveaPunchandJudyshowinthestreet,buttosingagenteelsong….Ah,yes,...Whatarewetosing?
Youkeepputtingmeout,butwe…yousee,wearestandinghere,RodionRomanovitch,tofindsomethingtosingandgetmoney,somethingKolyacandanceto….
For,asyoucanfancy,ourperformanceisallimpromptu….
Wemusttalkitoverandrehearseitallthoroughly,andthenweshallgotoNevsky,wheretherearefarmorepeopleofgoodsociety,andweshallbenoticedatonce.
Lidaknows‘MyVillage’only,nothingbut‘MyVillage,’andeveryonesingsthat.
Wemustsingsomethingfarmoregenteel….
Well,haveyouthoughtofanything,Polenka?Ifonlyyou’dhelpyourmother!
Mymemory’squitegone,orIshouldhavethoughtofsomething.Wereallycan’tsing‘AnHussar.’
Ah,letussinginFrench,‘Cinqsous,’Ihavetaughtityou,Ihavetaughtityou.
AndasitisinFrench,peoplewillseeatoncethatyouarechildrenofgoodfamily,andthatwillbemuchmoretouching….
Youmightsing‘Marlboroughs’enva-t-enguerre,’forthat’squiteachild’ssongandissungasalullabyinallthearistocratichouses.
“Marlboroughs’enva-t-enguerreNesaitquandreviendra...”shebegansinging.“Butno,bettersing‘Cinqsous.’
Now,Kolya,yourhandsonyourhips,makehaste,andyou,Lida,keepturningtheotherway,andPolenkaandIwillsingandclapourhands!
“Cinqsous,cinqsousPourmonternotremenage.”
(Cough-cough-cough!)“Setyourdressstraight,Polenka,it’sslippeddownonyourshoulders,”sheobserved,pantingfromcoughing.
“Nowit’sparticularlynecessarytobehavenicelyandgenteelly,thatallmayseethatyouarewell-bornchildren.
Isaidatthetimethatthebodiceshouldbecutlonger,andmadeoftwowidths.
Itwasyourfault,Sonia,withyouradvicetomakeitshorter,andnowyouseethechildisquitedeformedbyit….Why,you’reallcryingagain!What’sthematter,stupids?Come,Kolya,begin.Makehaste,makehaste!Oh,whatanunbearablechild!
“Cinqsous,cinqsous.
“Apolicemanagain!Whatdoyouwant?”
Apolicemanwasindeedforcinghiswaythroughthecrowd.
Butatthatmomentagentlemanincivilianuniformandanovercoat—asolid-lookingofficialofaboutfiftywithadecorationonhisneck(whichdelightedKaterinaIvanovnaandhaditseffectonthepoliceman)—approachedandwithoutawordhandedheragreenthree-roublenote.
Hisfaceworealookofgenuinesympathy.
KaterinaIvanovnatookitandgavehimapolite,evenceremonious,bow.
“Ithankyou,honouredsir,”shebeganloftily.
“Thecausesthathaveinducedus(takethemoney,Polenka:youseetherearegenerousandhonourablepeoplewhoarereadytohelpapoorgentlewomanindistress).
Yousee,honouredsir,theseorphansofgoodfamily—Imightevensayofaristocraticconnections—andthatwretchofageneralsateatinggrouse…andstampedatmydisturbinghim.
‘Yourexcellency,’Isaid,‘protecttheorphans,foryouknewmylatehusband,SemyonZaharovitch,andontheverydayofhisdeaththebasestofscoundrelsslanderedhisonlydaughter.’...Thatpolicemanagain!Protectme,”shecriedtotheofficial.“Whyisthatpolicemanedginguptome?
Wehaveonlyjustrunawayfromoneofthem.Whatdoyouwant,fool?”
“It’sforbiddeninthestreets.Youmustn’tmakeadisturbance.”
“It’syou’remakingadisturbance.It’sjustthesameasifIweregrindinganorgan.Whatbusinessisitofyours?”
“Youhavetogetalicenceforanorgan,andyouhaven’tgotone,andinthatwayyoucollectacrowd.Wheredoyoulodge?”
“What,alicense?”wailedKaterinaIvanovna.“Iburiedmyhusbandto-day.Whatneedofalicense?”
“Calmyourself,madam,calmyourself,”begantheofficial.“Comealong;Iwillescortyou….Thisisnoplaceforyouinthecrowd.Youareill.”
“Honouredsir,honouredsir,youdon’tknow,”screamedKaterinaIvanovna.“WearegoingtotheNevsky….Sonia,Sonia!Whereisshe?Sheiscryingtoo!What’sthematterwithyouall?Kolya,Lida,whereareyougoing?”shecriedsuddenlyinalarm.“Oh,sillychildren!Kolya,Lida,wherearetheyoffto?...”
KolyaandLida,scaredoutoftheirwitsbythecrowd,andtheirmother’smadpranks,suddenlyseizedeachotherbythehand,andranoffatthesightofthepolicemanwhowantedtotakethemawaysomewhere.
Weepingandwailing,poorKaterinaIvanovnaranafterthem.
Shewasapiteousandunseemlyspectacle,assheran,weepingandpantingforbreath.SoniaandPolenkarushedafterthem.
“Bringthemback,bringthemback,Sonia!Ohstupid,ungratefulchildren!...Polenka!catchthem….It’sforyoursakesI…”
Shestumbledassheranandfelldown.
“She’scutherself,she’sbleeding!Oh,dear!”criedSonia,bendingoverher.
Allranupandcrowdedaround.RaskolnikovandLebeziatnikovwerethefirstatherside,theofficialtoohastenedup,andbehindhimthepolicemanwhomuttered,“Bother!”
withagestureofimpatience,feelingthatthejobwasgoingtobeatroublesomeone.
“Passon!Passon!”hesaidtothecrowdthatpressedforward.
“She’sdying,”someoneshouted.
“She’sgoneoutofhermind,”saidanother.
“Lordhavemercyuponus,”saidawoman,crossingherself.“Havetheycaughtthelittlegirlandtheboy?They’rebeingbroughtback,theelderone’sgotthem….Ah,thenaughtyimps!”
WhentheyexaminedKaterinaIvanovnacarefully,theysawthatshehadnotcutherselfagainstastone,asSoniathought,butthatthebloodthatstainedthepavementredwasfromherchest.
“I’veseenthatbefore,”mutteredtheofficialtoRaskolnikovandLebeziatnikov;“that’sconsumption;thebloodflowsandchokesthepatient.
Isawthesamethingwitharelativeofmyownnotlongago…nearlyapintofblood,allinaminute….What’stobedonethough?Sheisdying.”
“Thisway,thisway,tomyroom!”Soniaimplored.“Ilivehere!...See,thathouse,thesecondfromhere….Cometome,makehaste,”sheturnedfromonetotheother.“Sendforthedoctor!Oh,dear!”
Thankstotheofficial’sefforts,thisplanwasadopted,thepolicemanevenhelpingtocarryKaterinaIvanovna.
ShewascarriedtoSonia’sroom,almostunconscious,andlaidonthebed.
Thebloodwasstillflowing,butsheseemedtobecomingtoherself.
Raskolnikov,Lebeziatnikov,andtheofficialaccompaniedSoniaintotheroomandwerefollowedbythepoliceman,whofirstdrovebackthecrowdwhichfollowedtotheverydoor.
PolenkacameinholdingKolyaandLida,whoweretremblingandweeping.
SeveralpersonscameintoofromtheKapernaumovs’room;thelandlord,alameone-eyedmanofstrangeappearancewithwhiskersandhairthatstooduplikeabrush,hiswife,awomanwithaneverlastinglyscaredexpression,andseveralopen-mouthedchildrenwithwonder-struckfaces.
Amongthese,Svidrigailovsuddenlymadehisappearance.
Raskolnikovlookedathimwithsurprise,notunderstandingwherehehadcomefromandnothavingnoticedhiminthecrowd.Adoctorandpriestworespokenof.
TheofficialwhisperedtoRaskolnikovthathethoughtitwastoolatenowforthedoctor,butheorderedhimtobesentfor.Kapernaumovranhimself.
MeanwhileKaterinaIvanovnahadregainedherbreath.Thebleedingceasedforatime.
ShelookedwithsickbutintentandpenetratingeyesatSonia,whostoodpaleandtrembling,wipingthesweatfromherbrowwithahandkerchief.Atlastsheaskedtoberaised.
Theysatheruponthebed,supportingheronbothsides.
“Wherearethechildren?”shesaidinafaintvoice.“You’vebroughtthem,Polenka?Ohthesillies!Whydidyourunaway….Och!”
Oncemoreherparchedlipswerecoveredwithblood.Shemovedhereyes,lookingabouther.
“Sothat’showyoulive,Sonia!NeveroncehaveIbeeninyourroom.”
Shelookedatherwithafaceofsuffering.
“Wehavebeenyourruin,Sonia.Polenka,Lida,Kolya,comehere!
Well,heretheyare,Sonia,takethemall!
Ihandthemovertoyou,I’vehadenough!Theballisover.”(Cough!)“Laymedown,letmedieinpeace.”
Theylaidherbackonthepillow.
“What,thepriest?Idon’twanthim.Youhaven’tgotaroubletospare.Ihavenosins.Godmustforgivemewithoutthat.HeknowshowIhavesuffered….AndifHewon’tforgiveme,Idon’tcare!”
Shesankmoreandmoreintouneasydelirium.
Attimessheshuddered,turnedhereyesfromsidetoside,recognisedeveryoneforaminute,butatoncesankintodeliriumagain.
Herbreathingwashoarseanddifficult,therewasasortofrattleinherthroat.
“Isaidtohim,yourexcellency,”sheejaculated,gaspingaftereachword.“ThatAmaliaLudwigovna,ah!
Lida,Kolya,handsonyourhips,makehaste!Glissez,glissez!pasdebasque!
Tapwithyourheels,beagracefulchild!
“DuhastDiamantenundPerlen
“Whatnext?That’sthethingtosing.
“DuhastdieschonstenAugenMadchen,waswillstdumehr?
“Whatanidea!Waswillstdumehr?Whatthingsthefoolinvents!Ah,yes!
“IntheheatofmiddayinthevaleofDagestan.
“Ah,howIlovedit!Ilovedthatsongtodistraction,Polenka!
Yourfather,youknow,usedtosingitwhenwewereengaged….Ohthosedays!Ohthat’sthethingforustosing!Howdoesitgo?I’veforgotten.Remindme!Howwasit?”
Shewasviolentlyexcitedandtriedtositup.Atlast,inahorriblyhoarse,brokenvoice,shebegan,shriekingandgaspingateveryword,withalookofgrowingterror.
“Intheheatofmidday!...inthevale!...ofDagestan!...Withleadinmybreast!...”
“Yourexcellency!”shewailedsuddenlywithaheart-rendingscreamandafloodoftears,“protecttheorphans!
Youhavebeentheirfather’sguest…onemaysayaristocratic….”
Shestarted,regainingconsciousness,andgazedatallwithasortofterror,butatoncerecognisedSonia.
“Sonia,Sonia!”shearticulatedsoftlyandcaressingly,asthoughsurprisedtofindherthere.“Soniadarling,areyouhere,too?”
Theyliftedherupagain.
“Enough!It’sover!Farewell,poorthing!Iamdonefor!Iambroken!”shecriedwithvindictivedespair,andherheadfellheavilybackonthepillow.
Shesankintounconsciousnessagain,butthistimeitdidnotlastlong.
Herpale,yellow,wastedfacedroppedback,hermouthfellopen,herlegmovedconvulsively,shegaveadeep,deepsighanddied.
Soniafelluponher,flungherarmsabouther,andremainedmotionlesswithherheadpressedtothedeadwoman’swastedbosom.
Polenkathrewherselfathermother’sfeet,kissingthemandweepingviolently.
ThoughKolyaandLidadidnotunderstandwhathadhappened,theyhadafeelingthatitwassomethingterrible;theyputtheirhandsoneachother’slittleshoulders,staredstraightatoneanotherandbothatonceopenedtheirmouthsandbeganscreaming.
Theywerebothstillintheirfancydress;oneinaturban,theotherinthecapwiththeostrichfeather.
Andhowdid“thecertificateofmerit”cometobeonthebedbesideKaterinaIvanovna?Itlaytherebythepillow;Raskolnikovsawit.
Hewalkedawaytothewindow.Lebeziatnikovskippeduptohim.
“Sheisdead,”hesaid.
“RodionRomanovitch,Imusthavetwowordswithyou,”saidSvidrigailov,cominguptothem.
Lebeziatnikovatoncemaderoomforhimanddelicatelywithdrew.SvidrigailovdrewRaskolnikovfurtheraway.
“Iwillundertakeallthearrangements,thefuneralandthat.
Youknowit’saquestionofmoneyand,asItoldyou,Ihaveplentytospare.
IwillputthosetwolittleonesandPolenkaintosomegoodorphanasylum,andIwillsettlefifteenhundredroublestobepaidtoeachoncomingofage,sothatSofyaSemyonovnaneedhavenoanxietyaboutthem.
AndIwillpullheroutofthemudtoo,forsheisagoodgirl,isn’tshe?
SotellAvdotyaRomanovnathatthatishowIamspendinghertenthousand.”
“Whatisyourmotiveforsuchbenevolence?”askedRaskolnikov.
“Ah!youscepticalperson!”laughedSvidrigailov.
“ItoldyouIhadnoneedofthatmoney.
Won’tyouadmitthatit’ssimplydonefromhumanity?
Shewasn’t‘alouse,’youknow”(hepointedtothecornerwherethedeadwomanlay),“wasshe,likesomeoldpawnbrokerwoman?
Come,you’llagree,isLuzhintogoonliving,anddoingwickedthingsorisshetodie?
AndifIdidn’thelpthem,Polenkawouldgothesameway.”
Hesaidthiswithanairofasortofgaywinkingslyness,keepinghiseyesfixedonRaskolnikov,whoturnedwhiteandcold,hearinghisownphrases,spokentoSonia.
HequicklysteppedbackandlookedwildlyatSvidrigailov.
“Howdoyouknow?”hewhispered,hardlyabletobreathe.
“Why,IlodgehereatMadameResslich’s,theothersideofthewall.HereisKapernaumov,andtherelivesMadameResslich,anoldanddevotedfriendofmine.Iamaneighbour.”
“You?”
“Yes,”continuedSvidrigailov,shakingwithlaughter.
“Iassureyouonmyhonour,dearRodionRomanovitch,thatyouhaveinterestedmeenormously.
Itoldyouweshouldbecomefriends,Iforetoldit.Well,herewehave.
AndyouwillseewhatanaccommodatingpersonIam.
You’llseethatyoucangetonwithme!”
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