English
“Youknowperhaps—yes,Itoldyoumyself,”beganSvidrigailov,“thatIwasinthedebtors’prisonhere,foranimmensesum,andhadnotanyexpectationofbeingabletopayit.
There’snoneedtogointoparticularshowMarfaPetrovnaboughtmeout;doyouknowtowhatapointofinsanityawomancansometimeslove?
Shewasanhonestwoman,andverysensible,althoughcompletelyuneducated.
Wouldyoubelievethatthishonestandjealouswoman,aftermanyscenesofhystericsandreproaches,condescendedtoenterintoakindofcontractwithmewhichshekeptthroughoutourmarriedlife?
ShewasconsiderablyolderthanI,andbesides,shealwayskeptacloveorsomethinginhermouth.
Therewassomuchswinishnessinmysoulandhonestytoo,ofasort,astotellherstraightoutthatIcouldn’tbeabsolutelyfaithfultoher.
Thisconfessiondrovehertofrenzy,butyetsheseemsinawaytohavelikedmybrutalfrankness.
ShethoughtitshowedIwasunwillingtodeceiveherifIwarnedherlikethisbeforehandandforajealouswoman,youknow,that’sthefirstconsideration.
Aftermanytearsanunwrittencontractwasdrawnupbetweenus:first,thatIwouldneverleaveMarfaPetrovnaandwouldalwaysbeherhusband;secondly,thatIwouldneverabsentmyselfwithoutherpermission;thirdly,thatIwouldneversetupapermanentmistress;fourthly,inreturnforthis,MarfaPetrovnagavemeafreehandwiththemaidservants,butonlywithhersecretknowledge;fifthly,Godforbidmyfallinginlovewithawomanofourclass;sixthly,incaseI—whichGodforbid—shouldbevisitedbyagreatseriouspassionIwasboundtorevealittoMarfaPetrovna.
Onthislastscore,however,MarfaPetrovnawasfairlyatease.
Shewasasensiblewomanandsoshecouldnothelplookinguponmeasadissoluteprofligateincapableofreallove.
Butasensiblewomanandajealouswomanaretwoverydifferentthings,andthat’swherethetroublecamein.
Buttojudgesomepeopleimpartiallywemustrenouncecertainpreconceivedopinionsandourhabitualattitudetotheordinarypeopleaboutus.
Ihavereasontohavefaithinyourjudgmentratherthaninanyone’s.
PerhapsyouhavealreadyheardagreatdealthatwasridiculousandabsurdaboutMarfaPetrovna.
Shecertainlyhadsomeveryridiculousways,butItellyoufranklythatIfeelreallysorryfortheinnumerablewoesofwhichIwasthecause.
Well,andthat’senough,Ithink,bywayofadecorousoraisonfunèbreforthemosttenderwifeofamosttenderhusband.
Whenwequarrelled,Iusuallyheldmytongueanddidnotirritateherandthatgentlemanlyconductrarelyfailedtoattainitsobject,itinfluencedher,itpleasedher,indeed.
Theseweretimeswhenshewaspositivelyproudofme.
Butyoursistershecouldn’tputupwith,anyway.
Andhowevershecametorisktakingsuchabeautifulcreatureintoherhouseasagoverness.
MyexplanationisthatMarfaPetrovnawasanardentandimpressionablewomanandsimplyfellinloveherself—literallyfellinlove—withyoursister.
Well,littlewonder—lookatAvdotyaRomanovna!
Isawthedangeratthefirstglanceandwhatdoyouthink,Iresolvednottolookathereven.
ButAvdotyaRomanovnaherselfmadethefirststep,wouldyoubelieveit?
WouldyoubelieveittoothatMarfaPetrovnawaspositivelyangrywithmeatfirstformypersistentsilenceaboutyoursister,formycarelessreceptionofhercontinualadoringpraisesofAvdotyaRomanovna.Idon’tknowwhatitwasshewanted!
Well,ofcourse,MarfaPetrovnatoldAvdotyaRomanovnaeverydetailaboutme.
Shehadtheunfortunatehabitoftellingliterallyeveryoneallourfamilysecretsandcontinuallycomplainingofme;howcouldshefailtoconfideinsuchadelightfulnewfriend?
IexpecttheytalkedofnothingelsebutmeandnodoubtAvdotyaRomanovnaheardallthosedarkmysteriousrumoursthatwerecurrentaboutme….
Idon’tmindbettingthatyoutoohaveheardsomethingofthesortalready?”
“Ihave.Luzhinchargedyouwithhavingcausedthedeathofachild.Isthattrue?”
“Don’trefertothosevulgartales,Ibeg,”saidSvidrigailovwithdisgustandannoyance.“Ifyouinsistonwantingtoknowaboutallthatidiocy,Iwilltellyouoneday,butnow…”
“Iwastoldtooaboutsomefootmanofyoursinthecountrywhomyoutreatedbadly.”
“Ibegyoutodropthesubject,”Svidrigailovinterruptedagainwithobviousimpatience.
“Wasthatthefootmanwhocametoyouafterdeathtofillyourpipe?...youtoldmeaboutityourself.”Raskolnikovfeltmoreandmoreirritated.
SvidrigailovlookedathimattentivelyandRaskolnikovfanciedhecaughtaflashofspitefulmockeryinthatlook.ButSvidrigailovrestrainedhimselfandansweredverycivilly:
“Yes,itwas.Iseethatyou,too,areextremelyinterestedandshallfeelitmydutytosatisfyyourcuriosityatthefirstopportunity.Uponmysoul!
IseethatIreallymightpassforaromanticfigurewithsomepeople.
JudgehowgratefulImustbetoMarfaPetrovnaforhavingrepeatedtoAvdotyaRomanovnasuchmysteriousandinterestinggossipaboutme.
Idarenotguesswhatimpressionitmadeonher,butinanycaseitworkedinmyinterests.
WithallAvdotyaRomanovna’snaturalaversionandinspiteofmyinvariablygloomyandrepellentaspect—shedidatleastfeelpityforme,pityforalostsoul.
Andifonceagirl’sheartismovedtopity,it’smoredangerousthananything.
Sheisboundtowantto‘savehim,’tobringhimtohissenses,andlifthimupanddrawhimtonobleraims,andrestorehimtonewlifeandusefulness—well,weallknowhowfarsuchdreamscango.
Isawatoncethatthebirdwasflyingintothecageofherself.AndItoomadeready.
Ithinkyouarefrowning,RodionRomanovitch?There’snoneed.Asyouknow,itallendedinsmoke.
(Hangitall,whatalotIamdrinking!)
Doyouknow,Ialways,fromtheverybeginning,regrettedthatitwasn’tyoursister’sfatetobeborninthesecondorthirdcenturyA.D.,asthedaughterofareigningprinceorsomegovernororpro-consulinAsiaMinor.
Shewouldundoubtedlyhavebeenoneofthosewhowouldenduremartyrdomandwouldhavesmiledwhentheybrandedherbosomwithhotpincers.
Andshewouldhavegonetoitofherself.
AndinthefourthorfifthcenturyshewouldhavewalkedawayintotheEgyptiandesertandwouldhavestayedtherethirtyyearslivingonrootsandecstasiesandvisions.
Sheissimplythirstingtofacesometortureforsomeone,andifshecan’tgethertorture,she’llthrowherselfoutofawindow.
I’veheardsomethingofaMr.Razumihin—he’ssaidtobeasensiblefellow;hissurnamesuggestsit,indeed.He’sprobablyadivinitystudent.
Well,he’dbetterlookafteryoursister!
IbelieveIunderstandher,andIamproudofit.
Butatthebeginningofanacquaintance,asyouknow,oneisapttobemoreheedlessandstupid.Onedoesn’tseeclearly.Hangitall,whyisshesohandsome?It’snotmyfault.
Infact,itbeganonmysidewithamostirresistiblephysicaldesire.
AvdotyaRomanovnaisawfullychaste,incrediblyandphenomenallyso.
Takenote,Itellyouthisaboutyoursisterasafact.
Sheisalmostmorbidlychaste,inspiteofherbroadintelligence,anditwillstandinherway.
Therehappenedtobeagirlinthehousethen,Parasha,ablack-eyedwench,whomIhadneverseenbefore—shehadjustcomefromanothervillage—verypretty,butincrediblystupid:sheburstintotears,wailedsothatshecouldbeheardallovertheplaceandcausedscandal.
OnedayafterdinnerAvdotyaRomanovnafollowedmeintoanavenueinthegardenandwithflashingeyesinsistedonmyleavingpoorParashaalone.
Itwasalmostourfirstconversationbyourselves.
I,ofcourse,wasonlytoopleasedtoobeyherwishes,triedtoappeardisconcerted,embarrassed,infactplayedmypartnotbadly.
Thencameinterviews,mysteriousconversations,exhortations,entreaties,supplications,eventears—wouldyoubelieveit,eventears?
Thinkwhatthepassionforpropagandawillbringsomegirlsto!
I,ofcourse,threwitallonmydestiny,posedashungeringandthirstingforlight,andfinallyresortedtothemostpowerfulweaponinthesubjectionofthefemaleheart,aweaponwhichneverfailsone.It’sthewell-knownresource—flattery.
Nothingintheworldisharderthanspeakingthetruthandnothingeasierthanflattery.
Ifthere’sthehundredthpartofafalsenoteinspeakingthetruth,itleadstoadiscord,andthatleadstotrouble.
Butifall,tothelastnote,isfalseinflattery,itisjustasagreeable,andisheardnotwithoutsatisfaction.
Itmaybeacoarsesatisfaction,butstillasatisfaction.
Andhowevercoarsetheflattery,atleasthalfwillbesuretoseemtrue.
That’ssoforallstagesofdevelopmentandclassesofsociety.
Avestalvirginmightbeseducedbyflattery.
IcanneverrememberwithoutlaughterhowIonceseducedaladywhowasdevotedtoherhusband,herchildren,andherprinciples.Whatfunitwasandhowlittletrouble!
Andtheladyreallyhadprinciples—ofherown,anyway.
Allmytacticslayinsimplybeingutterlyannihilatedandprostratebeforeherpurity.
Iflatteredhershamelessly,andassoonasIsucceededingettingapressureofthehand,evenaglancefromher,Iwouldreproachmyselfforhavingsnatcheditbyforce,andwoulddeclarethatshehadresisted,sothatIcouldneverhavegainedanythingbutformybeingsounprincipled.
Imaintainedthatshewassoinnocentthatshecouldnotforeseemytreachery,andyieldedtomeunconsciously,unawares,andsoon.
Infact,Itriumphed,whilemyladyremainedfirmlyconvincedthatshewasinnocent,chaste,andfaithfultoallherdutiesandobligationsandhadsuccumbedquitebyaccident.
AndhowangryshewaswithmewhenIexplainedtoheratlastthatitwasmysincereconvictionthatshewasjustaseagerasI.PoorMarfaPetrovnawasawfullyweakonthesideofflattery,andifIhadonlycaredto,Imighthavehadallherpropertysettledonmeduringherlifetime.
(Iamdrinkinganawfullotofwinenowandtalkingtoomuch.)
Ihopeyouwon’tbeangryifImentionnowthatIwasbeginningtoproducethesameeffectonAvdotyaRomanovna.
ButIwasstupidandimpatientandspoileditall.
AvdotyaRomanovnahadseveraltimes—andonetimeinparticular—beengreatlydispleasedbytheexpressionofmyeyes,wouldyoubelieveit?
Therewassometimesalightinthemwhichfrightenedherandgrewstrongerandstrongerandmoreunguardedtillitwashatefultoher.
Noneedtogointodetail,butweparted.ThereIactedstupidlyagain.
Ifelltojeeringinthecoarsestwayatallsuchpropagandaandeffortstoconvertme;Parashacameontothesceneagain,andnotshealone;infacttherewasatremendousto-do.
Ah,RodionRomanovitch,ifyoucouldonlyseehowyoursister’seyescanflashsometimes!
Nevermindmybeingdrunkatthismomentandhavinghadawholeglassofwine.Iamspeakingthetruth.
Iassureyouthatthisglancehashauntedmydreams;theveryrustleofherdresswasmorethanIcouldstandatlast.
IreallybegantothinkthatImightbecomeepileptic.
IcouldneverhavebelievedthatIcouldbemovedtosuchafrenzy.
Itwasessential,indeed,tobereconciled,butbythenitwasimpossible.AndimaginewhatIdidthen!
Towhatapitchofstupidityamancanbebroughtbyfrenzy!
Neverundertakeanythinginafrenzy,RodionRomanovitch.
IreflectedthatAvdotyaRomanovnawasafterallabeggar(ach,excuseme,that’snottheword…butdoesitmatterifitexpressesthemeaning?)
,thatshelivedbyherwork,thatshehadhermotherandyoutokeep(ach,hangit,youarefrowningagain),andIresolvedtoofferherallmymoney—thirtythousandroublesIcouldhaverealisedthen—ifshewouldrunawaywithmehere,toPetersburg.
OfcourseIshouldhavevowedeternallove,rapture,andsoon.
Doyouknow,IwassowildaboutheratthattimethatifshehadtoldmetopoisonMarfaPetrovnaortocutherthroatandtomarryherself,itwouldhavebeendoneatonce!
Butitendedinthecatastropheofwhichyouknowalready.
YoucanfancyhowfranticIwaswhenIheardthatMarfaPetrovnahadgotholdofthatscoundrellyattorney,Luzhin,andhadalmostmadeamatchbetweenthem—whichwouldreallyhavebeenjustthesamethingasIwasproposing.Wouldn’tit?Wouldn’tit?
Inoticethatyou’vebeguntobeveryattentive…youinterestingyoungman….”
Svidrigailovstruckthetablewithhisfistimpatiently.Hewasflushed.
Raskolnikovsawclearlythattheglassorglassandahalfofchampagnethathehadsippedalmostunconsciouslywasaffectinghim—andheresolvedtotakeadvantageoftheopportunity.
HefeltverysuspiciousofSvidrigailov.
“Well,afterwhatyouhavesaid,IamfullyconvincedthatyouhavecometoPetersburgwithdesignsonmysister,”hesaiddirectlytoSvidrigailov,inordertoirritatehimfurther.
“Oh,nonsense,”saidSvidrigailov,seemingtorousehimself.“Why,Itoldyou…besidesyoursistercan’tendureme.”
“Yes,Iamcertainthatshecan’t,butthat’snotthepoint.”
“Areyousosurethatshecan’t?”Svidrigailovscreweduphiseyesandsmiledmockingly.
“Youareright,shedoesn’tloveme,butyoucanneverbesureofwhathaspassedbetweenhusbandandwifeorloverandmistress.
There’salwaysalittlecornerwhichremainsasecrettotheworldandisonlyknowntothosetwo.
WillyouanswerforitthatAvdotyaRomanovnaregardedmewithaversion?”
“Fromsomewordsyou’vedropped,Inoticethatyoustillhavedesigns—andofcourseevilones—onDouniaandmeantocarrythemoutpromptly.”
“What,haveIdroppedwordslikethat?”Svidrigailovaskedinnaïvedismay,takingnottheslightestnoticeoftheepithetbestowedonhisdesigns.
“Why,youaredroppingthemevennow.Whyareyousofrightened?Whatareyousoafraidofnow?”
“Me—afraid?Afraidofyou?
Youhaverathertobeafraidofme,_cherami_.Butwhatnonsense….I’vedrunktoomuchthough,Iseethat.Iwasalmostsayingtoomuchagain.Damnthewine!Hi!there,water!”
Hesnatchedupthechampagnebottleandflungitwithoutceremonyoutofthewindow.Philipbroughtthewater.
“That’sallnonsense!”saidSvidrigailov,wettingatowelandputtingittohishead.“ButIcanansweryouinonewordandannihilateallyoursuspicions.DoyouknowthatIamgoingtogetmarried?”
“Youtoldmesobefore.”
“DidI?I’veforgotten.
ButIcouldn’thavetoldyousoforcertainforIhadnotevenseenmybetrothed;Ionlymeantto.
ButnowIreallyhaveabetrothedandit’sasettledthing,andifitweren’tthatIhavebusinessthatcan’tbeputoff,Iwouldhavetakenyoutoseethematonce,forIshouldliketoaskyouradvice.Ach,hangit,onlytenminutesleft!See,lookatthewatch.
ButImusttellyou,forit’saninterestingstory,mymarriage,initsownway.Whereareyouoffto?Goingagain?”
“No,I’mnotgoingawaynow.”
“Notatall?Weshallsee.
I’lltakeyouthere,I’llshowyoumybetrothed,onlynotnow.Foryou’llsoonhavetobeoff.
YouhavetogototherightandItotheleft.
DoyouknowthatMadameResslich,thewomanIamlodgingwithnow,eh?
Iknowwhatyou’rethinking,thatshe’sthewomanwhosegirltheysaydrownedherselfinthewinter.Come,areyoulistening?Shearrangeditallforme.
You’rebored,shesaid,youwantsomethingtofillupyourtime.
For,youknow,Iamagloomy,depressedperson.DoyouthinkI’mlight-hearted?No,I’mgloomy.
Idonoharm,butsitinacornerwithoutspeakingawordforthreedaysatatime.
AndthatResslichisaslyhussy,Itellyou.
Iknowwhatshehasgotinhermind;shethinksIshallgetsickofit,abandonmywifeanddepart,andshe’llgetholdofherandmakeaprofitoutofher—inourclass,ofcourse,orhigher.
Shetoldmethefatherwasabroken-downretiredofficial,whohasbeensittinginachairforthelastthreeyearswithhislegsparalysed.
Themamma,shesaid,wasasensiblewoman.
Thereisasonservingintheprovinces,buthedoesn’thelp;thereisadaughter,whoismarried,butshedoesn’tvisitthem.
Andthey’vetwolittlenephewsontheirhands,asthoughtheirownchildrenwerenotenough,andthey’vetakenfromschooltheiryoungestdaughter,agirlwho’llbesixteeninanothermonth,sothatthenshecanbemarried.Shewasforme.Wewentthere.Howfunnyitwas!
Ipresentmyself—alandowner,awidower,ofawell-knownname,withconnections,withafortune.
WhatifIamfiftyandsheisnotsixteen?Whothinksofthat?Butit’sfascinating,isn’tit?Itisfascinating,ha-ha!
YoushouldhaveseenhowItalkedtothepapaandmamma.
Itwasworthpayingtohaveseenmeatthatmoment.
Shecomesin,curtseys,youcanfancy,stillinashortfrock—anunopenedbud!
Flushinglikeasunset—shehadbeentold,nodoubt.
Idon’tknowhowyoufeelaboutfemalefaces,buttomymindthesesixteenyears,thesechildisheyes,shynessandtearsofbashfulnessarebetterthanbeauty;andsheisaperfectlittlepicture,too.
Fairhairinlittlecurls,likealamb’s,fulllittlerosylips,tinyfeet,acharmer!...Well,wemadefriends.
ItoldthemIwasinahurryowingtodomesticcircumstances,andthenextday,thatisthedaybeforeyesterday,wewerebetrothed.
WhenIgonowItakeheronmykneeatonceandkeepherthere….
Well,sheflusheslikeasunsetandIkisshereveryminute.
Hermammaofcourseimpressesonherthatthisisherhusbandandthatthismustbeso.It’ssimplydelicious!
Thepresentbetrothedconditionisperhapsbetterthanmarriage.
Hereyouhavewhatiscalledlanatureetlavérité,ha-ha!
I’vetalkedtohertwice,sheisfarfromafool.
Sometimesshestealsalookatmethatpositivelyscorchesme.HerfaceislikeRaphael’sMadonna.
Youknow,theSistineMadonna’sfacehassomethingfantasticinit,thefaceofmournfulreligiousecstasy.Haven’tyounoticedit?Well,she’ssomethinginthatline.
Thedayafterwe’dbeenbetrothed,Iboughtherpresentstothevalueoffifteenhundredroubles—asetofdiamondsandanotherofpearlsandasilverdressing-caseaslargeasthis,withallsortsofthingsinit,sothatevenmyMadonna’sfaceglowed.
Isatheronmyknee,yesterday,andIsupposerathertoounceremoniously—sheflushedcrimsonandthetearsstarted,butshedidn’twanttoshowit.
Wewereleftalone,shesuddenlyflungherselfonmyneck(forthefirsttimeofherownaccord),putherlittlearmsroundme,kissedme,andvowedthatshewouldbeanobedient,faithful,andgoodwife,wouldmakemehappy,woulddevoteallherlife,everyminuteofherlife,wouldsacrificeeverything,everything,andthatallsheasksinreturnismyrespect,andthatshewants‘nothing,nothingmorefromme,nopresents.’
You’lladmitthattohearsuchaconfession,alone,fromanangelofsixteeninamuslinfrock,withlittlecurls,withaflushofmaidenshynessinhercheeksandtearsofenthusiasminhereyesisratherfascinating!Isn’titfascinating?It’sworthpayingfor,isn’tit?
Well…listen,we’llgotoseemybetrothed,onlynotjustnow!”
“Thefactisthismonstrousdifferenceinageanddevelopmentexcitesyoursensuality!Willyoureallymakesuchamarriage?”
“Why,ofcourse.Everyonethinksofhimself,andhelivesmostgailywhoknowsbesthowtodeceivehimself.Ha-ha!Butwhyareyousokeenaboutvirtue?Havemercyonme,mygoodfriend.Iamasinfulman.Ha-ha-ha!”
“ButyouhaveprovidedforthechildrenofKaterinaIvanovna.Though…thoughyouhadyourownreasons….Iunderstanditallnow.”
“Iamalwaysfondofchildren,veryfondofthem,”laughedSvidrigailov.
“Icantellyouonecuriousinstanceofit.
ThefirstdayIcamehereIvisitedvarioushaunts,aftersevenyearsIsimplyrushedatthem.
YouprobablynoticethatIamnotinahurrytorenewacquaintancewithmyoldfriends.
IshalldowithoutthemaslongasIcan.
Doyouknow,whenIwaswithMarfaPetrovnainthecountry,Iwashauntedbythethoughtoftheseplaceswhereanyonewhoknowshiswayaboutcanfindagreatdeal.Yes,uponmysoul!
Thepeasantshavevodka,theeducatedyoungpeople,shutoutfromactivity,wastethemselvesinimpossibledreamsandvisionsandarecrippledbytheories;Jewshavesprungupandareamassingmoney,andalltherestgivethemselvesuptodebauchery.
Fromthefirsthourthetownreekedofitsfamiliarodours.
Ichancedtobeinafrightfulden—Ilikemydensdirty—itwasadance,socalled,andtherewasacancansuchasIneversawinmyday.Yes,thereyouhaveprogress.
AllofasuddenIsawalittlegirlofthirteen,nicelydressed,dancingwithaspecialistinthatline,withanotheronevis-à-vis.
Hermotherwassittingonachairbythewall.Youcan’tfancywhatacancanthatwas!
Thegirlwasashamed,blushed,atlastfeltinsulted,andbegantocry.
Herpartnerseizedherandbeganwhirlingherroundandperformingbeforeher;everyonelaughedand—Ilikeyourpublic,eventhecancanpublic—theylaughedandshouted,‘Servesherright—servesherright!Shouldn’tbringchildren!’
Well,it’snotmybusinesswhetherthatconsolingreflectionwaslogicalornot.
Iatoncefixedonmyplan,satdownbythemother,andbeganbysayingthatItoowasastrangerandthatpeopleherewereill-bredandthattheycouldn’tdistinguishdecentfolksandtreatthemwithrespect,gavehertounderstandthatIhadplentyofmoney,offeredtotakethemhomeinmycarriage.Itookthemhomeandgottoknowthem.
Theywerelodginginamiserablelittleholeandhadonlyjustarrivedfromthecountry.
Shetoldmethatsheandherdaughtercouldonlyregardmyacquaintanceasanhonour.
Ifoundoutthattheyhadnothingoftheirownandhadcometotownuponsomelegalbusiness.Iprofferedmyservicesandmoney.
Ilearntthattheyhadgonetothedancingsaloonbymistake,believingthatitwasagenuinedancingclass.
Iofferedtoassistintheyounggirl’seducationinFrenchanddancing.
Myofferwasacceptedwithenthusiasmasanhonour—andwearestillfriendly….
Ifyoulike,we’llgoandseethem,onlynotjustnow.”
“Stop!Enoughofyourvile,nastyanecdotes,depravedvile,sensualman!”
“Schiller,youarearegularSchiller!Olavertuva-t-ellesenicher?ButyouknowIshalltellyouthesethingsonpurpose,forthepleasureofhearingyouroutcries!”
“Idaresay.IcanseeIamridiculousmyself,”mutteredRaskolnikovangrily.
Svidrigailovlaughedheartily;finallyhecalledPhilip,paidhisbill,andbegangettingup.
“Isay,butIamdrunk,assezcausé,”hesaid.“It’sbeenapleasure.”
“Ishouldratherthinkitmustbeapleasure!”criedRaskolnikov,gettingup.
“Nodoubtitisapleasureforaworn-outprofligatetodescribesuchadventureswithamonstrousprojectofthesamesortinhismind—especiallyundersuchcircumstancesandtosuchamanasme….It’sstimulating!”
“Well,ifyoucometothat,”Svidrigailovanswered,scrutinisingRaskolnikovwithsomesurprise,“ifyoucometothat,youareathoroughcynicyourself.You’veplentytomakeyouso,anyway.
Youcanunderstandagreatdeal…andyoucandoagreatdealtoo.Butenough.
Isincerelyregretnothavinghadmoretalkwithyou,butIshan’tlosesightofyou….Onlywaitabit.”
Svidrigailovwalkedoutoftherestaurant.Raskolnikovwalkedoutafterhim.
Svidrigailovwasnothoweververydrunk,thewinehadaffectedhimforamoment,butitwaspassingoffeveryminute.
Hewaspreoccupiedwithsomethingofimportanceandwasfrowning.
Hewasapparentlyexcitedanduneasyinanticipationofsomething.
HismannertoRaskolnikovhadchangedduringthelastfewminutes,andhewasruderandmoresneeringeverymoment.
Raskolnikovnoticedallthis,andhetoowasuneasy.
HebecameverysuspiciousofSvidrigailovandresolvedtofollowhim.
Theycameoutontothepavement.
“Yougototheright,andItotheleft,orifyoulike,theotherway.Onlyadieu,monplaisir,maywemeetagain.”
AndhewalkedtotherighttowardstheHayMarket.
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