“Youarefondoffighting？”heaskedcarelessly。
　　“No，notvery，”Svidrigailovanswered，calmly。“AndMarfaPetrovnaandIscarcelyeverfought。Welivedveryharmoniously，andshewasalwayspleasedwithme。Ionlyusedthewhiptwiceinalloursevenyearsnotcountingathirdoccasionofaveryambiguouscharacter。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’tookplaceyouknow，‘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；shebargainedwithhimandboughtmeoffforthirtythousandsilverpiecesIowedseventythousand。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，becausej’ailevinmauvaisandhatedrinking，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。ThefirsttimeshecameinIwastiredyouknow: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。“Butwhatdoyousaytothisargumenthelpmewithit: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。”
　　“Allthisisverynaive…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。
　　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。Razsudkinor…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，buttohisdaughterwhomIhadneverseentillyesterday。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。
　　Thefactwasthatuptothelastmomenthehadneverexpectedsuchanending；hehadbeenoverbearingtothelastdegree，neverdreamingthattwodestituteanddefencelesswomencouldescapefromhiscontrol。Thisconvictionwasstrengthenedbyhisvanityandconceit，aconceittothepointoffatuity。PyotrPetrovitch，whohadmadehiswayupfrominsignificance，wasmorbidlygiventoself-admiration，hadthehighestopinionofhisintelligenceandcapacities，andsometimesevengloatedinsolitudeoverhisimageintheglass。Butwhathelovedandvaluedaboveallwasthemoneyhehadamassedbyhislabour，andbyallsortsofdevices:thatmoneymadehimtheequalofallwhohadbeenhissuperiors。
　　WhenhehadbitterlyremindedDouniathathehaddecidedtotakeherinspiteofevilreport，PyotrPetrovitchhadspokenwithperfectsincerityandhad，indeed，feltgenuinelyindignantatsuch“blackingratitude。”Andyet，whenhemadeDouniahisoffer，hewasfullyawareofthegroundlessnessofallthegossip。ThestoryhadbeeneverywherecontradictedbyMarfaPetrovna，andwasbythendisbelievedbyallthetownspeople，whowerewarminDounia’adefence。Andhewouldnothavedeniedthatheknewallthatatthetime。YethestillthoughthighlyofhisownresolutioninliftingDouniatohislevelandregardeditassomethingheroic。InspeakingofittoDounia，hehadletoutthesecretfeelinghecherishedandadmired，andhecouldnotunderstandthatothersshouldfailtoadmireittoo。HehadcalledonRaskolnikovwiththefeelingsofabenefactorwhoisabouttoreapthefruitsofhisgooddeedsandtohearagreeableflattery。Andashewentdownstairsnow，heconsideredhimselfmostundeservedlyinjuredandunrecognised。
　　Douniawassimplyessentialtohim；todowithoutherwasunthinkable。Formanyyearshehadhadvoluptuousdreamsofmarriage，buthehadgoneonwaitingandamassingmoney。Hebroodedwithrelish，inprofoundsecret，overtheimageofagirl—virtuous，poorshemustbepoor，veryyoung，verypretty，ofgoodbirthandeducation，verytimid，onewhohadsufferedmuch，andwascompletelyhumbledbeforehim，onewhowouldallherlifelookonhimashersaviour，worshiphim，admirehimandonlyhim。Howmanyscenes，howmanyamorousepisodeshehadimaginedonthisseductiveandplayfultheme，whenhisworkwasover！And，behold，thedreamofsomanyyearswasallbutrealised；thebeautyandeducationofAvdotyaRomanovnahadimpressedhim；herhelplesspositionhadbeenagreatallurement；inherhehadfoundevenmorethanhedreamedof。Herewasagirlofpride，character，virtue，ofeducationandbreedingsuperiortohisownhefeltthat，andthiscreaturewouldbeslavishlygratefulallherlifeforhisheroiccondescension，andwouldhumbleherselfinthedustbeforehim，andhewouldhaveabsolute，unboundedpoweroverher！…Notlongbefore，hehad，too，afterlongreflectionandhesitation，madeanimportantchangeinhiscareerandwasnowenteringonawidercircleofbusiness。Withthischangehischerisheddreamsofrisingintoahigherclassofsocietyseemedlikelytoberealised。…Hewas，infact，determinedtotryhisfortuneinPetersburg。Heknewthatwomencoulddoaverygreatdeal。Thefascinationofacharming，virtuous，highlyeducatedwomanmightmakehiswayeasier，mightdowondersinattractingpeopletohim，throwinganaureoleroundhim，andnoweverythingwasinruins！Thissuddenhorribleruptureaffectedhimlikeaclapofthunder；itwaslikeahideousjoke，anabsurdity。Hehadonlybeenatinybitmasterful，hadnoteventimetospeakout，hadsimplymadeajoke，beencarriedaway—andithadendedsoseriously。And，ofcourse，too，hedidloveDouniainhisownway；healreadypossessedherinhisdreams—andallatonce！No！Thenextday，theverynextday，itmustallbesetright，smoothedover，settled。Aboveallhemustcrushthatconceitedmilksopwhowasthecauseofitall。WithasickfeelinghecouldnothelprecallingRazumihintoo，but，hesoonreassuredhimselfonthatscore；asthoughafellowlikethatcouldbeputonalevelwithhim！ThemanhereallydreadedinearnestwasSvidrigailov。…Hehad，inshort，agreatdealtoattendto。…
　　“No，I，Iammoretoblamethananyone！”saidDounia，kissingandembracinghermother。“Iwastemptedbyhismoney，butonmyhonour，brother，Ihadnoideahewassuchabaseman。IfIhadseenthroughhimbefore，nothingwouldhavetemptedme！Don’tblameme，brother！”
　　“Godhasdeliveredus！Godhasdeliveredus！”PulcheriaAlexandrovnamuttered，buthalfconsciously，asthoughscarcelyabletorealisewhathadhappened。
　　Theywereallrelieved，andinfiveminutestheywerelaughing。OnlynowandthenDouniaturnedwhiteandfrowned，rememberingwhathadpassed。PulcheriaAlexandrovnawassurprisedtofindthatshe，too，wasglad:shehadonlythatmorningthoughtrupturewithLuzhinaterriblemisfortune。Razumihinwasdelighted。Hedidnotyetdaretoexpresshisjoyfully，buthewasinafeverofexcitementasthoughaton-weighthadfallenoffhisheart。Nowhehadtherighttodevotehislifetothem，toservethem。…Anythingmighthappennow！Buthefeltafraidtothinkoffurtherpossibilitiesanddarednotlethisimaginationrange。ButRaskolnikovsatstillinthesameplace，almostsullenandindifferent。ThoughhehadbeenthemostinsistentongettingridofLuzhin，heseemednowtheleastconcernedatwhathadhappened。Douniacouldnothelpthinkingthathewasstillangrywithher，andPulcheriaAlexandrovnawatchedhimtimidly。
　　“WhatdidSvidrigailovsaytoyou？”saidDounia，approachinghim。
　　“Yes，yes！”criedPulcheriaAlexandrovna。
　　Raskolnikovraisedhishead。
　　“Hewantstomakeyouapresentoftenthousandroublesandhedesirestoseeyouonceinmypresence。”
　　“Seeher！Onnoaccount！”criedPulcheriaAlexandrovna。“Andhowdareheofferhermoney！”
　　ThenRaskolnikovrepeatedratherdrylyhisconversationwithSvidrigailov，omittinghisaccountoftheghostlyvisitationsofMarfaPetrovna，wishingtoavoidallunnecessarytalk。
　　“Whatanswerdidyougivehim？”askedDounia。
　　“AtfirstIsaidIwouldnottakeanymessagetoyou。Thenhesaidthathewoulddohisutmosttoobtainaninterviewwithyouwithoutmyhelp。Heassuredmethathispassionforyouwasapassinginfatuation，nowhehasnofeelingforyou。Hedoesn’twantyoutomarryLuzhin。…Histalkwasaltogetherrathermuddled。”
　　“Howdoyouexplainhimtoyourself，Rodya？Howdidhestrikeyou？”
　　“ImustconfessIdon’tquiteunderstandhim。Heoffersyoutenthousand，andyetsaysheisnotwelloff。Hesaysheisgoingaway，andintenminutesheforgetshehassaidit。Thenhesaysishegoingtobemarriedandhasalreadyfixedonthegirl。…Nodoubthehasamotive，andprobablyabadone。Butit’soddthatheshouldbesoclumsyaboutitifhehadanydesignsagainstyou。…Ofcourse，Irefusedthismoneyonyouraccount，onceforall。Altogether，Ithoughthimverystrange。…Onemightalmostthinkhewasmad。ButImaybemistaken；thatmayonlybethepartheassumes。ThedeathofMarfaPetrovnaseemstohavemadeagreatimpressiononhim。”
　　“Godresthersoul，”exclaimedPulcheriaAlexandrovna。“Ishallalways，alwaysprayforher！Whereshouldwebenow，Dounia，withoutthisthreethousand！It’sasthoughithadfallenfromheaven！Why，Rodya，thismorningwehadonlythreeroublesinourpocketandDouniaandIwerejustplanningtopawnherwatch，soastoavoidborrowingfromthatmanuntilheofferedhelp。”
　　DouniaseemedstrangelyimpressedbySvidrigailov’soffer。Shestillstoodmeditating。
　　“Hehasgotsometerribleplan，”shesaidinahalfwhispertoherself，almostshuddering。
　　Raskolnikovnoticedthisdisproportionateterror。
　　“IfancyIshallhavetoseehimmorethanonceagain，”hesaidtoDounia。
　　“Wewillwatchhim！Iwilltrackhimout！”criedRazumihin，vigorously。“Iwon’tlosesightofhim。Rodyahasgivenmeleave。Hesaidtomehimselfjustnow。‘Takecareofmysister。’Willyougivemeleave，too，AvdotyaRomanovna？”
　　Douniasmiledandheldoutherhand，butthelookofanxietydidnotleaveherface。PulcheriaAlexandrovnagazedathertimidly，butthethreethousandroubleshadobviouslyasoothingeffectonher。
　　Aquarterofanhourlater，theywereallengagedinalivelyconversation。EvenRaskolnikovlistenedattentivelyforsometime，thoughhedidnottalk。Razumihinwasthespeaker。
　　“Andwhy，whyshouldyougoaway？”heflowedonecstatically。“Andwhatareyoutodoinalittletown？Thegreatthingis，youareallheretogetherandyouneedoneanother—youdoneedoneanother，believeme。Foratime，anyway。…Takemeintopartnership，andIassureyouwe’llplanacapitalenterprise。Listen！I’llexplainitallindetailtoyou，thewholeproject！Itallflashedintomyheadthismorning，beforeanythinghadhappened…Itellyouwhat；Ihaveanuncle，Imustintroducehimtoyouamostaccommodatingandrespectableoldman。Thisunclehasgotacapitalofathousandroubles，andhelivesonhispensionandhasnoneedofthatmoney。Forthelasttwoyearshehasbeenbotheringmetoborrowitfromhimandpayhimsixpercent。interest。Iknowwhatthatmeans；hesimplywantstohelpme。yearIhadnoneedofit，butthisyearIresolvedtoborrowitassoonashearrived。Thenyoulendmeanotherthousandofyourthreeandwehaveenoughforastart，sowe’llgointopartnership，andwhatarewegoingtodo？”
　　ThenRazumihinbegantounfoldhisproject，andheexplainedatlengththatalmostallourpublishersandbooksellersknownothingatallofwhattheyareselling，andforthatreasontheyareusuallybadpublishers，andthatanydecentpublicationspayasaruleandgiveaprofit，sometimesaconsiderableone。Razumihinhad，indeed，beendreamingofsettingupasapublisher。Forthelasttwoyearshehadbeenworkinginpublishers’offices，andknewthreeEuropeanlanguageswell，thoughhehadtoldRaskolnikovsixdaysbeforethathewas“schwach”inGermanwithanobjectofpersuadinghimtotakehalfhistranslationandhalfthepaymentforit。Hehadtoldaliethen，andRaskolnikovknewhewaslying。
　　“Why，whyshouldweletourchanceslipwhenwehaveoneofthechiefmeansofsuccess—moneyofourown！”criedRazumihinwarmly。“Ofcoursetherewillbealotofwork，butwewillwork，you，AvdotyaRomanovna，I，Rodion。…Yougetasplendidprofitonsomebooksnowadays！Andthegreatpointofthebusinessisthatweshallknowjustwhatwantstranslating，andweshallbetranslating，publishing，learningallatonce。IcanbeofusebecauseIhaveexperience。FornearlytwoyearsI’vebeenscuttlingaboutamongthepublishers，andnowIknoweverydetailoftheirbusiness。Youneednotbeasainttomakepots，believeme！Andwhy，whyshouldweletourchanceslip！Why，Iknow—andIkeptthesecret—twoorthreebookswhichonemightgetahundredroublessimplyforthinkingoftranslatingandpublishing。Indeed，andIwouldnottakefivehundredfortheveryideaofoneofthem。Andwhatdoyouthink？IfIweretotellapublisher，Idaresayhe’dhesitate—theyaresuchblockheads！Andasforthebusinessside，printing，paper，selling，youtrusttome，Iknowmywayabout。We’llbegininasmallwayandgoontoalarge。Inanycaseitwillgetusourlivingandweshallgetbackourcapital。”
　　Dounia’seyesshone。
　　“Ilikewhatyouaresaying，DmitriProkofitch！”shesaid。
　　“Iknownothingaboutit，ofcourse，”putinPulcheriaAlexandrovna，“itmaybeagoodidea，butagainGodknows。It’snewanduntried。Ofcourse，wemustremainhereatleastforatime。”ShelookedatRodya。
　　“Whatdoyouthink，brother？”saidDounia。
　　“Ithinkhe’sgotaverygoodidea，”heanswered。“Ofcourse，it’stoosoontodreamofapublishingfirm，butwecertainlymightbringoutfiveorsixbooksandbesureofsuccess。Iknowofonebookmyselfwhichwouldbesuretogowell。Andasforhisbeingabletomanageit，there’snodoubtaboutthateither。Heknowsthebusiness。…Butwecantalkitoverlater。…”
　　“Hurrah！”criedRazumihin。“Now，stay，there’saflathereinthishouse，belongingtothesameowner。It’saspecialflatapart，notcommunicatingwiththeselodgings。It’sfurnished，rentmoderate，threerooms。Supposeyoutakethemtobeginwith。I’llpawnyourwatchto-morrowandbringyouthemoney，andeverythingcanbearrangedthen。Youcanallthreelivetogether，andRodyawillbewithyou。Butwhereareyouoffto，Rodya？”
　　“What，Rodya，youaregoingalready？”PulcheriaAlexandrovnaaskedindismay。
　　“Atsuchaminute？”criedRazumihin。
　　Dounialookedatherbrotherwithincredulouswonder。Heheldhiscapinhishand，hewaspreparingtoleavethem。
　　“Onewouldthinkyouwereburyingmeorsayinggood-byeforever，”hesaidsomewhatoddly。Heattemptedtosmile，butitdidnotturnoutasmile。“Butwhoknows，perhapsitisthelasttimeweshallseeeachother…”heletslipaccidentally。Itwaswhathewasthinking，anditsomehowwasutteredaloud。
　　“Whatisthematterwithyou？”criedhismother。
　　“Whereareyougoing，Rodya？”askedDouniaratherstrangely。
　　“Oh，I’mquiteobligedto…”heansweredvaguely，asthoughhesitatingwhathewouldsay。Buttherewasalookofsharpdeterminationinhiswhiteface。
　　“Imeanttosay…asIwascominghere…Imeanttotellyou，mother，andyou，Dounia，thatitwouldbebetterforustopartforatime。Ifeelill，Iamnotatpeace。…Iwillcomeafterwards，Iwillcomeofmyself…whenit’spossible。Irememberyouandloveyou。…Leaveme，leavemealone。Idecidedthisevenbefore…I’mabsolutelyresolvedonit。Whatevermaycometome，whetherIcometoruinornot，Iwanttobealone。Forgetmealtogether，it’sbetter。Don’tinquireaboutme。WhenIcan，I’llcomeofmyselfor…I’llsendforyou。Perhapsitwillallcomeback，butnowifyouloveme，givemeup…elseIshallbegintohateyou，Ifeelit。…Good-bye！”
　　“GoodGod！”criedPulcheriaAlexandrovna。Bothhismotherandhissisterwereterriblyalarmed。Razumihinwasalso。
　　“Rodya，Rodya，bereconciledwithus！Letusbeasbefore！”criedhispoormother。
　　Heturnedslowlytothedoorandslowlywentoutoftheroom。Douniaovertookhim。
　　“Brother，whatareyoudoingtomother？”shewhispered，hereyesflashingwithindignation。
　　Helookeddullyather。
　　“Nomatter，Ishallcome。…I’mcoming，”hemutteredinanundertone，asthoughnotfullyconsciousofwhathewassaying，andhewentoutoftheroom。
　　“Wicked，heartlessegoist！”criedDounia。
　　“Heisinsane，butnotheartless。Heismad！Don’tyouseeit？You’reheartlessafterthat！”Razumihinwhisperedinherear，squeezingherhandtightly。“Ishallbebackdirectly，”heshoutedtothehorror-strickenmother，andheranoutoftheroom。
　　Raskolnikovwaswaitingforhimattheendofthepassage。
　　“Iknewyouwouldrunafterme，”hesaid。“Gobacktothem—bewiththem…bewiththemto-morrowandalways。…I…perhapsIshallcome…ifIcan。Good-bye。”
　　Andwithoutholdingouthishandhewalkedaway。
　　“Butwhereareyougoing？Whatareyoudoing？What’sthematterwithyou？Howcanyougoonlikethis？”Razumihinmuttered，athiswits’end。
　　Raskolnikovstoppedoncemore。
　　“Onceforall，neveraskmeaboutanything。Ihavenothingtotellyou。Don’tcometoseeme。MaybeI’llcomehere。…Leaveme，butdon’tleavethem。Doyouunderstandme？”
　　Itwasdarkinthecorridor，theywerestandingnearthelamp。Foraminutetheywerelookingatoneanotherinsilence。Razumihinrememberedthatminuteallhislife。Raskolnikov’sburningandintenteyesgrewmorepenetratingeverymoment，piercingintohissoul，intohisconsciousness。SuddenlyRazumihinstarted。Somethingstrange，asitwere，passedbetweenthem。…Someidea，somehint，asitwere，slipped，somethingawful，hideous，andsuddenlyunderstoodonbothsides。…Razumihinturnedpale。
　　“Doyouunderstandnow？”saidRaskolnikov，hisfacetwitchingnervously。“Goback，gotothem，”hesaidsuddenly，andturningquickly，hewentoutofthehouse。
　　IwillnotattempttodescribehowRazumihinwentbacktotheladies，howhesoothedthem，howheprotestedthatRodyaneededrestinhisillness，protestedthatRodyawassuretocome，thathewouldcomeeveryday，thathewasvery，verymuchupset，thathemustnotbeirritated，thathe，Razumihin，wouldwatchoverhim，wouldgethimadoctor，thebestdoctor，aconsultation。…InfactfromthateveningRazumihintookhisplacewiththemasasonandabrother。