crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第108节
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therefore I wanted to speak to her about。。。 However； you may be
present during the interview。 It's better you should be； indeed。 For
there's no knowing what you might imagine。〃
〃I shan't imagine anything。 I only asked and； if you've anything
to say to her； nothing is easier than to call her in。 I'll go directly
and you may be sure I won't be in your way。〃
Five minutes later Lebeziatnikov came in with Sonia。 She came in
very much surprised and overcome with shyness as usual。 She was always
shy in such circumstances and was always afraid of new people； she had
been as a child and was even more so now。。。。 Pyotr Petrovitch met
her 〃politely and affably；〃 but with a certain shade of bantering
familiarity which in his opinion was suitable for a man of his
respectability and weight in dealing with a creature so young and so
interesting as she。 He hastened to 〃reassure〃 her and made her sit
down facing him at the table。 Sonia sat down； looked about her… at
Lebeziatnikov； at the notes lying on the table and then again at Pyotr
Petrovitch and her eyes remained riveted on him。 Lebeziatnikov was
moving to the door。 Pyotr Petrovitch signed to Sonia to remain
seated and stopped Lebeziatnikov。
〃Is Raskolnikov in there？ Has he come？〃 he asked him in a whisper。
〃Raskolnikov？ Yes。 Why？ Yes； he is there。 I saw him just come in。。。。
Why？〃
〃Well； I particularly beg you to remain here with us and not to
leave me alone with this。。。 young woman。 I only want a few words
with her； but God knows what they may make of it。 I shouldn't like
Raskolnikov to repeat anything。。。。 You understand what I mean？〃
〃I understand！〃 Lebeziatnikov saw the point。 〃Yes； you are right。。。。
Of course； I am convinced personally that you have no reason to be
uneasy； but。。。 still； you are right。 Certainly I'll stay。 I'll stand
here at the window and not be in your way。。。 I think you are
right。。。〃
Pyotr Petrovitch returned to the sofa； sat down opposite Sonia；
looked attentively at her and assumed an extremely dignified； even
severe expression； as much as to say； 〃don't you make any mistake；
madam。〃 Sonia was overwhelmed with embarrassment。
〃In the first place； Sofya Semyonovna； will you make my excuses to
your respected mamma。。。。 That's right； isn't it？ Katerina Ivanovna
stands in the place of a mother to you？〃 Pyotr Petrovitch began with
great dignity； though affably。
It was evident that his intentions were friendly。
〃Quite so； yes； the place of a mother；〃 Sonia answered； timidly
and hurriedly。
〃Then will you make my apologies to her？ Through inevitable
circumstances I am forced to be absent and shall not be at the
dinner in spite of your mamma's kind invitation。〃
〃Yes。。。 I'll tell her。。。 at once。〃
And Sonia hastily jumped up from her seat。
〃Wait； that's not all；〃 Pyotr Petrovitch detained her； smiling at
her simplicity and ignorance of good manners； 〃and you know me little；
my dear Sofya Semyonovna； if you suppose I would have ventured to
trouble a person like you for a matter of so little consequence
affecting myself only。 I have another object。〃
Sonia sat down hurriedly。 Her eyes rested again for an instant on
the grey and rainbow…coloured notes that remained on the table； but
she quickly looked away and fixed her eyes on Pyotr Petrovitch。 She
felt it horribly indecorous； especially for her； to look at another
person's money。 She stared at the gold eyeglass which Pyotr Petrovitch
held in his left hand and at the massive and extremely handsome ring
with a yellow stone on his middle finger。 But suddenly she looked away
and； not knowing where to turn； ended by staring Pyotr Petrovitch
again straight in the face。 After a pause of still greater dignity
he continued。
〃I chanced yesterday in passing to exchange a couple of words with
Katerina Ivanovna； poor woman。 That was sufficient to enable me to
ascertain that she is in a position… preternatural； if one may so
express it。〃
〃Yes。。。 preternatural。。。〃 Sonia hurriedly assented。
〃Or it would be simpler and more comprehensible to say； ill。〃
〃Yes； simpler and more comprehen。。。 yes； ill。〃
〃Quite so。 So then from a feeling of humanity and so to speak
compassion； I should be glad to be of service to her in any way；
foreseeing her unfortunate position。 I believe the whole of this
poverty…stricken family depends now entirely on you？〃
〃Allow me to ask；〃 Sonia rose to her feet； 〃did you say something to
her yesterday of the possibility of a pension？ Because she told me you
had undertaken to get her one。 Was that true？〃
〃Not in the slightest； and indeed it's an absurdity！ I merely hinted
at her obtaining temporary assistance as the widow of an official
who had died in the service… if only she has patronage。。。 but
apparently your late parent had not served his full term and had not
indeed been in the service at all of late。 In fact； if there could
be any hope； it would be very ephemeral； because there would be no
claim for assistance in that case； far from it。。。。 And she is dreaming
of a pension already； he…he…he！。。。 A go…ahead lady！〃
〃Yes； she is。 For she is credulous and good…hearted； and she
believes everything from the goodness of her heart and。。。 and。。。 and
she is like that。。。 yes。。。 You must excuse her；〃 said Sonia； and again
she got up to go。
〃But you haven't heard what I have to say。〃
〃No； I haven't heard；〃 muttered Sonia。
〃Then sit down。〃 She was terribly confused； she sat down again a
third time。
〃Seeing her position with her unfortunate little ones； I should be
glad； as I have said before； so far as lies in my power； to be of
service； that is； so far as is in my power； not more。 One might for
instance get up a subscription for her； or a lottery； something of the
sort； such as is always arranged in such cases by friends or even
outsiders desirous of assisting people。 It was of that I intended to
speak to you； it might be done。〃
〃Yes； yes。。。 God will repay you for it；〃 faltered Sonia； gazing
intently at Pyotr Petrovitch。
〃It might be； but we will talk of it later。 We might begin it
to…day； we will talk it over this evening and lay the foundation so to
speak。 Come to me at seven o'clock。 Mr。 Lebeziatnikov； I hope； will
assist us。 But there is one circumstance of which I ought to warn
you beforehand and for which I venture to trouble you； Sofya
Semyonovna； to come here。 In my opinion money cannot be； indeed it's
unsafe to put it into Katerina Ivanovna's own hands。 The dinner to…day
is a proof of that。 Though she has not； so to speak； a crust of
bread for to…morrow and。。。 well； boots or shoes； or anything； she
has bought to…day Jamaica rum； and even； I believe； Madeira and。。。 and
coffee。 I saw it as I passed through。 To…morrow it will all fall
upon you again； they won't have a crust of bread。 It's absurd； really；
and so； to my thinking； a subscription ought to be raised so that
the unhappy widow should not know of the money； but only you； for
instance。 Am I right？〃
〃I don't know。。。 this is only to…day； once in her life。。。。 She was
so anxious to do honour； to celebrate the memory。。。。 And she is very
sensible。。。 but just as you think and I shall be very； very。。。 they
will all be。。。 and God will reward
