crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第130节
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work which is as good as any other and much better than the work of
a Raphael and a Pushkin； because it is more useful。〃
〃And more honourable； more honourable； he…he…he！〃
〃What do you mean by 'more honourable'？ I don't understand such
expressions to describe human activity。 'More honourable；' 'nobler'…
all those are old…fashioned prejudices which I reject。 Everything
which is of use to mankind is honourable。 I only understand one
word： useful！ You can snigger as much as you like； but that's so！〃
Pyotr Petrovitch laughed heartily。 He had finished counting the
money and was putting it away。 But some of the notes he left on the
table。 The 〃cesspool question〃 had already been a subject of dispute
between them。 What was absurd was that it made Lebeziatnikov really
angry； while it amused Luzhin and at that moment he particularly
wanted to anger his young friend。
〃It's your ill…luck yesterday that makes you so ill…humoured and
annoying；〃 blurted out Lebeziatnikov； who in spite of his
〃independence〃 and his 〃protests〃 did not venture to oppose Pyotr
Petrovitch and still behaved to him with some of the respect
habitual in earlier years。
〃You'd better tell me this；〃 Pyotr Petrovitch interrupted with
haughty displeasure； 〃can you。。。 or rather are you really friendly
enough with that young person to ask her to step in here for a minute？
I think they've all come back from the cemetery。。。 I hear the sound of
steps。。。 I want to see her； that young person。〃
〃What for？〃 Lebeziatnikov asked with surprise。
〃Oh； I want to。 I am leaving here to…day or to…morrow and
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 fa
