crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第64节
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the idea of marrying that girl… what was her name… his landlady's
daughter？〃
〃Did you hear about that affair？〃 asked Avdotya Romanovna。
〃Do you suppose…〃 Pulcheria Alexandrovna continued warmly。 〃Do you
suppose that my tears； my entreaties； my illness； my possible death
from grief； our poverty would have made him pause？ No； he would calmly
have disregarded all obstacles。 And yet it isn't that he doesn't
love us！〃
〃He has never spoken a word of that affair to me；〃 Razumihin
answered cautiously。 〃But I did hear something from Praskovya Pavlovna
herself； though she is by no means a gossip。 And what I heard
certainly was rather strange。〃
〃And what did you hear？〃 both the ladies asked at once。
〃Well； nothing very special。 I only learned that the marriage； which
only failed to take place through the girl's death； was not at all
to Praskovya Pavlovna's liking。 They say； too； the girl was not at all
pretty； in fact I am told positively ugly。。。 and such an invalid。。。
and queer。 But she seems to have had some good qualities。 She must
have had some good qualities or it's quite inexplicable。。。。 She had no
money either and he wouldn't have considered her money。。。。 But it's
always difficult to judge in such matters。〃
〃I am sure she was a good girl；〃 Avdotya Romanovna observed briefly。
〃God forgive me； I simply rejoiced at her death。 Though I don't know
which of them would have caused most misery to the other… he to her or
she to him；〃 Pulcheria Alexandrovna concluded。 Then she began
tentatively questioning him about the scene on the previous day with
Luzhin； hesitating and continually glancing at Dounia； obviously to
the latter's annoyance。 This incident more than all the rest evidently
caused her uneasiness； even consternation。 Razumihin described it in
detail again； but this time he added his own conclusions： he openly
blamed Raskolnikov for intentionally insulting Pyotr Petrovitch； not
seeking to excuse him on the score of his illness。
〃He had planned it before his illness；〃 he added。
〃I think so； too；〃 Pulcheria Alexandrovna agreed with a dejected
air。 But she was very much surprised at hearing Razumihin express
himself so carefully and even with a certain respect about Pyotr
Petrovitch。 Avdotya Romanovna； too； was struck by it。
〃So this is your opinion of Pyotr Petrovitch？〃 Pulcheria
Alexandrovna could not resist asking。
〃I can have no other opinion of your daughter's future husband；〃
Razumihin answered firmly and with warmth； 〃and I don't say it
simply from vulgar politeness； but because。。。 simply because Avdotya
Romanovna has of her own free will deigned to accept this man。 If I
spoke so rudely of him last night； it was because I was disgustingly
drunk and。。。 mad besides； yes； mad； crazy； I lost my head
completely。。。 and this morning I am ashamed of it。〃
He crimsoned and ceased speaking。 Avdotya Romanovna flushed； but did
not break the silence。 She had not uttered a word from the moment they
began to speak of Luzhin。
Without her support Pulcheria Alexandrovna obviously did not know
what to do。 At last； faltering and continually glancing at her
daughter； she confessed that she was exceedingly worried by one
circumstance。
〃You see； Dmitri Prokofitch；〃 she began。 〃I'll be perfectly open
with Dmitri Prokofitch； Dounia？〃
〃Of course； mother；〃 said Avdotya Romanovna emphatically。
〃This is what it is；〃 she began in haste； as though the permission
to speak of her trouble lifted a weight off her mind。 〃Very early this
morning we got a note from Pyotr Petrovitch in reply to our letter
announcing our arrival。 He promised to meet us at the station； you
know； instead of that he sent a servant to bring us the address of
these lodgings and to show us the way； and he sent a message that he
would be here himself this morning。 But this morning this note came
from him。 You'd better read it yourself； there is one point in it
which worries me very much。。。 you will soon see what that is； and。。。
tell me your candid opinion； Dmitri Prokofitch！ You know Rodya's
character better than any one and no one can advise us better than you
can。 Dounia； I must tell you； made her decision at once； but I still
don't feel sure how to act and I。。。 I've been waiting for your
opinion。〃
Razumihin opened the note which was dated the previous evening and
read as follows：
…
〃DEAR MADAM； Pulcheria Alexandrovna； I have the honour to inform you
that owing to unforeseen obstacles I was rendered unable to meet you
at the railway station； I sent a very competent person with the same
object in view。 I likewise shall be deprived of the honour of an
interview with you to…morrow morning by business in the Senate that
does not admit of delay； and also that I may not intrude on your
family circle while you are meeting your son； and Avdotya Romanovna
her brother。 I shall have the honour of visiting you and paying you my
respects at your lodgings not later than to…morrow evening at eight
o'clock precisely； and herewith I venture to present my earnest and； I
may add； imperative request that Rodion Romanovitch may not be present
at our interview… as he offered me a gross and unprecedented affront
on the occasion of my visit to him in his illness yesterday； and；
moreover； since I desire from you personally an indispensable and
circumstantial explanation upon a certain point； in regard to which
I wish to learn your own interpretation。 I have the honour to inform
you； in anticipation； that if； in spite of my request； I meet Rodion
Romanovitch； I shall be compelled to withdraw immediately and then you
have only yourself to blame。 I write on the assumption that Rodion
Romanovitch who appeared so ill at my visit； suddenly recovered two
hours later and so； being able to leave the house； may visit you also。
I was confirmed in that belief by the testimony of my own eyes in
the lodging of a drunken man who was run over and has since died； to
whose daughter； a young woman of notorious behaviour； he gave
twenty…five roubles on the pretext of the funeral； which gravely
surprised me knowing what pains you were at to raise that sum。
Herewith expressing my special respect to your estimable daughter；
Avdotya Romanovna； I beg you to accept the respectful homage of
〃Your humble servant；
〃P。 LUZHIN。〃
…
〃What am I to do now； Dmitri Prokofitch？〃 began Pulcheria
Alexandrovna； almost weeping。 〃How can I ask Rodya not to come？
Yesterday he insisted so earnestly on our refusing Pyotr Petrovitch
and now we are ordered not to receive Rodya！ He will come on purpose
if he knows； and。。。 what will happen then？〃
〃Act on Avdotya Romanovna's decision；〃 Razumihin answered calmly
at once。
〃Oh； dear me！ She says。。。 goodness knows what she says； she
doesn't explain her object！ She says that it would be best； at
least； not that it would be best； but that it's absolutely necessary
that Rodya should make a point of being here at eight o'clock and that
they must meet。。。。 I didn't want even to show him the letter； but to
prevent him from coming by some stratagem with your help。。。 because he
is so irritable。。。。 Besides I don't understand about that drunkard who
died and that daughter； and how he could have given the daughter all
the money。。。 which。。。〃
