crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第86节
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〃Why； on that 'journey'； you spoke of it yourself。〃
〃A journey？ Oh； yes。 I did speak of a journey。 Well； that's a wide
subject。。。。 if only you knew what you are asking；〃 he added； and
gave a sudden； loud； short laugh。 〃Perhaps I'll get married instead of
the journey。 They're making a match for me。〃
〃Here？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃How have you had time for that？〃
〃But I am very anxious to see Avdotya Romanovna once。 I earnestly
beg it。 Well； good…bye for the present。 Oh； yes； I have forgotten
something。 Tell your sister； Rodion Romanovitch； that Marfa Petrovna
remembered her in her will and left her three thousand rubles。
That's absolutely certain。 Marfa Petrovna arranged it a week before
her death； and it was done in my presence。 Avdotya Romanovna will be
able to receive the money in two or three weeks。〃
〃Are you telling the truth？〃
〃Yes； tell her。 Well； your servant。 I am staying very near you。〃
As he went out； Svidrigailov ran up against Razumihin in the
doorway。
Chapter Two
IT WAS nearly eight o'clock。 The two young men hurried to
Bakaleyev's； to arrive before Luzhin。
〃Why； who was that？〃 asked Razumihin； as soon as they were in the
street。
〃It was Svidrigailov； that landowner in whose house my sister was
insulted when she was their governess。 Through his persecuting her
with his attentions； she was turned out by his wife； Marfa Petrovna。
This Marfa Petrovna begged Dounia's forgiveness afterwards； and
she's just died suddenly。 It was of her we were talking this
morning。 I don't know why I'm afraid of that man。 He came here at once
after his wife's funeral。 He is very strange； and is determined on
doing something。。。。 We must guard Dounia from him。。。 that's what I
wanted to tell you； do you hear？〃
〃Guard her！ What can he do to harm Avdotya Romanovna？ Thank you；
Rodya； for speaking to me like that。。。。 We will； we will guard her。
Where does he live？〃
〃I don't know。〃
〃Why didn't you ask？ What a pity！ I'll find out； though。〃
〃Did you see him？〃 asked Raskolnikov after a pause。
〃Yes； I noticed him； I noticed him well。〃
〃You did really see him？ You saw him clearly？〃 Raskolnikov insisted。
〃Yes； I remember him perfectly； I should know him in a thousand； I
have a good memory for faces。〃
They were silent again。
〃Hm！。。。 that's all right；〃 muttered Raskolnikov。 〃Do you know； I
fancied。。。 I keep thinking that it may have been an hallucination。〃
〃What do you mean？ I don't understand you。〃
〃Well； you all say；〃 Raskolnikov went on； twisting his mouth into
a smile； 〃that I am mad。 I thought just now that perhaps I really am
mad； and have only seen a phantom。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Why； who can tell？ Perhaps I am really mad； and perhaps
everything that happened all these days may be only imagination。〃
〃Ach； Rodya； you have been upset again！。。。 But what did he say； what
did he come for？〃
Raskolnikov did not answer。 Razumihin thought a minute。
〃Now let me tell you my story；〃 he began； 〃I came to you； you were
asleep。 Then we had dinner and then I went to Porfiry's； Zametov was
still with him。 I tried to begin； but it was no use。 I couldn't
speak in the right way。 They don't seem to understand and can't
understand； but are not a bit ashamed。 I drew Porfiry to the window；
and began talking to him； but it was still no use。 He looked away
and I looked away。 At last I shook my fist in his ugly face； and
told him as a cousin I'd brain him。 He merely looked at me； I cursed
and came away。 That was all。 It was very stupid。 To Zametov I didn't
say a word。 But； you see； I thought I'd made a mess of it； but as I
went downstairs a brilliant idea struck me： why should we trouble？
Of course if you were in any danger or anything； but why need you
care？ You needn't care a hang for them。 We shall have a laugh at
them afterwards； and if I were in your place I'd mystify them more
than ever。 How ashamed they'll be afterwards！ Hang them！ We can thrash
them afterwards； but let's laugh at them now！〃
〃To be sure；〃 answered Raskolnikov。 〃But what will you say
to…morrow？〃 he thought to himself。 Strange to say； till that moment it
had never occurred to him to wonder what Razumihin would think when he
knew。 As he thought it； Raskolnikov looked at him。 Razumihin's account
of his visit to Porfiry had very little interest for him； so much
had come and gone since then。
In the corridor they came upon Luzhin； he had arrived punctually
at eight； and was looking for the number； so that all three went in
together without greeting or looking at one another。 The young men
walked in first； while Pyotr Petrovitch； for good manners； lingered
a little in the passage； taking off his coat。 Pulcheria Alexandrovna
came forward at once to greet him in the doorway； Dounia was welcoming
her brother。 Pyotr Petrovitch walked in and quite amiably； though with
redoubled dignity； bowed to the ladies。 He looked； however； as
though he were a little put out and could not yet recover himself。
Pulcheria Alexandrovna； who seemed also a little embarrassed； hastened
to make them all sit down at the round table where a samovar was
boiling。 Dounia and Luzhin were facing one another on opposite sides
of the table。 Razumihin and Raskolnikov were facing Pulcheria
Alexandrovna； Razumihin was next to Luzhin and Raskolnikov was
beside his sister。
A moment's silence followed。 Pyotr Petrovitch deliberately drew
out a cambric handkerchief reeking of scent and blew his nose with
an air of a benevolent man who felt himself slighted； and was firmly
resolved to insist on an explanation。 In the passage the idea had
occurred to him to keep on his overcoat and walk away； and so give the
two ladies a sharp and emphatic lesson and make them feel the
gravity of the position。 But he could not bring himself to do this。
Besides； he could not endure uncertainty and he wanted an explanation：
if his request had been so openly disobeyed； there was something
behind it； and in that case it was better to find it out beforehand；
it rested with him to punish them and there would always be time for
that。
〃I trust you had a favourable journey；〃 he inquired officially of
Pulcheria Alexandrovna。
〃Oh； very； Pyotr Petrovitch。〃
〃I am gratified to hear it。 And Avdotya Romanovna is not over
fatigued either？〃
〃I am young and strong； I don't get tired； but it was a great strain
for mother；〃 answered Dounia。
〃That's unavoidable； our national railways are of terrible length。
'Mother Russia；' as they say； is a vast country。。。。 In spite of all my
desire to do so； I was unable to meet you yesterday。 But I trust all
passed off without inconvenience？〃
〃Oh； no； Pyotr Petrovitch； it was all terribly disheartening；〃
Pulcheria Alexandrovna hastened
