crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第91节
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said to me himself just now。 'Take care of my sister。' Will you give
me leave； too； Avdotya Romanovna？〃
Dounia smiled and held out her hand； but the look of anxiety did not
leave her face。 Pulcheria Alexandrovna gazed at her timidly； but the
three thousand roubles had obviously a soothing effect on her。
A quarter of an hour later； they were all engaged in a lively
conversation。 Even Raskolnikov listened attentively for some time；
though he did not talk。 Razumihin was the speaker。
〃And why； why should you go away？〃 he flowed on ecstatically。 〃And
what are you to do in a little town？ The great thing is； you are all
here together and you need one another… you do need one another；
believe me。 For a time； anyway。。。。 Take me into partnership and I
assure you we'll plan a capital enterprise。 Listen！ I'll explain it
all in detail to you； the whole project！ It all flashed into my head
this morning； before anything had happened。。。 I tell you what； I
have an uncle； I must introduce him to you （a most accommodating and
respectable old man）。 This uncle has got a capital of a thousand
roubles； and he lives on his pension and has no need of that money。
For the last two years he has been bothering me to borrow it from
him and pay him six per cent。 interest。 I know what that means； he
simply wants to help me。 Last year I had no need of it； but this
year I resolved to borrow it as soon as he arrived。 Then you lend me
another thousand of your three and we have enough for a start； so
we'll go into partnership； and what are we going to do？〃
Then Razumihin began to unfold his project； and he explained at
length that almost all our publishers and booksellers know nothing
at all of what they are selling； and for that reason they are
usually bad publishers； and that any decent publications pay as a rule
and give a profit； sometimes a considerable one。 Razumihin had；
indeed； been dreaming of setting up as a publisher。 For the last two
years he had been working in publishers' offices； and knew three
European languages well； though he had told Raskolnikov six days
before that he was 〃schwach〃 in German with an object of persuading
him to take half his translation and half the payment for it。 He had
told a lie； then； and Raskolnikov knew he was lying。
〃Why； why should we let our chance slip when we have one of the
chief means of success… money of our own！〃 cried Razumihin warmly。 〃Of
course there will be a lot of work； but we will work； you； Avdotya
Romanovna； I； Rodion。。。。 You get a splendid profit on some books
nowadays！ And the great point of the business is that we shall know
just what wants translating； and we shall be translating；
publishing； learning all at once。 I can be of use because I have
experience。 For nearly two years I've been scuttling about among the
publishers； and now I know every detail of their business。 You need
not be a saint to make pots； believe me！ And why； why should we let
our chance slip！ Why； I know… and I kept the secret… two or three
books which one might get a hundred roubles simply for thinking of
translating and publishing。 Indeed； and I would not take five
hundred for the very idea of one of them。 And what do you think？ If
I were to tell a publisher； I dare say he'd hesitate… they are such
blockheads！ And as for the business side； printing； paper； selling；
you trust to me； I know my way about。 We'll begin in a small way and
go on to a large。 In any case it will get us our living and we shall
get back our capital。〃
Dounia's eyes shone。
〃I like what you are saying； Dmitri Prokofitch！〃 she said。
〃I know nothing about it； of course；〃 put in Pulcheria Alexandrovna；
〃it may be a good idea； but again God knows。 It's new and untried。
Of course； we must remain here at least for a time。〃 She looked at
Rodya。
〃What do you think； brother？〃 said Dounia。
〃I think he's got a very good idea；〃 he answered。 〃Of course； it's
too soon to dream of a publishing firm； but we certainly might bring
out five or six books and be sure of success。 I know of one book
myself which would be sure to go well。 And as for his being able to
manage it； there's no doubt about that either。 He knows the
business。。。。 But we can talk it over later。。。。〃
〃Hurrah！〃 cried Razumihin。 〃Now； stay； there's a flat here in this
house； belonging to the same owner。 It's a special flat apart； not
communicating with these lodgings。 It's furnished； rent moderate；
three rooms。 Suppose you take them to begin with。 I'll pawn your watch
to…morrow and bring you the money； and everything can be arranged
then。 You can all three live together； and Rodya will be with you。 But
where are you off to； Rodya？〃
〃What； Rodya； you are going already？〃 Pulcheria Alexandrovna asked
in dismay。
〃At such a minute？〃 cried Razumihin。
Dounia looked at her brother with incredulous wonder。 He held his
cap in his hand； he was preparing to leave them。
〃One would think you were burying me or saying good…bye for ever；〃
he said somewhat oddly。 He attempted to smile； but it did not turn out
a smile。 〃But who knows； perhaps it is the last time we shall see each
other。。。〃 he let slip accidentally。 It was what he was thinking； and
it somehow was uttered aloud。
〃What is the matter with you？〃 cried his mother。
〃Where are you going； Rodya？〃 asked Dounia rather strangely。
〃Oh； I'm quite obliged to。。。〃 he answered vaguely； as though
hesitating what he would say。 But there was a look of sharp
determination in his white face。
〃I meant to say。。。 as I was coming here。。。 I meant to tell you；
mother； and you； Dounia； that it would be better for us to part for
a time。 I feel ill； I am not at peace。。。。 I will come afterwards； I
will come of myself。。。 when it's possible； I remember you and love
you。。。。 Leave me； leave me alone。 I decided this even before。。。 I'm
absolutely resolved on it。 Whatever may come to me； whether I come
to ruin or not； I want to be alone。 Forget me altogether； it's better。
Don't inquire about me。 When I can； I'll come of myself or。。。 I'll
send for you。 Perhaps it will all come back； but now if you love me；
give me up。。。 else I shall begin to hate you； I feel it。。。。 Good…bye！〃
〃Good God！〃 cried Pulcheria Alexandrovna。 Both his mother and his
sister were terribly alarmed。 Razumihin was also。
〃Rodya； Rodya； be reconciled with us！ Let us be as before！〃 cried
his poor mother。
He turned slowly to the door and slowly went out of the room。 Dounia
overtook him。
〃Brother； what are you doing to mother？〃 she whispered； her eyes
flashing with indignation。
He looked dully at her。
〃No matter； I shall come。。。。 I'm coming；〃 he muttered in an
undertone； as though not fully conscious of what he was saying； and he
went out of the room。
〃Wicked； heartless egoist！〃 cried Dounia。
〃He is insane； but not heartless。 He is mad！ Don't you see it？
You're heartless after that！〃 Razumihin whispered in her ear；
squeezing her hand tightly。 〃I shall be back directly；〃 he shouted
to the horror…stricken mother； and he ran out of the room。
Raskolnikov was waiting for him at the end of the passage。
〃I knew you would run after me；〃 he said。 〃Go back to them… be
with them。。。 be with them to…morrow and always。。。。 I。。。 perhaps I
shall come。。。 if I can。 Good…bye。〃
