Raskolnikov walked after him.
“What’s this?” Svidrigaïlov round, “I I said...”
“It means that I am not going to of you now.”
“What?”
Both still and at one another, as though their
strength.
“From all your stories,” Raskolnikov harshly, “I am
_positive_ that you have not up your designs on my sister, but
are them more than ever. I have learnt that my sister
received a this morning. You have been able to still
all this time.... You may have a wife on the way, but that
means nothing. I should like to make myself.”
Raskolnikov have said himself what he wanted and of what he
wished to make certain.
“Upon my word! I’ll call the police!”
“Call away!”
Again they for a minute each other. At last Svidrigaïlov’s
face changed. Having satisfied himself that Raskolnikov was not
frightened at his threat, he a and air.
“What a fellow! I from to your affair,
though I am by curiosity. It’s a affair. I’ve put it
off till another time, but you’re to the dead.... Well, let
us go, only I you I am only going home for a moment,
to some money; then I shall lock up the flat, take a and go to
spend the at the Islands. Now, now are you going to me?”
“I’m to your lodgings, not to see you but Sofya Semyonovna, to
say I’m sorry not to have been at the funeral.”
“That’s as you like, but Sofya Semyonovna is not at home. She has taken
the three children to an old lady of high rank, the of some
orphan asylums, I used to know years ago. I the old lady by
depositing a of money with her to provide for the three children of
Katerina Ivanovna and to the as well. I told her
too the of Sofya Semyonovna in full detail, nothing.
It produced an on her. That’s why Sofya Semyonovna
has been to call to-day at the X. Hotel where the lady is
staying for the time.”
“No matter, I’ll come all the same.”
“As you like, it’s nothing to me, but I won’t come with you; here we are
at home. By the way, I am that you me with suspicion
just I have such and have not so troubled
you with questions... you understand? It you as extraordinary; I
don’t mind it’s that. Well, it teaches one to delicacy!”
“And to at doors!”
“Ah, that’s it, is it?” laughed Svidrigaïlov. “Yes, I should have been
surprised if you had let that pass after all that has happened. Ha-ha!
Though I did something of the you had been up to and
were telling Sofya Semyonovna about, what was the meaning of it? Perhaps
I am the times and can’t understand. For goodness’ sake,
explain it, my dear boy. Expound the latest theories!”
“You couldn’t have anything. You’re making it all up!”
“But I’m not talking about that (though I did something). No, I’m
talking of the way you keep and now. The Schiller in
you is in every moment, and now you tell me not to at
doors. If that’s how you feel, go and the police that you had
this mischance: you a little mistake in your theory. But if you are
convinced that one mustn’t at doors, but one may old women
at one’s pleasure, you’d be off to America and make haste. Run,
young man! There may still be time. I’m speaking sincerely. Haven’t you
the money? I’ll give you the fare.”
“I’m not of that at all,” Raskolnikov with disgust.
“I (but don’t put out, don’t discuss it if you don’t
want to). I the questions you are over--moral ones,
aren’t they? Duties of citizen and man? Lay them all aside. They are
nothing to you now, ha-ha! You’ll say you are still a man and a citizen.
If so you ought not to have got into this coil. It’s no use taking up a
job you are not fit for. Well, you’d shoot yourself, or don’t you
want to?”
“You trying to me, to make me you.”
“What a fellow! But here we are. Welcome to the staircase. You
see, that’s the way to Sofya Semyonovna. Look, there is no one at home.
Don’t you me? Ask Kapernaumov. She the key with him. Here
is Madame de Kapernaumov herself. Hey, what? She is deaf. Has she
gone out? Where? Did you hear? She is not in and won’t be till late in
the probably. Well, come to my room; you wanted to come and see
me, didn’t you? Here we are. Madame Resslich’s not at home. She is a
woman who is always busy, an excellent woman I you.... She might
have been of use to you if you had been a little more sensible. Now,
see! I take this five-per-cent out of the bureau--see what a lot
I’ve got of them still--this one will be into cash to-day. I
mustn’t waste any more time. The is locked, the is locked,
and here we are again on the stairs. Shall we take a cab? I’m going to
the Islands. Would you like a lift? I’ll take this carriage. Ah, you
refuse? You are of it! Come for a drive! I it will come on
to rain. Never mind, we’ll put the hood....”
Svidrigaïlov was already in the carriage. Raskolnikov that his
suspicions were at least for that moment unjust. Without a
word he and walked the Hay Market. If he had only
turned on his way he might have Svidrigaïlov out not a
hundred off, the and walk along the pavement. But he
had the and see nothing. Intense him
away from Svidrigaïlov.
“To think that I for one have looked for help from that
coarse brute, that and blackguard!” he cried.
Raskolnikov’s was too and hastily: there was
something about Svidrigaïlov which gave him a original, a
mysterious character. As his sister, Raskolnikov was convinced
that Svidrigaïlov would not her in peace. But it was too tiresome
and to go on and about this.
When he was alone, he had not gone twenty he sank, as
usual, into thought. On the he by the and
began at the water. And his sister was close by him.
He met her at the entrance to the bridge, but passed by without seeing
her. Dounia had met him like this in the and was
struck with dismay. She still and did not know to call
to him or not. Suddenly she saw Svidrigaïlov from the
direction of the Hay Market.
He to be cautiously. He did not go on to the
bridge, but on the pavement, doing all he to avoid
Raskolnikov’s him. He had Dounia for some time and had
been making to her. She he was to her not
to speak to her brother, but to come to him.
That was what Dounia did. She by her and up to
Svidrigaïlov.
“Let us make away,” Svidrigaïlov to her, “I don’t want
Rodion Romanovitch to know of our meeting. I must tell you I’ve been
sitting with him in the restaurant close by, where he looked me up and
I had great in of him. He has somehow of
my to you and something. It wasn’t you who told him, of
course, but if not you, who then?”
“Well, we’ve the now,” Dounia interrupted, “and my brother
won’t see us. I have to tell you that I am going no with you.
Speak to me here. You can tell it all in the street.”
“In the place, I can’t say it in the street; secondly, you must
hear Sofya Semyonovna too; and, thirdly, I will you some papers....
Oh well, if you won’t agree to come with me, I shall to give
any and go away at once. But I you not to that
a very of your brother’s is in my
keeping.”
Dounia still, hesitating, and looked at Svidrigaïlov with
searching eyes.
“What are you of?” he quietly. “The town is not the
country. And in the country you did me more than I did you.”
“Have you prepared Sofya Semyonovna?”
“No, I have not said a word to her and am not she
is at home now. But most likely she is. She has her stepmother
to-day: she is not likely to go visiting on such a day. For the time I
don’t want to speak to anyone about it and I having spoken
to you. The is as as in a thing like
this. I live there in that house, we are to it. That’s the porter
of our house--he me very well; you see, he’s bowing; he sees I’m
coming with a lady and no he has noticed your already and you
will be of that if you are of me and suspicious. Excuse
my so coarsely. I haven’t a to myself; Sofya
Semyonovna’s room is next to mine--she in the next flat. The
whole is let out in lodgings. Why are you like a child?
Am I so terrible?”
Svidrigaïlov’s were in a smile; but he was in
no mood. His was and he breathe.
He spoke loud to his excitement. But Dounia did not
notice this excitement, she was so by his that
she was of him like a child and that he was so terrible to
her.
“Though I know that you are not a man... of honour, I am not in the
least of you. Lead the way,” she said with composure,
but her was very pale.
Svidrigaïlov stopped at Sonia’s room.
“Allow me to she is at home.... She is not. How
unfortunate! But I know she may come soon. If she’s gone out, it
can only be to see a lady about the orphans. Their mother is dead....
I’ve been and making for them. If Sofya Semyonovna
does not come in ten minutes, I will send her to you, to-day if
you like. This is my flat. These are my two rooms. Madame Resslich,
my landlady, has the next room. Now, look this way. I will you
my piece of evidence: this door from my leads into two
perfectly empty rooms, which are to let. Here they are... You must look
into them with some attention.”
Svidrigaïlov two large rooms. Dounia was
looking about her mistrustfully, but saw nothing special in the
furniture or position of the rooms. Yet there was something to observe,
for instance, that Svidrigaïlov’s was two sets of
almost apartments. His rooms were not entered directly
from the passage, but through the landlady’s two almost empty rooms.
Unlocking a door leading out of his bedroom, Svidrigaïlov Dounia
the two empty rooms that were to let. Dounia stopped in the doorway, not
knowing what she was called to look upon, but Svidrigaïlov to
explain.
“Look here, at this second large room. Notice that door, it’s locked.
By the door a chair, the only one in the two rooms. I it
from my rooms so as to more conveniently. Just the other of
the door is Sofya Semyonovna’s table; she sat there talking to Rodion
Romanovitch. And I sat here on two evenings, for
two hours each time--and of I was able to learn something, what
do you think?”
“You listened?”
“Yes, I did. Now come to my room; we can’t here.”
He Avdotya Romanovna into his sitting-room and offered her
a chair. He sat at the opposite of the table, at least seven
feet from her, but there was the same in his which
had once Dounia so much. She and once more looked
about her distrustfully. It was an gesture; she evidently
did not wish to her uneasiness. But the position of
Svidrigaïlov’s had her. She wanted to ask
whether his at least were at home, but her from
asking. Moreover, she had another trouble in her incomparably
greater than for herself. She was in great distress.
“Here is your letter,” she said, it on the table. “Can it be true
what you write? You hint at a committed, you say, by my brother.
You hint at it too clearly; you daren’t it now. I must tell you
that I’d of this you and don’t a
word of it. It’s a and suspicion. I know the story
and why and how it was invented. You can have no proofs. You promised to
prove it. Speak! But let me you that I don’t you! I don’t
believe you!”
Dounia said this, speaking hurriedly, and for an the colour
rushed to her face.
“If you didn’t it, how you alone to my rooms?
Why have you come? Simply from curiosity?”
“Don’t me. Speak, speak!”
“There’s no that you are a girl. Upon my word, I thought
you would have asked Mr. Razumihin to you here. But he was not
with you near. I was on the look-out. It’s of
you, it proves you wanted to Rodion Romanovitch. But everything
is in you.... About your brother, what am I to say to you? You’ve
just him yourself. What did you think of him?”
“Surely that’s not the only thing you are on?”
“No, not on that, but on his own words. He came here on two successive
evenings to see Sofya Semyonovna. I’ve you where they sat. He made
a full to her. He is a murderer. He killed an old woman, a
pawnbroker, with he had himself. He killed her sister
too, a woman called Lizaveta, who to come in while he
was her sister. He killed them with an he with
him. He them to them and he did them. He took money and
various things.... He told all this, word for word, to Sofya Semyonovna,
the only person who his secret. But she has had no by word
or in the murder; she was as at it as you are now. Don’t
be anxious, she won’t him.”
“It cannot be,” Dounia, with white lips. She for breath.
“It cannot be. There was not the cause, no of ground....
It’s a lie, a lie!”
“He her, that was the cause, he took money and things. It’s true
that by his own he no use of the money or things, but hid
them under a stone, where they are now. But that was he dared
not make use of them.”
“But how he steal, rob? How he of it?” Dounia,
and she jumped up from the chair. “Why, you know him, and you’ve seen
him, can he be a thief?”
She to be Svidrigaïlov; she had her
fear.
“There are thousands and millions of and possibilities,
Avdotya Romanovna. A and he is a scoundrel, but I’ve
heard of a who open the mail. Who knows, very likely he
thought he was doing a thing! Of I should not have
believed it myself if I’d been told of it as you have, but I my
own ears. He all the of it to Sofya Semyonovna too, but
she did not her ears at first, yet she her own at
last.”
“What... were the causes?”
“It’s a long story, Avdotya Romanovna. Here’s... how shall I tell
you?--A of a sort, the same one by which I for consider
that a single is permissible if the is right, a
solitary and hundreds of good deeds! It’s too, of
course, for a man of gifts and to know that if
he had, for instance, a three thousand, his whole career, his
whole would be and yet not to have that three
thousand. Add to that, from hunger, from lodging
in a hole, from rags, from a of the of his social
position and his sister’s and mother’s position too. Above all, vanity,
pride and vanity, though he may have good qualities
too.... I am not him, don’t think it; besides, it’s not
my business. A special little came in too--a of a
sort--dividing mankind, you see, into material and persons,
that is to the law not apply to their
superiority, who make laws for the of mankind, the material, that
is. It’s all right as a theory, _une théorie autre_. Napoleon
attracted him tremendously, that is, what him was that a
great many men of have not at wrongdoing, but have
overstepped the law without about it. He to have fancied
that he was a too--that is, he was of it for a time. He
has a great and is still from the idea that he
could make a theory, but was of the law,
and so he is not a man of genius. And that’s for a man
of any pride, in our day especially....”
“But remorse? You him any then? Is he like that?”
“Ah, Avdotya Romanovna, is in a now; not that it was
ever in very good order. Russians in are in their ideas,
Avdotya Romanovna, like their land and to
the fantastic, the chaotic. But it’s a to be without
a special genius. Do you what a of talk we had together on
this subject, in the on the after supper? Why,
you used to me with breadth! Who knows, we were talking
at the very time when he was here over his plan. There
are no us, in the class,
Avdotya Romanovna. At the best someone will make them up somehow for
himself out of books or from some old chronicle. But those are for the
most part the learned and all old fogeys, so that it would be almost
ill-bred in a man of society. You know my opinions in general, though. I
never anyone. I do nothing at all, I in that. But
we’ve talked of this more than once before. I was so happy as to
interest you in my opinions.... You are very pale, Avdotya Romanovna.”
“I know his theory. I read that article of his about men to all is
permitted. Razumihin it to me.”
“Mr. Razumihin? Your brother’s article? In a magazine? Is there such an
article? I didn’t know. It must be interesting. But where are you going,
Avdotya Romanovna?”
“I want to see Sofya Semyonovna,” Dounia faintly. “How do I
go to her? She has come in, perhaps. I must see her at once. Perhaps
she...”
Avdotya Romanovna not finish. Her failed her.
“Sofya Semyonovna will not be till night, at least I not.
She was to have been at once, but if not, then she will not be in
till late.”
“Ah, then you are lying! I see... you were lying... all the
time.... I don’t you! I don’t you!” Dounia,
completely her head.
Almost fainting, she on to a chair which Svidrigaïlov to
give her.
“Avdotya Romanovna, what is it? Control yourself! Here is some water.
Drink a little....”
He some water over her. Dounia and came to herself.
“It has violently,” Svidrigaïlov to himself, frowning.
“Avdotya Romanovna, yourself! Believe me, he has friends. We will
save him. Would you like me to take him abroad? I have money, I can get
a ticket in three days. And as for the murder, he will do all of
good yet, to for it. Calm yourself. He may a great
man yet. Well, how are you? How do you feel?”
“Cruel man! To be able to at it! Let me go...”
“Where are you going?”
“To him. Where is he? Do you know? Why is this door locked? We came in
at that door and now it is locked. When did you manage to lock it?”
“We couldn’t be all over the on such a subject. I am far
from jeering; it’s that I’m of talking like this. But how
can you go in such a state? Do you want to him? You will drive
him to fury, and he will give himself up. Let me tell you, he is already
being watched; they are already on his track. You will be giving
him away. Wait a little: I saw him and was talking to him just now. He
can still be saved. Wait a bit, down; let us think it over together.
I asked you to come in order to discuss it alone with you and to
consider it thoroughly. But do down!”
“How can you save him? Can he be saved?”
Dounia sat down. Svidrigaïlov sat her.
“It all on you, on you, on you alone,” he with glowing
eyes, almost in a and able to the for
emotion.
Dounia from him in alarm. He too was all over.
“You... one word from you, and he is saved. I... I’ll save him. I have
money and friends. I’ll send him away at once. I’ll a passport,
two passports, one for him and one for me. I have friends... capable
people.... If you like, I’ll take a for you... for your
mother.... What do you want with Razumihin? I love you too.... I love
you everything.... Let me the of your dress, let me, let
me.... The very of it is too much for me. Tell me, ‘do that,’
and I’ll do it. I’ll do everything. I will do the impossible. What you
believe, I will believe. I’ll do anything--anything! Don’t, don’t look
at me like that. Do you know that you are killing me?...”
He was almost to rave.... Something to go to
his head. Dounia jumped up and to the door.
“Open it! Open it!” she called, the door. “Open it! Is there no
one there?”
Svidrigaïlov got up and came to himself. His still slowly
broke into an angry smile.
“There is no one at home,” he said and emphatically. “The
landlady has gone out, and it’s waste of time to like that. You
are only uselessly.”
“Where is the key? Open the door at once, at once, man!”
“I have the key and cannot it.”
“This is an outrage,” Dounia, as death. She rushed
to the corner, where she to herself with a
little table.
She did not scream, but she her on her and watched
every movement he made.
Svidrigaïlov at the other end of the room her.
He was positively composed, at least in appearance, but his was
pale as before. The did not his face.
“You spoke of just now, Avdotya Romanovna. In that case you
may be sure I’ve taken measures. Sofya Semyonovna is not at home. The
Kapernaumovs are away--there are five locked rooms between. I am at
least twice as as you are and I have nothing to fear, besides.
For you not complain afterwards. You surely would not be willing
actually to your brother? Besides, no one would you. How
should a girl have come alone to visit a man in his lodgings?
So that if you do your brother, you prove nothing.
It is very difficult to prove an assault, Avdotya Romanovna.”
“Scoundrel!” Dounia indignantly.
“As you like, but I was only speaking by way of a general
proposition. It’s my personal that you are perfectly
right--violence is hateful. I only spoke to you that you need have
no if... you were to save your of your
own accord, as I to you. You would be to
circumstances, to violence, in fact, if we must use that word. Think
about it. Your brother’s and your mother’s are in your hands. I
will be your slave... all my life... I will wait here.”
Svidrigaïlov sat on the sofa about eight steps from Dounia. She had
not the now of his determination. Besides, she
knew him. Suddenly she out of her pocket a revolver, it
and it in her hand on the table. Svidrigaïlov jumped up.
“Aha! So that’s it, is it?” he cried, but maliciously.
“Well, that the of affairs. You’ve things
wonderfully for me, Avdotya Romanovna. But where did you the
revolver? Was it Mr. Razumihin? Why, it’s my revolver, an old friend!
And how I’ve for it! The lessons I’ve you in the
country have not been away.”
“It’s not your revolver, it to Marfa Petrovna, you killed,
wretch! There was nothing of yours in her house. I took it when I began
to what you were of. If you to one step, I
swear I’ll kill you.” She was frantic.
“But your brother? I ask from curiosity,” said Svidrigaïlov, still
standing where he was.
“Inform, if you want to! Don’t stir! Don’t come nearer! I’ll shoot! You
poisoned your wife, I know; you are a yourself!” She the
revolver ready.
“Are you so positive I Marfa Petrovna?”
“You did! You it yourself; you talked to me of poison.... I know
you to it... you had it in readiness.... It was your doing....
It must have been your doing.... Scoundrel!”
“Even if that were true, it would have been for your sake... you would
have been the cause.”
“You are lying! I you always, always....”
“Oho, Avdotya Romanovna! You to have how you softened
to me in the of propaganda. I saw it in your eyes. Do you remember
that moonlight night, when the was singing?”
“That’s a lie,” there was a of in Dounia’s eyes, “that’s a
lie and a libel!”
“A lie? Well, if you like, it’s a lie. I it up. Women ought not
to be of such things,” he smiled. “I know you will shoot, you
pretty wild creature. Well, shoot away!”
Dounia the revolver, and pale, at him, the
distance and the movement on his part. Her lip was
white and and her big black like fire. He had
never her so handsome. The fire in her at the moment
she the to him and there was a of
anguish in his heart. He took a step and a out. The
bullet his and into the behind. He still and
laughed softly.
“The has me. She at my head. What’s this?
Blood?” he out his to the blood, which flowed
in a thin his right temple. The to have just
grazed the skin.
Dounia the and looked at Svidrigaïlov not so much in
terror as in a of wild amazement. She not to what
she was doing and what was going on.
“Well, you missed! Fire again, I’ll wait,” said Svidrigaïlov softly,
still smiling, but gloomily. “If you go on like that, I shall have time
to you you again.”
Dounia started, the pistol and again it.
“Let me be,” she in despair. “I I’ll shoot again. I... I’ll
kill you.”
“Well... at three you can help it. But if you don’t...
then.” His and he took two steps forward. Dounia shot
again: it missed fire.
“You haven’t it properly. Never mind, you have another charge
there. Get it ready, I’ll wait.”
He her, two away, waiting and at her with wild
determination, with passionate, stubborn, set eyes. Dounia
saw that he would sooner die than let her go. “And... now, of she
would kill him, at two paces!” Suddenly she away the revolver.
“She’s it!” said Svidrigaïlov with surprise, and he a deep
breath. A weight to have rolled from his heart--perhaps not only
the of death; he may have it at that moment.
It was the from another feeling, and more bitter,
which he not himself have defined.
He to Dounia and put his arm her waist. She did not
resist, but, like a leaf, looked at him with eyes.
He to say something, but his moved without being able to
utter a sound.
“Let me go,” Dounia implored. Svidrigaïlov shuddered. Her voice now was
quite different.
“Then you don’t love me?” he asked softly. Dounia her head.
“And... and you can’t? Never?” he in despair.
“Never!”
There a moment of terrible, in the of
Svidrigaïlov. He looked at her with an gaze. Suddenly
he his arm, to the window and it.
Another moment passed.
“Here’s the key.”
He took it out of the left pocket of his and it on the table
behind him, without or looking at Dounia.
“Take it! Make haste!”
He looked out of the window. Dounia up to the table to
take the key.
“Make haste! Make haste!” Svidrigaïlov, still without turning
or moving. But there a terrible in the of that
“make haste.”
Dounia it, up the key, to the door, it
quickly and out of the room. A minute later, herself, she
ran out on to the bank in the direction of X. Bridge.
Svidrigaïlov three minutes at the window. At last he
slowly turned, looked about him and passed his hand over his forehead. A
strange his face, a pitiful, sad, weak smile, a of
despair. The blood, which was already dry, his hand.
He looked at it, then a and his temple.
The which Dounia had away near the door and suddenly
caught his eye. He it up and it. It was a little pocket
three-barrel of old-fashioned construction. There were still
two and one left in it. It be again. He
thought a little, put the in his pocket, took his and went
out.
