crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第12章
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He gave a sudden start； another thought； that he had had
yesterday； slipped back into his mind。 But he did not start at the
thought recurring to him； for he knew； he had felt beforehand； that it
must come back； he was expecting it； besides it was not only
yesterday's thought。 The difference was that a month ago； yesterday
even； the thought was a mere dream： but now。。。 now it appeared not a
dream at all； it had taken a new menacing and quite unfamiliar
shape； and he suddenly became aware of this himself。。。。 He felt a
hammering in his head； and there was a darkness before his eyes。
He looked round hurriedly； he was searching for something。 He wanted
to sit down and was looking for a seat； he was walking along the K____
Boulevard。 There was a seat about a hundred paces in front of him。
He walked towards it as fast he could； but on the way he met with a
little adventure which absorbed all his attention。 Looking for the
seat； he had noticed a woman walking some twenty paces in front of
him； but at first he took no more notice of her than of other
objects that crossed his path。 It had happened to him many times going
home not to notice the road by which he was going； and he was
accustomed to walk like that。 But there was at first sight something
so strange about the woman in front of him； that gradually his
attention was riveted upon her； at first reluctantly and； as it
were； resentfully； and then more and more intently。 He felt a sudden
desire to find out what it was that was so strange about the woman。 In
the first place； she appeared to be a girl quite young； and she was
walking in the great heat bareheaded and with no parasol or gloves；
waving her arms about in an absurd way。 She had on a dress of some
light silky material； but put on strangely awry； not properly hooked
up； and torn open at the top of the skirt； close to the waist： a great
piece was rent and hanging loose。 A little kerchief was flung about
her bare throat； but lay slanting on one side。 The girl was walking
unsteadily； too； stumbling and staggering from side to side。 She
drew Raskolnikov's whole attention at last。 He overtook the girl at
the seat； but； on reaching it； she dropped down on it； in the
corner； she let her head sink on the back of the seat and closed her
eyes； apparently in extreme exhaustion。 Looking at her closely； he saw
at once that she was completely drunk。 It was a strange and shocking
sight。 He could hardly believe that he was not mistaken。 He saw before
him the face of a quite young； fair…haired girl… sixteen； perhaps
not more than fifteen years old； pretty little face； but flushed and
heavy looking and； as it were； swollen。 The girl seemed hardly to know
what she was doing； she crossed one leg over the other； lifting it
indecorously； and showed every sign of being unconscious that she
was in the street。
Raskolnikov did not sit down； but he felt unwilling to leave her；
and stood facing her in perplexity。 This boulevard was never much
frequented； and now； at two o'clock； in the stifling heat； it was
quite deserted。 And yet on the further side of the boulevard； about
fifteen paces away； a gentleman was standing on the edge of the
pavement； he； too； would apparently have liked to approach the girl
with some object of his own。 He； too； had probably seen her in the
distance and had followed her； but found Raskolnikov in his way。 He
looked angrily at him； though he tried to escape his notice； and stood
impatiently biding his time； till the unwelcome man in rags should
have moved away。 His intentions were unmistakable。 The gentleman was a
plump； thickly…set man； about thirty； fashionably dressed； with a high
colour； red lips and moustaches。 Raskolnikov felt furious； he had a
sudden longing to insult this fat dandy in some way。 He left the
girl for a moment and walked towards the gentleman。
〃Hey！ You Svidrigailov！ What do you want here？〃 he shouted；
clenching his fists and laughing； spluttering with rage。
〃What do you mean？〃 the gentleman asked sternly； scowling in haughty
astonishment。
〃Get away； that's what I mean。〃
〃How dare you； you low fellow！〃
He raised his cane。 Raskolnikov rushed at him with his fists；
without reflecting that the stout gentleman was a match for two men
like himself。 But at that instant some one seized him from behind； and
a police constable stood between them。
〃That's enough； gentlemen； no fighting； please； in a public place。
What do you want？ Who are you？〃 he asked Raskolnikov sternly； noticing
his rags。
Raskolnikov looked at him intently。 He had a straight…forward；
sensible； soldierly face； with grey moustaches and whiskers。
〃You are just the man I want；〃 Raskolnikov cried； catching at his
arm。 〃I am a student； Raskolnikov。。。。 You may as well know that
too；〃 he added； addressing the gentleman； 〃come along； I have
something to show you。〃
And taking the policeman by the hand he drew him towards the seat。
〃Look here； hopelessly drunk； and she has just come down the
boulevard。 There is no telling who and what she is； she does not
look like a professional。 It's more likely she has been given drink
and deceived somewhere。。。 for the first time。。。 you understand？ and
they've put her out into the street like that。 Look at the way her
dress is torn； and the way it has been put on： she has been dressed by
somebody； she has not dressed herself； and dressed by unpractised
hands； by a man's hands； that's evident。 And now look there： I don't
know that dandy with whom I was going to fight； I see him for the
first time； but； he； too has seen her on the road； just now； drunk；
not knowing what she is doing； and now he is very eager to get hold of
her； to get her away somewhere while she is in this state。。。 that's
certain； believe me； I am not wrong。 I saw him myself watching her and
following her； but I prevented him； and he is just waiting for me to
go away。 Now he has walked away a little； and is standing still；
pretending to make a cigarette。。。。 Think how can we keep her out of
his hands； and how are we to get her home？〃
The policeman saw it all in a flash。 The stout gentleman was easy to
understand； he turned to consider the girl。 The policeman bent over to
examine her more closely； and his face worked with genuine compassion。
〃Ah； what a pity！〃 he said； shaking his head… 〃why； she is quite a
child！ She has been deceived； you can see that at once。 Listen； lady；〃
he began addressing her； 〃where do you live？〃 The girl opened her
weary and sleepy…looking eyes； gazed blankly at the speaker and
waved her hand。
〃Here；〃 said Raskolnikov feeling in his pocket and finding twenty
copecks； 〃here； call a cab and tell him to drive her to her address。
The only thing is to find out her address！〃
〃Missy； missy！〃 the policeman began again； taking the money。 〃I'll
fetch you a cab and take you home myself。 Where shall I take you；
eh？ Where do you live？〃
〃Go away！ They won't let me alone；〃 the girl muttered； and once more
waved her hand。
〃Ach； ach； how shocking！ It's shameful； missy； it's a shame！〃 He
shook his head again； shocked； sympathetic and indignant。
〃It's a difficult job；〃 the policeman said to Raskolnikov； and as he
did so； he looked him up and down in a rapid glance。 He。 too； must
have seemed a strange figure to him： dressed in rags and handing him
money！
〃Did you meet her far from here？〃 he asked him。
〃I tell you she was walking in front of me； staggering； just here；
in the boulevard。 She only just reached the seat and sank down on it。〃
〃Ah； the shameful things that are done in the world nowadays； God
have mercy on us！ An innocent creature like that； drunk already！ She
has been deceived； that's a sure thing。 See how her dress has been
torn too。。。。 Ah； the vice one sees nowadays！ And as likely as not
she belongs to gentlefolk too； poor ones maybe。。。。 There are many like
that nowadays。 She looks refined； too； as though she were a lady；〃 and
he bent over her once more。
Perhaps he had daughters growing up like that； 〃looking like
ladies and refined〃 with pretensions to gentility and smartness。。。。
〃The chief thing is；〃 Raskolnikov persisted； 〃to keep her out of
this scoundrel's hands！ Why should he outrage her！ It's as clear as
day what he is after； ah； the brute； he is not moving off！〃
Raskolnikov spoke aloud and pointed to him。 The gentleman heard him；
and seemed about to fly into a rage again； but thought better of it；
and confined himself to a contemptuous look。 He then walked slowly
another ten paces away and again halted。
〃Keep her out of his hands we can；〃 said the constable thoughtfully；
〃if only she'd tell us where to take her； but as it is。。。。 Missy； hey；
missy！〃 he bent over her once more。
She opened her eyes fully all of a sudden； looked at him intently；
as though realising something； got up from the seat and walked away in
the direction from which she had come。 〃Oh shameful wretches； they
won't let me alone！〃 she said； waving her hand again。 She walked
quickly； though staggering as before。 The dandy followed her； but
along another avenue； keeping his eye on her。
〃Don't be anxious； I won't let him have her；〃 the po
