crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第37章
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their previous conversation。
Pyotr Petrovitch had the good sense to accept the disavowal。 He made
up his mind to take leave in another minute or two。
〃I trust our acquaintance；〃 he said； addressing Raskolnikov； 〃may；
upon your recovery and in view of the circumstances of which you are
aware； become closer。。。。 Above all； I hope for your return to
health。。。〃
Raskolnikov did not even turn his head。 Pyotr Petrovitch began
getting up from his chair。
〃One of her customers must have killed her；〃 Zossimov declared
positively。
〃Not a doubt of it；〃 replied Razumihin。 〃Porfiry doesn't give his
opinion； but is examining all who have left pledges with her there。〃
〃Examining them？〃 Raskolnikov asked aloud。
〃Yes。 What then？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃How does he get hold of them？〃 asked Zossimov。
〃Koch has given the names of some of them； other names are on the
wrappers of the pledges and some have come forward of themselves。〃
〃It must have been a cunning and practised ruffian！ The boldness
of it！ The coolness！〃
〃That's just what it wasn't！〃 interposed Razumihin。 〃That's what
throws you all off the scent。 But I maintain that he is not cunning；
nor practised； and probably this was his first crime！ The
supposition that it was a calculated crime and a cunning criminal
doesn't work。 Suppose him to have been inexperienced； and it's clear
that it was only a chance that saved him… and chance may do
anything。 Why； he did not foresee obstacles； perhaps！ And how did he
set to work？ He took jewels worth ten or twenty roubles； stuffing
his pockets with them； ransacked the old woman's trunk； her rags…
and they found fifteen hundred roubles； besides notes； in a box in the
top drawer of the chest！ He did not know how to rob； he could only
murder。 It was his first crime； I assure you； his first crime； he lost
his head。 And he got off more by luck than good counsel！〃
〃You are talking of the murder of the old pawnbroker； I believe？〃
Pyotr Petrovitch put in； addressing Zossimov。 He was standing； hat and
gloves in hand； but before departing he felt disposed to throw off a
few more intellectual phrases。 He was evidently anxious to make a
favourable impression and his vanity overcame his prudence。
〃Yes。 You've heard of it？〃
〃Oh； yes； being in the neighbourhood。〃
〃Do you know the details？〃
〃I can't say that； but another circumstance interests me in the
case… the whole question； so to say。 Not to speak of the fact that
crime has been greatly on the increase among the lower classes
during the last five years； not to speak of the cases of robbery and
arson everywhere； what strikes me as the strangest thing is that in
the higher classes； too； crime is increasing proportionately。 In one
place one hears of a student's robbing the mail on the high road； in
another place people of good social position forge false banknotes； in
Moscow of late a whole gang has been captured who used to forge
lottery tickets； and one of the ringleaders was a lecturer in
universal history； then our secretary abroad was murdered from some
obscure motive of gain。。。。 And if this old woman； the pawnbroker；
has been murdered by some one of a higher class in society… for
peasants don't pawn gold trinkets… how are we to explain this
demoralisation of the civilised part of our society？〃
〃There are many economic changes；〃 put in Zossimov。
〃How are we to explain it？〃 Razumihin caught him up。 〃It might be
explained by our inveterate unpracticality。〃
〃How do you mean？〃
〃What answer had your lecturer in Moscow to make to the question why
he was forging notes？ 'Everybody is getting rich one way or another；
so I want to make haste to get rich too。' I don't remember the exact
words； but the upshot was that he wants money for nothing； without
waiting or working！ We've grown used to having everything
ready…made； to walking on crutches； to having our food chewed for
us。 Then the great hour struck；* and every man showed himself in his
true colours。〃
…
* The emancipation of the serfs in 1861 is meant。… TRANSLATOR'S
NOTE。
…
〃But morality？ And so to speak； principles。。。〃
〃But why do you worry about it？〃 Raskolnikov interposed suddenly。
〃It's in accordance with your theory！〃
〃In accordance with my theory？〃
〃Why； carry out logically the theory you were advocating just now；
and it follows that people may be killed。。。〃
〃Upon my word！〃 cried Luzhin。
〃No； that's not so；〃 put in Zossimov。
Raskolnikov lay with a white face and twitching upper lip； breathing
painfully。
〃There's a measure in all things；〃 Luzhin went on superciliously。
〃Economic ideas are not an incitement to murder； and one has but to
suppose。。。〃
〃And is it true；〃 Raskolnikov interposed once more suddenly； again
in a voice quivering with fury and delight in insulting him； 〃is it
true that you told your fiancee。。。 within an hour of her acceptance；
that what pleased you most。。。 was that she was a beggar。。。 because
it was better to raise a wife from poverty； so that you may have
complete control over her； and reproach her with your being her
benefactor？〃
〃Upon my word；〃 Luzhin cried wrathfully and irritably； crimson
with confusion； 〃to distort my words in this way！ Excuse me； allow
me to assure you that the report which has reached you； or rather
let me say； has been conveyed to you； has no foundation in truth；
and I。。。 suspect who。。。 in a word。。。 this arrow。。。 in a word； your
mamma。。。 She seemed to me in other things； with all her excellent
qualities； of a somewhat highflown and romantic way of thinking。。。。
But I was a thousand miles from supposing that she would misunderstand
and misrepresent things in so fanciful a way。。。。 And indeed。。。
indeed。。。〃
〃I tell you what；〃 cried Raskolnikov； raising himself on his
pillow and fixing his piercing； glittering eyes upon him； 〃I tell
you what。〃
〃What？〃 Luzhin stood still； waiting with a defiant and offended
face。 Silence lasted for some seconds。
〃Why； if ever again。。。 you dare to mention a single word。。。 about my
mother。。。 I shall send you flying downstairs！〃
〃What's the matter with you？〃 cried Razumihin。
〃So that's how it is？〃 Luzhin turned pale and bit his lip。 〃Let me
tell you； sir；〃 he began deliberately； doing his utmost to restrain
himself but breathing hard； 〃at the first moment I saw you you were
ill…disposed to me； but I remained here on purpose to find out more。 I
could forgive a great deal in a sick man and a connection； but
you。。。 never after this。。。〃
〃I am not ill；〃 cried Raskolnikov。
〃So much the worse。。。〃
〃Go to hell！〃
But Luzhin was already leaving without finishing his speech；
squeezing between the table and the chair； Razumihin got up this
time to let him pass。 Without glancing at any one； and not even
nodding to Zossimov； who had for some time been making signs to him to
let the sick man alone； he went out； lifting his hat to the level of
his shoulders to avoid crushing it as he stooped to go out of the
door。 And even the curve of his spine was expressive of the horrible
insult he had received。
〃How could you… how could you！〃 Razumihin said； shaking his head
in perplexity。
〃Let me alone… let me alone all of you！〃 Raskolnikov cried in a
frenzy。 〃Will you ever leave off tormenting me？ I am not afraid of
you！ I am not afraid of any one； any one now！ Get away from me！ I want
to be alone； alone； alone！〃
〃Come along；〃 said Zossimov； nodding to Razumihin。
〃But we can't leave him like this！〃
〃Come along；〃 Zossimov repeated insistently； and he went out。
Razumihin thought a minute and ran to overtake him。
〃It might be worse not to obey him；〃 said Zossimov on the stairs。
〃He mustn't be irritated。〃
〃What's the matter with him？〃
〃If only he could get some favourable shock； that's what would do
it！ At first he was better。。。。 You know he has got something on his
mind！ Some fixed idea weighing on him。。。。 I am very much afraid so； he
must have！〃
〃Perhaps it's that gentleman； Pyotr Petrovitch。 From
