crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第84章
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〃What surprise？〃 he asked； standing still and looking at Porfiry
in alarm。
〃My little surprise； it's sitting there behind the door； he…he…he！
（He pointed to the locked door。） I locked him in that he should not
escape。〃
〃What is it？ Where？ What？。。。〃
Raskolnikov walked to the door and would have opened it； but it
was locked。
〃It's locked； here is the key！〃
And he brought a key out of his pocket。
〃You are lying；〃 roared Raskolnikov without restraint； 〃you lie； you
damned punchinello！〃 and he rushed at Porfiry who retreated to the
other door； not at all alarmed。
〃I understand it all！ You are lying and mocking so that I may betray
myself to you。。。〃
〃Why； you could not betray yourself any further； my dear Rodion
Romanovitch。 You are in a passion。 Don't shout； I shall call the
clerks。〃
〃You are lying！ Call the clerks！ You knew I was ill and tried to
work me into a frenzy to make me betray myself； that was your
object！ Produce your facts！ I understand it all。 You've no evidence；
you have only wretched rubbishly suspicions like Zametov's！ You knew
my character； you wanted to drive me to fury and then to knock me down
with priests and deputies。。。。 Are you waiting for them？ eh！ What are
you waiting for？ Where are they？ Produce them？〃
〃Why deputies； my good man？ What things people will imagine！ And
to do so would not be acting in form as you say； you don't know the
business； my dear fellow。。。。 And there's no escaping form； as you
see；〃 Porfiry muttered； listening at the door through which a noise
could be heard。
〃Ah； they're coming；〃 cried Raskolnikov。 〃You've sent for them！
You expected them！ Well； produce them all： your deputies； your
witnesses； what you like！。。。 I am ready！〃
But at this moment a strange incident occurred； something so
unexpected that neither Raskolnikov nor Porfiry Petrovitch could
have looked for such a conclusion to their interview。
Chapter Six
WHEN HE remembered the scene afterwards； this is how Raskolnikov saw
it。
The noise behind the door increased； and suddenly the door was
opened a little。
〃What is it？〃 cried Porfiry Petrovitch； annoyed。 〃Why； I gave
orders。。。〃
For an instant there was no answer； but it was evident that there
were several persons at the door； and that they were apparently
pushing somebody back。
〃What is it？〃 Porfiry Petrovitch repeated； uneasily。
〃The prisoner Nikolay has been brought；〃 some one answered。
〃He is not wanted！ Take him away！ Let him wait！ What's he doing
here？ How irregular！〃 cried Porfiry； rushing to the door。
〃But he。。。〃 began the same voice； and suddenly ceased。
Two seconds； not more； were spent in actual struggle； then some
one gave a violent shove； and then a man； very pale； strode into the
room。
This man's appearance was at first sight very strange。 He stared
straight before him； as though seeing nothing。 There was a
determined gleam in his eyes； at the same time there was a deathly
pallor in his face； as though he were being led to the scaffold。 His
white lips were faintly twitching。
He was dressed like a workman and was of medium height； very
young； slim； his hair cut in round crop； with thin spare features。 The
man whom he had thrust back followed him into the room and succeeded
in seizing him by the shoulder； he was a warder； but Nikolay pulled
his arm away。
Several persons crowded inquisitively into the doorway。 Some of them
tried to get in。 All this took place almost instantaneously。
〃Go away； it's too soon！ Wait till you are sent for！。。。 Why have you
brought him so soon？〃 Porfiry Petrovitch muttered； extremely
annoyed； and as it were thrown out of his reckoning。
But Nikolay suddenly knelt down。
〃What's the matter？〃 cried Porfiry； surprised。
〃I am guilty！ Mine is the sin！ I am the murderer；〃 Nikolay
articulated suddenly； rather breathless； but speaking fairly loudly。
For ten seconds there was silence as though all had been struck
dumb； even the warder stepped back； mechanically retreated to the
door； and stood immovable。
〃What is it？〃 cried Porfiry Petrovitch； recovering from his
momentary stupefaction。
〃I am the murderer；〃 repeated Nikolay； after a brief pause。
〃What。。。 you。。。 what。。。 whom did you kill？〃 Porfiry Petrovitch was
obviously bewildered。
Nikolay again was silent for a moment。
〃Alyona Ivanovna and her sister Lizaveta Ivanovna； I。。。 killed。。。
with an axe。 Darkness came over me；〃 he added suddenly； and was
again silent。
He still remained on his knees。 Porfiry Petrovitch stood for some
moments as though meditating； but suddenly roused himself and waved
back the uninvited spectators。 They instantly vanished and closed
the door。 Then he looked towards Raskolnikov； who was standing in
the corner； staring wildly at Nikolay； and moved towards him； but
stopped short； looked from Nikolay to Raskolnikov and then again at
Nikolay； and seeming unable to restrain himself darted at the latter。
〃You're in too great a hurry；〃 he shouted at him； almost angrily。 〃I
didn't ask you what came over you。。。。 Speak； did you kill them？〃
〃I am the murderer。。。。 I want to give evidence；〃 Nikolay pronounced。
〃Ach！ What did you kill them with？〃
〃An axe。 I had it ready。〃
〃Ach； he is in a hurry！ Alone？〃
Nikolay did not understand the question。
〃Did you do it alone？〃
〃Yes； alone。 And Mitka is not guilty and had no share in it。〃
〃Don't be in a hurry about Mitka！ A…ach！ How was it you ran
downstairs like that at the time？ The porters met you both！〃
〃It was to put them off the scent。。。 I ran after Mitka；〃 Nikolay
replied hurriedly； as though he had prepared the answer。
〃I knew it！〃 cried Porfiry； with vexation。 〃It's not his own tale he
is telling；〃 he muttered as though to himself； and suddenly his eyes
rested on Raskolnikov again。
He was apparently so taken up with Nikolay that for a moment he
had forgotten Raskolnikov。 He was a little taken aback。
〃My dear Rodion Romanovitch； excuse me！〃 he flew up to him； 〃this
won't do； I'm afraid you must go。。。 it's no good your staying。。。 I
will。。。 you see； what a surprise！。。。 Good…bye！〃
And taking him by the arm； he showed him to the door。
〃I suppose you didn't expect it？〃 said Raskolnikov who； though he
had not yet fully grasped the situation； had regained his courage。
〃You did not expect it either； my friend。 See how your hand is
trembling！ He…he！〃
〃You're trembling； too； Porfiry Petrovitch！〃
〃Yes； I am； I didn't expect it。〃
They were already at the door； Porfiry was impatient for Raskolnikov
to be gone。
〃And your little surprise； aren't you going to show it to me？〃
Raskolnikov said； sarcastically。
〃Why； his teeth are chattering as he asks； he…he！ You are an
ironical person！ Come； till we meet！〃
〃I believe we can say good…bye！〃
〃That's in God's hands；〃 muttered Porfiry； with an unnatural smile。
As he walked through the office； Raskolnikov noticed that many
people were looking at him。 Among them he saw the two porters from the
house； whom he had invited that night to the police station。 They
stood there waiting。 But he was no sooner on the stairs than he
heard the voice of Porfiry Petrovitch behind him。 Turning round； he
saw the latter running after him； out of breath。
〃One word； Rodion Romanovitch； as to all the rest； it's in God's
hands； but as a matter of form there are some questions I shall have
to ask you。。。 so we shall meet again； shan't we？〃
And Porfiry stood still； facing him with a smile。
〃Shan't we？〃 he added again。
He seemed to want to say something more； but could not speak out。
〃You must forgive me； Porfiry Petrovitch； for what has just
passed。。。 I lost my temper；〃 began Raskolnikov； who had so far
regained his courage that he felt irresistibly inclined to display his
coolness。
