crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第100章
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family； and for that object added coarse expressions about the conduct
of a girl whom you don't know。 All that is mean slander。〃
〃Excuse me； sir；〃 said Luzhin； quivering with fury。 〃I enlarged upon
your qualities and conduct in my letter solely in response to your
sister's and mother's inquiries how I found you and what impression
you made on me。 As for what you've alluded to in my letter； be so good
as to point out one word of falsehood； show； that is； that you
didn't throw away your money； and that there are not worthless persons
in that family； however unfortunate。〃
〃To my thinking； you with all your virtues are not worth the
little finger of that unfortunate girl at whom you throw stones。〃
〃Would you go so far then as to let her associate with your mother
and sister？〃
〃I have done so already； if you care to know。 I made her sit down
to…day with mother and Dounia。〃
〃Rodya！〃 cried Pulcheria Alexandrovna。 Dounia crimsoned； Razumihin
knitted his brows。 Luzhin smiled with lofty sarcasm。
〃You may see for yourself； Avdotya Romanovna；〃 he said； 〃whether
it is possible for us to agree。 I hope now that this question is at an
end； once and for all。 I will withdraw； that I may not hinder the
pleasures of family intimacy； and the discussion of secrets。〃 He got
up from his chair and took his hat。 〃But in withdrawing； I venture
to request that for the future I may be spared similar meetings；
and； so to say； compromises。 I appeal particularly to you； honoured
Pulcheria Alexandrovna； on this subject； the more as my letter was
addressed to you and to no one else。〃
Pulcheria Alexandrovna was a little offended。
〃You seem to think we are completely under your authority； Pyotr
Petrovitch。 Dounia has told you the reason your desire was
disregarded； she had the best intentions。 And indeed you write as
though you were laying commands upon me。 Are we to consider every
desire of yours as a command？ Let me tell you on the contrary that you
ought to show particular delicacy and consideration for us now；
because we have thrown up everything； and have come here relying on
you； and so we are in any case in a sense in your hands。〃
〃That is not quite true； Pulcheria Alexandrovna； especially at the
present moment； when the news has come of Marfa Petrovna's legacy；
which seems indeed very apropos； judging from the new tone you take to
me；〃 he added sarcastically。
〃Judging from that remark； we may certainly presume that you were
reckoning on our helplessness；〃 Dounia observed irritably。
〃But now in any case I cannot reckon on it； and I particularly
desire not to hinder your discussion of the secret proposals of Arkady
Ivanovitch Svidrigailov； which he has entrusted to your brother and
which have； I perceive； a great and possibly a very agreeable interest
for you。〃
〃Good heavens！〃 cried Pulcheria Alexandrovna。
Razumihin could not sit still on his chair。
〃Aren't you ashamed now； sister？〃 asked Raskolnikov。
〃I am ashamed； Rodya；〃 said Dounia。 〃Pyotr Petrovitch； go away；〃 she
turned to him； white with anger。
Pyotr Petrovitch had apparently not at all expected such a
conclusion。 He had too much confidence in himself； in his power and in
the helplessness of his victims。 He could not believe it even now。
He turned pale； and his lips quivered。
〃Avdotyo Romanovna； if I go out of this door now； after such a
dismissal； then； you may reckon on it； I will never come back。
Consider what you are doing。 My word is not to be shaken。〃
〃What insolence！〃 cried Dounia； springing up from her seat。 〃I don't
want you to come back again。〃
〃What！ So that's how it stands！〃 cried Luzhin； utterly unable to the
last moment to believe in the rupture and so completely thrown out
of his reckoning now。 〃So that's how it stands！ But do you know；
Avdotya Romanovna； that I might protest？〃
〃What right have you to speak to her like that？〃 Pulcheria
Alexandrovna intervened hotly。 〃And what can you protest about？ What
rights have you？ Am I to give my Dounia to a man like you？ Go away；
leave us altogether！ We are to blame for having agreed to a wrong
action； and I above all。。。。〃
〃But you have bound me； Pulcheria Alexandrovna；〃 Luzhin stormed in a
frenzy； 〃by your promise； and now you deny it and。。。 besides。。。 I have
been led on account of that into expenses。。。。〃
This last complaint was so characteristic of Pyotr Petrovitch；
that Raskolnikov； pale with anger and with the effort of restraining
it； could not help breaking into laughter。 But Pulcheria
Alexandrovna was furious。
〃Expenses？ What expenses？ Are you speaking of our trunk？ But the
conductor brought it for nothing for you。 Mercy on us； we have bound
you！ What are you thinking about； Pyotr Petrovitch； it was you bound
us； hand and foot； not we！〃
〃Enough； mother； no more please；〃 Avdotya Romanovna implored。 〃Pyotr
Petrovitch； do be kind and go！〃
〃I am going； but one last word；〃 he said； quite unable to control
himself。 〃Your mamma seems to have entirely forgotten that I made up
my mind to take you； so to speak； after the gossip of the town had
spread all over the district in regard to your reputation。
Disregarding public opinion for your sake and reinstating your
reputation； I certainly might very well reckon on a fitting return；
and might indeed look for gratitude on your part。 And my eyes have
only now been opened！ I see myself that I may have acted very； very
recklessly in disregarding the universal verdict。。。。〃
〃Does the fellow want his head smashed？〃 cried Razumihin； jumping
up。
〃You are a mean and spiteful man！〃 cried Dounia。
〃Not a word！ Not a movement！〃 cried Raskolnikov； holding Razumihin
back； then going close up to Luzhin； 〃Kindly leave the room！〃 he
said quietly and distinctly； 〃and not a word more or。。。〃
Pyotr Petrovitch gazed at him for some seconds with a pale face that
worked with anger； then he turned； went out； and rarely has any man
carried away in his heart such vindictive hatred as he felt against
Raskolnikov。 Him； and him alone； he blamed for everything。 It is
noteworthy that as he went downstairs he still imagined that his
case was perhaps not utterly lost； and that； so far as the ladies were
concerned； all might 〃very well indeed〃 be set right again。
Chapter Three
