crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第127章
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she only 〃meant her good；〃 and that 〃she had meant her very good；〃 and
that 〃it was long since she had paid her Gold for the lodgings。〃
Katerina Ivanovna at once 〃set her down；〃 saying that it was a lie
to say she wished her good； because only yesterday when her dead
husband was lying on the table； she had worried her about the
lodgings。 To this Amalia Ivanovna very appropriately observed that she
had invited those ladies； but 〃those ladies had not come； because
those ladies are ladies and cannot come to a lady who is not a
lady。〃 Katerina Ivanovna at once pointed out to her； that as she was a
slut she could not judge what made one really a lady。 Amalia
Ivanovna at once declared that her 〃Vater aus Berlin was a very；
very important man； and both hands in pockets went； and always used to
say： poof！ poof！〃 and she leapt up from the table to represent her
father； sticking her hands in her pockets； puffing her cheeks； and
uttering vague sounds resembling 〃poof！ poof！〃 amid loud laughter from
all the lodgers； who purposely encouraged Amalia Ivanovna； hoping
for a fight。
But this was too much for Katerina Ivanovna； and she at once
declared； so that all could hear； that Amalia Ivanovna probably
never had a father； but was simply a drunken Petersburg Finn； and
had certainly once been a cook and probably something worse。 Amalia
Ivanovna turned as red as a lobster and squealed that perhaps Katerina
Ivanovna never had a father； 〃but she had a vater aus Berlin and
that he wore a long coat and always said poof…poof…poof！〃
Katerina Ivanovna observed contemptuously that all knew what her
family was and that on that very certificate of honour it was stated
in print that her father was a colonel； while Amalia Ivanovna's
father… if she really had one… was probably some Finnish milkman；
but that probably she never had a father at all； since it was still
uncertain whether her name was Amalia Ivanovna or Amalia Ludwigovna。
At this Amalia Ivanovna； lashed to fury； struck the table with her
fist； and shrieked that she was Amalia Ivanovna； and not Ludwigovna；
〃that her Vater was named Johann and that he was a burgomeister； and
that Katerina Ivanovna's Vater was quite never a burgomeister。〃
Katerina Ivanovna rose from her chair； and with a stern and apparently
calm voice （though she was pale and her chest was heaving） observed
that 〃if she dared for one moment to set her contemptible wretch of
a father on a level with her papa； she； Katerina Ivanovna； would
tear her cap off her head and trample it under foot。〃 Amalia
Ivanovna ran about the room； shouting at the top of her voice； that
she was mistress of the house and that Katerina Ivanovna should
leave the lodgings that minute； then she rushed for some reason to
collect the silver spoons from the table。 There was a great outcry and
uproar； the children began crying。 Sonia ran to restrain Katerina
Ivanovna； but when Amalia Ivanovna shouted something about 〃the yellow
ticket；〃 Katerina Ivanovna pushed Sonia away； and rushed at the
landlady to carry out her threat。
At that minute the door opened； and Pyotr Petrovitch Luzhin appeared
on the threshold。 He stood scanning the party with severe and vigilant
eyes。 Katerina Ivanovna rushed to him。
Chapter Three
〃PYOTR PETROVITCH；〃 she cried； 〃protect me。。。 you at least！ Make
this foolish woman understand that she can't behave like this to a
lady in misfortune。。。 that there is a law for such things。。。。 I'll
go to the governor…general himself。。。。 She shall answer for it。。。。
Remembering my father's hospitality protect these orphans。〃
〃Allow me； madam。。。。 Allow me。〃 Pyotr Petrovitch waved her off。
〃Your papa； as you are well aware； I had not the honour of knowing〃
（some one laughed aloud） 〃and I do not intend to take part in your
everlasting squabbles with Amalia Ivanovna。。。。 I have come here to
speak of my own affairs。。。 and I want to have a word with your
stepdaughter； Sofya。。。 Ivanovna； I think it is？ Allow me to pass。〃
Pyotr Petrovitch； edging by her； went to the opposite corner where
Sonia was。
Katerina Ivanovna remained standing where she was； as though
thunderstruck。 She could not understand how Pyotr Petrovitch could
deny having enjoyed her father's hospitility。 Though she had
invented it herself； she believed in it firmly by this time。 She was
struck too by the businesslike； dry and even contemptuously menacing
tone of Pyotr Petrovitch。 All the clamour gradually died away at his
entrance。 Not only was this 〃serious business man〃 strikingly
incongruous with the rest of the party； but it was evident； too；
that he had come upon some matter of consequence； that some
exceptional cause must have brought him and that therefore something
was going to happen。 Raskolnikov； standing beside Sonia； moved aside
to let him pass； Pyotr Petrovitch did not seem to notice him。 A minute
later Lebeziatnikov； too； appeared in the doorway； he did not come in；
but stood still； listening with marked interest； almost wonder； and
seemed for a time perplexed。
〃Excuse me for possibly interrupting you； but it's a matter of
some importance；〃 Pyotr Petrovitch observed； addressing the company
generally。 〃I am glad indeed to find other persons present。 Amalia
Ivanovna； I humbly beg you as mistress of the house to pay careful
attention to what I have to say to Sofya Ivanovna。 Sofya Ivanovna；〃 he
went on； addressing Sonia； who was very much surprised and already
alarmed； 〃immediately after your visit I found that a hundred…rouble
note was missing from my table； in the room of my friend Mr。
Lebeziatnikov。 If in any way whatever you know and will tell us
where it is now； I assure you on my word of honour and call all
present to witness that the matter shall end there。 In the opposite
case I shall be compelled to have recourse to very serious measures
and then。。。 you must blame yourself。〃
Complete silence reigned in the room。 Even the crying children
were still。 Sonia stood deadly pale； staring at Luzhin and unable to
say a word。 She seemed not to understand。 Some seconds passed。
〃Well； how is it to be then？〃 asked Luzhin； looking intently at her。
〃I don't know。。。。 I know nothing about it；〃 Sonia articulated
faintly at last。
〃No； you know nothing？〃 Luzhin repeated and again he paused for some
seconds。 〃Think a moment； mademoiselle；〃 he began severely； but still；
as it were； admonishing her。 〃Reflect； I am prepared to give you
time for consideration。 Kindly observe this： if I were not so entirely
convinced I should not； you may be sure； with my experience venture to
accuse you so directly。 Seeing that for such direct accusation
before witnesses； if
