crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第150章
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for our landlady's silver spoons。。。 Amalia Ivanovna！〃 she addressed
her suddenly； almost aloud； 〃if your spoons should happen to be
stolen； I won't be responsible； I warn you！ Ha…ha…ha！〃 She laughed
turning to Raskolnikov； and again nodding towards the landlady； in
high glee at her sally。 〃She didn't understand； she didn't
understand again！ Look how she sits with her mouth open！ An owl； a
real owl！ An owl in new ribbons； ha…ha…ha！〃
Here her laugh turned again to an insufferable fit of coughing
that lasted five minutes。 Drops of perspiration stood out on her
forehead and her handkerchief was stained with blood。 She showed
Raskolnikov the blood in silence； and as soon as she could get her
breath began whispering to him again with extreme animation and a
hectic flush on her cheeks。
〃Do you know； I gave her the most delicate instructions； so to
speak； for inviting that lady and her daughter； you understand of whom
I am speaking？ It needed the utmost delicacy； the greatest nicety； but
she has managed things so that that fool； that conceited baggage； that
provincial nonentity； simply because she is the widow of a major；
and has come to try and get a pension and to fray out her skirts in
the government offices； because at fifty she paints her face
（everybody knows it）。。。 a creature like that did not think fit to
come； and has not even answered the invitation； which the most
ordinary good manners required！ I can't understand why Pyotr
Petrovitch has not come！ But where's Sonia？ Where has she gone？ Ah；
there she is at last！ what is it； Sonia； where have you been？ It's odd
that even at your father's funeral you should be so unpunctual。 Rodion
Romanovitch； make room for her beside you。 That's your place； Sonia。。。
take what you like。 Have some of the cold entree with jelly； that's
the best。 They'll bring the pancakes directly。 Have they given the
children some？ Polenka； have you got everything？
（Cough…cough…cough。） That's all right。 Be a good girl； Lida； and；
Kolya； don't fidget with your feet； sit like a little gentleman。
What are you saying； Sonia？〃
Sonia hastened to give her Pyotr Petrovitch's apologies； trying to
speak loud enough for every one to hear and carefully choosing the
most respectful phrases which she attributed to Pyotr Petrovitch。
She added that Pyotr Petrovitch had particularly told her to say that；
as soon as he possibly could； he would come immediately to discuss
business alone with her and to consider what could be done for her；
&c。； &c。
Sonia knew that this would comfort Katerina Ivanovna； would
flatter her and gratify her pride。 She sat down beside Raskolnikov；
she made him a hurried bow； glancing curiously at him。 But for the
rest of the time she seemed to avoid looking at him or speaking to
him。 She seemed absent…minded； though she kept looking at Katerina
Ivanovna； trying to please her。 Neither she nor Katerina Ivanovna
had been able to get mourning； Sonia was wearing dark brown； and
Katerina Ivanovna had on her only dress； a dark striped cotton one。
The message from Pyotr Petrovitch was very successful。 Listening
to Sonia with dignity； Katerina Ivanovna inquired with equal dignity
how Pyotr Petrovitch was； then at once whispered almost aloud to
Raskolnikov that it certainly would have been strange for a man of
Pyotr Petrovitch's position and standing to find himself in such
〃extraordinary company；〃 in spite of his devotion to her family and
his old friendship with her father。
〃That's why I am so grateful to you； Rodion Romanovitch； that you
have not disdained my hospitality； even in such surroundings；〃 she
added almost aloud。 〃But I am sure that it was only your special
affection for my poor husband that has made you keep your promise。〃
Then once more with pride and dignity she scanned her visitors；
and suddenly inquired aloud across the table of the deaf man：
〃wouldn't he have some more meat； and had he been given some wine？〃
The old man made no answer and for a long while could not understand
what he was asked； though his neighbours amused themselves by poking
and shaking him。 He simply gazed about him with his mouth open；
which only increased the general mirth。
〃What an imbecile！ Look； look！ Why was he brought？ But as to Pyotr
Petrovitch； I always had confidence in him；〃 Katerina Ivanovna
continued； 〃and； of course； he is not like。。。〃 with an extremely stern
face she addressed Amalia Ivanovna so sharply and loudly that the
latter was quite disconcerted； 〃not like your dressed up
draggletails whom my father would not have taken as cooks into his
kitchen； and my late husband would have done them honour if he had
invited them in the goodness of his heart。〃
〃Yes； he was fond of drink； he was fond of it； he did drink！〃
cried the commissariat clerk； gulping down his twelfth glass of vodka。
〃My late husband certainly had that weakness； and every one knows
it；〃 Katerina Ivanovna attacked him at once； 〃but he was a kind and
honourable man； who loved and respected his family。 The worst of it
was his good nature made him trust all sorts of disreputable people；
and he drank with fellows who were not worth the sole of his shoe。
Would you believe it； Rodion Romanovitch； they found a gingerbread
cock in his pocket； he was dead drunk； but he did not forget the
children！〃
〃A cock？ Did you say a cock？〃 shouted the commissariat clerk。
Katerina Ivanovna did not vouchsafe a reply。 She sighed； lost in
thought。
〃No doubt you think； like every one； that I was too severe with
him；〃 she went on； addressing Raskolnikov。 〃But that's not so！ He
respected me； he respected me very much！ He was a kind…hearted man！
And how sorry I was for him sometimes！ He would sit in a corner and
look at me； I used to feel so sorry for him； I used to want to be kind
to him and then would think to myself： 'be kind to him and he will
drink again；' it was only by severity that you could keep him within
bounds。〃
〃Yes； he used to get his hair pulled pretty often；〃 roared the
commissariat clerk again； swallowing another glass of vodka。
〃Some fools would be the better for a good drubbing； as well as
having their hair pulled。 I am not talking of my late husband now！〃
Katerina Ivanovna snapped at him。
The flush on her cheeks grew more and more marked； her chest heaved。
In another minute she would have been ready to make a scene。 Many of
the visitors were sniggering； evidently delighted。 They began poking
the commissariat clerk and whispering something to him。 They were
evidently trying to egg him on。
〃Allow me to ask what are you alluding to；〃 began the clerk； 〃that
is to say； whose。。。 abou
