crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第41章
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〃Stop； I'll do it alone；〃 said the latter； taking the pen and
signing his name。
The messenger took out the money and went away。
〃Bravo！ And now； brother； are you hungry？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Raskolnikov。
〃Is there any soup？〃
〃Some of yesterday's；〃 answered Nastasya； who was still standing
there。
〃With potatoes and rice in it？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I know it by heart。 Bring soup and give us some tea。〃
〃Very well。〃
Raskolnikov looked at all this with profound astonishment and a
dull； unreasoning terror。 He made up his mind to keep quiet and see
what would happen。 〃I believe I am not wandering。 I believe it's
reality；〃 he thought。
In a couple of minutes Nastasya returned with the soup； and
announced that the tea would be ready directly。 With the soup she
brought two spoons； two plates； salt； pepper； mustard for the beef；
and so on。 The table was set as it had not been for a long time。 The
cloth was clean。
〃It would not be amiss； Nastasya； if Praskovya Pavlovna were to send
us up a couple of bottles of beer。 We could empty them。〃
〃Well； you are a cool hand；〃 muttered Nastasya； and she departed
to carry out his orders。
Raskolnikov still gazed wildly with strained attention。 Meanwhile
Razumihin sat down on the sofa beside him； as clumsily as a bear put
his left arm round Raskolnikov's head； although he was able to sit up；
and with his right hand gave him a spoonful of soup； blowing on it
that it might not burn him。 But the soup was only just warm。
Raskolnikov swallowed one spoonful greedily； then a second； then a
third。 But after giving him a few more spoonfuls of soup； Razumihin
suddenly stopped； and said that he must ask Zossimov whether he
ought to have more。
Nastasya came in with two bottles of beer。
〃And will you have tea？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Cut along； Nastasya； and bring some tea； for tea we may venture
on without the faculty。 But here is the beer！〃 He moved back to his
chair； pulled the soup and meat in front of him； and began eating as
though he had not touched food for three days。
〃I must tell you； Rodya； I dine like this here every day now；〃 he
mumbled with his mouth full of beef； 〃and it's all Pashenka； your dear
little landlady； who sees to that； she loves to do anything for me。
I don't ask for it； but； of course； I don't object。 And here's
Nastasya with the tea。 She is a quick girl。 Nastasya； my dear； won't
you have some beer？〃
〃Get along with your nonsense！〃
〃A cup of tea； then？〃
〃A cup of tea； maybe。〃
〃Pour it out。 Stay； I'll pour it out myself。 Sit down。〃
He poured out two cups； left his dinner； and sat on the sofa
again。 As before； he put his left arm round the sick man's head；
raised him up and gave him tea in spoonfuls； again blowing each
spoonful steadily and earnestly； as though this process was the
principal and most effective means towards his friend's recovery。
Raskolnikov said nothing and made no resistance； though he felt
quite strong enough to sit up on the sofa without support and could
not merely have held a cup or a spoon； but even perhaps could have
walked about。 But from some queer； almost animal； cunning he conceived
the idea of hiding his strength and lying low for a time； pretending
if necessary not to be yet in full possession of his faculties； and
meanwhile listening to find out what was going on。 Yet he could not
overcome his sense of repugnance。 After sipping a dozen spoonfuls of
tea； he suddenly released his head； pushed the spoon away
capriciously； and sank back on the pillow。 There were actually real
pillows under his head now； down pillows in clean cases； he observed
that； too； and took note of it。
〃Pashenka must give us some raspberry jam to…day to make him some
raspberry tea；〃 said Razumihin； going back to his chair and
attacking his soup and beer again。
〃And where is she to get raspberries for you？〃 asked Nastasya；
balancing a saucer on her five outspread fingers and sipping tea
through a lump of sugar。
〃She'll get it at the shop； my dear。 You see； Rodya； all sorts of
things have been happening while you have been laid up。 When you
decamped in that rascally way without leaving your address； I felt
so angry that I resolved to find you out and punish you。 I set to work
that very day。 How I ran about making inquiries for you！ This
lodging of yours I had forgotten； though I never remembered it；
indeed； because I did not know it； and as for your old lodgings； I
could only remember it was at the Five Corners； Harlamov's house。 I
kept trying to find that Harlamov's house； and afterwards it turned
out that it was not Harlamov's； but Buch's。 How one muddles up sound
sometimes！ So I lost my temper； and I went on the chance to the
address bureau next day； and only fancy； in two minutes they looked
you up！ Your name is down there。〃
〃My name！〃
〃I should think so； and yet a General Kobelev they could not find
while I was there。 Well； it's a long story。 But as soon as I did
land on this place； I soon got to know all your affairs… all； all；
brother； I know everything； Nastasya here will tell you。 I made the
acquaintance of Nikodim Fomitch and Ilya Petrovitch； and the
house…porter and Mr。 Zametov； Alexandr Grigorievitch； the head clerk
in the police office； and； last； but not least； of Pashenka；
Nastasya here knows。。。。〃
〃He's got round her；〃 Nastasya murmured； smiling slyly。
〃Why don't you put the sugar in your tea； Nastasya Nikiforovna？〃
〃You are a one！〃 Nastasya cried suddenly； going off into a giggle。
〃I am not Nikiforovna； but Petrovna；〃 she added suddenly； recovering
from her mirth。
〃I'll make a note of it。 Well； brother； to make a long story
short； I was going in for a regular explosion here to uproot all
malignant influences in the locality； but Pashenka won the day。 I
had not expected； brother； to find her so。。。 prepossessing。 Eh； what
do you think？〃
Raskolnikov did not sp
