crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第42章
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do you think？〃
Raskolnikov did not speak； but he still kept his eyes fixed upon
him； full of alarm。
〃And all that could be wished； indeed； in every respect；〃
Razumihin went on； not at all embarrassed by his silence。
〃Ah； the sly dog！〃 Nastasya shrieked again。 This conversation
afforded her unspeakable delight。
〃It's a pity； brother； that you did not set to work in the right way
at first。 You ought to have approached her differently。 She is； so
to speak； a most unaccountable character。 But we will talk about her
character later。。。。 How could you let things come to such a pass
that she gave up sending you your dinner？ And that I。O。U。？ You must
have been mad to sign an I。O。U。 And that promise of marriage when
her daughter； Natalya Yegorovna； was alive？。。。 I know all about it！
But I see that's a delicate matter and I am an ass； forgive me。 But；
talking of foolishness； do you know Praskovya Pavlovna is not nearly
so foolish as you would think at first sight？〃
〃No；〃 mumbled Raskolnikov； looking away； but feeling that it was
better to keep up the conversation。
〃She isn't； is she？〃 cried Razumihin； delighted to get an answer out
of him。 〃But she is not very clever either； eh？ She is essentially；
essentially an unaccountable character！ I am sometimes quite at a
loss； I assure you。。。。 She must be forty； she says she is
thirty…six； and of course she has every right to say so。 But I swear I
judge her intellectually； simply from the metaphysical point of
view； there is a sort of symbolism sprung up between us； a sort of
algebra or what not！ I don't understand it！ Well； that's all nonsense。
Only； seeing that you are not a student now and have lost your lessons
and your clothes； and that through the young lady's death she has no
need to treat you as a relation； she suddenly took fright； and as
you hid in your den and dropped all your old relations with her； she
planned to get rid of you。 And she's been cherishing that design a
long time； but was sorry to lose the I。O。U。 for you assured her
yourself that your mother would pay。〃
〃It was base of me to say that。。。。 My mother herself is almost a
beggar。。。 and I told a lie to keep my lodging。。。 and be fed；〃
Raskolnikov said loudly and distinctly。
〃Yes； you did very sensibly。 But the worst of it is that at that
point Mr。 Tchebarov turns up； a business man。 Pashenka would never
have thought of doing anything on her own account； she is too
retiring； but the business man is by no means retiring； and first
thing he puts the question； 'Is there any hope of realising the
I。O。U。？' Answer： there is； because he has a mother who would save
her Rodya with her hundred and twenty…five roubles pension； if she has
to starve herself； and a sister； too； who would go into bondage for
his sake。 That's what he was building upon。。。。 Why do you start？ I
know all the ins and outs of your affairs now； my dear boy… it's not
for nothing that you were so open with Pashenka when you were her
prospective son…in…law； and I say all this as a friend。。。。 But I
tell you what it is； an honest and sensitive man is open； and a
business man 'listens and goes on eating' you up。 Well； then she
gave the I。O。U。 by way of payment to this Tchebarov； and without
hesitation he made a formal demand for payment。 When I heard of all
this I wanted to blow him up； too； to clear my conscience； but by that
time harmony reigned between me and Pashenka； and I insisted on
stopping the whole affair； engaging that you would pay。 I went
security for you； brother。 Do you understand？ We called Tchebarov；
flung him ten roubles and got the I。O。U。 back from him； and here I
have the honour of presenting it to you。 She trusts your word now。
Here； take it； you see I have torn it。〃
Razumihin put the note on the table。 Raskolnikov looked at him and
turned to the wall without uttering a word。 Even Razumihin felt a
twinge。
〃I see； brother；〃 he said a moment later； 〃that I have been
playing the fool again。 I thought I should amuse you with my
chatter； and I believe I have only made you cross。〃
〃Was it you I did not recognise when I was delirious？〃 Raskolnikov
asked； after a moment's pause without turning his head。
〃Yes； and you flew into a rage about it； especially when I brought
Zametov one day。〃
〃Zametov？ The head clerk？ What for？〃 Raskolnikov turned round
quickly and fixed his eyes on Razumihin。
〃What's the matter with you？。。。 What are you upset about？ He
wanted to make your acquaintance because I talked to him a lot about
you。。。。 How could I have found out so much except from him？ He is a
capital fellow； brother； first…rate。。。 in his own way； of course。
Now we are friends… see each other almost every day。 I have moved into
this part； you know。 I have only just moved。 I've been with him to
Luise Ivanovna once or twice。。。。 Do you remember Luise； Luise
Ivanovna？
〃Did I say anything in delirium？〃
〃I should think so！ You were beside yourself。〃
〃What did I rave about？〃
〃What next？ What did you rave about？ What people do rave about。。。。
Well； brother； now I must not lose time。 To work。〃 He got up from
the table and took up his cap。
〃What did I rave about？〃
〃How he keeps on！ Are you afraid of having let out some secret？
Don't worry yourself； you said nothing about a countess。 But you
said a lot about a bulldog； and about ear…rings and chains； and
about Krestovsky Island； and some porter； and Nikodim Fomitch and Ilya
Petrovitch； the assistant superintendent。 And another thing that was
of special interest to you was your own sock。 You whined； 'Give me
my sock。' Zametov hunted all about your room for your socks； and
with his own scented； ring…bedecked fingers he gave you the rag。 And
only then were you comforted； and for the next twenty…four hours you
held the wretched thing in your hand； we could not get it from you。 It
is most likely somewhere under your quilt at this moment。 And then you
asked so piteously for fringe for your trousers。 We tried to find
out what sort of fringe； but we could not make it out。 Now to
business！ Here are thirty…five roubles； I take ten of them； and
shall give you an account of them in an hour or two。 I will let
Zossimov know at the same time； though he ought to have been here long
ago； for it is nearly twelve。 And you； Nastasya； look in pretty
often while I am away； to see whether he wants a drink or anything
else。 And I will tell Pashenka what is wanted myself。 Good…bye！〃
〃He calls her Pashenka
