crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第48章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
door； so the murderer popped out and ran down； too； for he had no
other way of escape。 He hid from Koch； Pestryakov and the porter in
the flat when Nikolay and Dmitri had just run out of it。 He stopped
there while the porter and others were going upstairs； waited till
they were out of hearing； and then went calmly downstairs at the
very minute when Dmitri and Nikolay ran out into the street and
there was no one in the entry； possibly he was seen； but not
noticed。 There are lots of people going in and out。 He must have
dropped the ear…rings out of his pocket when he stood behind the door；
and did not notice he dropped them； because he had other things to
think of。 The jewel…case is a conclusive proof that he did stand
there。。。。 That's how I explain it。〃
〃Too clever！ No； my boy； you're too clever。 That beats everything。〃
〃But； why； why？〃
〃Why； because everything fits too well。。。 it's too melodramatic。〃
〃A…ach！〃 Razumihin was exclaiming； but at that moment the door
opened and a personage came in who was a stranger to all present。
Chapter Five
THIS WAS a gentleman no longer young； of a stiff and portly
appearance； and a cautious and sour countenance。 He began by
stopping short in the doorway； staring about him with offensive and
undisguised astonishment； as though asking himself what sort of
place he had come to。 Mistrustfully and with an affectation of being
alarmed and almost affronted； he scanned Raskolnikov's low and
narrow 〃cabin。〃 With the same amazement he stared at Raskolnikov；
who lay undressed； dishevelled； unwashed； on his miserable dirty sofa；
looking fixedly at him。 Then with the same deliberation he scrutinised
the uncouth； unkempt figure and unshaven face of Razumihin； who looked
him boldly and inquiringly in the face without rising from his seat。 A
constrained silence lasted for a couple of minutes； and then； as might
be expected； some scene…shifting took place。 Reflecting； probably from
certain fairly unmistakable signs； that he would get nothing in this
〃cabin〃 by attempting to overawe them； the gentleman softened
somewhat； and civilly； though with some severity； emphasising every
syllable of his question； addressed Zossimov：
〃Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov； a student； or formerly a student？〃
Zossimov made a slight movement； and would have answered； had not
Razumihin anticipated him。
〃Here he is lying on the sofa！ What do you want？〃
This familiar 〃what do you want〃 seemed to cut the ground from the
feet of the pompous gentleman。 He was turning to Razumihin； but
checked himself in time and turned to Zossimov again。
〃This is Raskolnikov；〃 mumbled Zossimov； nodding towards him。 Then
he gave a prolonged yawn； opening his mouth as wide as possible。
Then he lazily put his hand into his waistcoat…pocket； pulled out a
huge gold watch in a round hunter's case； opened it； looked at it
and as slowly and lazily proceeded to put it back。
Raskolnikov himself lay without speaking； on his back； gazing
persistently； though 'without understanding； at the stranger。 Now that
his face was turned away from the strange flower on the paper； it
was extremely pale and wore a look of anguish； as though he had just
undergone an agonising operation or just been taken from the rack。 But
the new…comer gradually began to arouse his attention； then his
wonder； then suspicion and even alarm。 When Zossimov said 〃This is
Raskolnikov〃 he jumped up quickly； sat on the sofa and with an
almost defiant； but weak and breaking； voice articulated：
〃Yes； I am Raskolnikov！ What do you want？〃
The visitor scrutinised him and pronounced impressively：
〃Pyotr Petrovitch Luzhin。 I believe I have reason to hope that my
name is not wholly unknown to you？〃
But Raskolnikov； who had expected something quite different； gazed
blankly and dreamily at him； making no reply； as though he heard the
name of Pyotr Petrovitch for the first time。
〃Is it possible that you can up to the present have received no
information？〃 asked Pyotr Petrovitch； somewhat disconcerted。
In reply Raskolnikov sank languidly back on the pillow； put his
hands behind his head and gazed at the ceiling。 A look of dismay
came into Luzhin's face。 Zossimov and Razumihin stared at him more
inquisitively than ever； and at last he showed unmistakable signs of
embarrassment。
〃I had presumed and calculated；〃 he faltered； 〃that a letter
posted more than ten days； if not a fortnight ago。。。〃
〃I say； why are you standing in the doorway？〃 Razumihin
interrupted suddenly。 〃If you've something to say； sit down。
Nastasya and you are so crowded。 Nastasya； make room。 Here's a
chair； thread your way in！〃
He moved his chair back from the table； made a little space
between the table and his knees； and waited in a rather cramped
position for the visitor to 〃thread his way in。〃 The minute was so
chosen that it was impossible to refuse； and the visitor squeezed
his way through； hurrying and stumbling。 Reaching the chair； he sat
down； looking suspiciously at Razumihin。
〃No need to be nervous；〃 the latter blurted out。 〃Rodya has been ill
for the last five days and delirious for three； but now he is
recovering and has got an appetite。 This is his doctor； who has just
had a look at him。 I am a comrade of Rodya's； like him； formerly a
student； and now I am nursing him； so don't you take any notice of us；
but go on with your business。〃
〃Thank you。 But shall I not disturb the invalid by my presence and
conversation？〃 Pyotr Petrovitch asked of Zossimov。
〃N…no；〃 mumbled Zossimov； 〃you may amuse him。〃 He yawned again。
〃He has been conscious a long time； since the morning；〃 went on
Razumihin； whose familiarity seemed so much like unaffected
good…nature that Pyotr Petrovitch began to be more cheerful； partly；
perhaps； because this shabby and impudent person had introduced
himself as a student。
〃Your mamma；〃 began Luzhin。
〃Hm！〃 Razumihin cleared his throat loudly。 Luzhin looked at him
inquiringly。
〃That's all right； go on。〃
Luzhin shrugged his shoulders。
〃Your mamma had commenced a letter to you while I was sojourning
in her neighbourhood。 On my arrival here I purposely allowed a few
days to elapse before coming to see you； in order that I might be
fully assured that you
