crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第87章
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place； but no more； in fact； even this isn't necessary as they
castigate themselves； for they are very conscientious： some perform
this service for one another and others chastise themselves with their
own hands。。。。 They will impose various public acts of penitence upon
themselves with a beautiful and edifying effect； in fact you've
nothing to be uneasy about。。。。 It's a law of nature。〃
〃Well； you have certainly set my mind more at rest on that score；
but there's another thing worries me。 Tell me； please； are there
many people who have the right to kill others； these extraordinary
people？ I am ready to bow down to them； of course； but you must
admit it's alarming if there are a great many of them； eh？〃
〃Oh； you needn't worry about that either；〃 Raskolnikov went on in
the same tone。 〃People with new ideas； people with the faintest
capacity for saying something new； are extremely few in number；
extraordinarily so in fact。 One thing only is clear； that the
appearance of all these grades and sub…divisions of men must follow
with unfailing regularity some law of nature。 That law； of course；
is unknown at present； but I am convinced that it exists； and one
day may become known。 The vast mass of mankind is mere material； and
only exists in order by some great effort； by some mysterious process；
by means of some crossing of races and stocks； to bring into the world
at last perhaps one man out of a thousand with a spark of
independence。 One in ten thousand perhaps… I speak roughly；
approximately… is born with some independence； and with still
greater independence one in a hundred thousand。 The man of genius is
one of millions； and the great geniuses； the crown of humanity； appear
on earth perhaps one in many thousand millions。 In fact I have not
peeped into the retort in which all this takes place。 But there
certainly is and must be a definite law； it cannot be a matter of
chance。〃
〃Why； are you both joking？〃 Razumihin cried at last。 〃There you sit；
making fun of one another。 Are you serious； Rodya？〃
Raskolnikov raised his pale and almost mournful face and made no
reply。 And the unconcealed； persistent； nervous； and discourteous
sarcasm of Porfiry seemed strange to Razumihin beside that quiet and
mournful face。
〃Well； brother； if you are really serious。。。 You are right； of
course； in saying that it's not new； that it's like what we've read
and heard a thousand times already； but what is really original in all
this； and is exclusively your own； to my horror； is that you
sanction bloodshed in the name of conscience； and； excuse my saying
so； with such fanaticism。。。。 That； I take it； is the point of your
article。 But that sanction of bloodshed by conscience is to my mind。。。
more terrible than the official； legal sanction of bloodshed。。。。〃
〃You are quite right； it is more terrible；〃 Porfiry agreed。
〃Yes； you must have exaggerated！ There is some mistake； I shall read
it。 You can't think that！ I shall read it。〃
〃All that is not in the article； there's only a hint of it；〃 said
Raskolnikov。
〃Yes； yes。〃 Porfiry couldn't sit still。 〃Your attitude to crime is
pretty clear to me now； but。。。 excuse me for my impertinence （I am
really ashamed to be worrying you like this）； you see； you've
removed my anxiety as to the two grades' getting mixed； but。。。 there
are various practical possibilities that make me uneasy！ What if
some man or youth imagines that he is a Lycurgus or Mahomet… a
future one of course… and suppose he begins to remove all
obstacles。。。。 He has some great enterprise before him and needs
money for it。。。 and tries to get it。。。 do you see？〃
Zametov gave a sudden guffaw in his corner。 Raskolnikov did not even
raise his eyes to him。
〃I must admit；〃 he went on calmly； 〃that such cases certainly must
arise。 The vain and foolish are particularly apt to fall into that
snare； young people especially。〃
〃Yes； you see。 Well then？〃
〃What then？〃 Raskolnikov smiled in reply； 〃that's not my fault。 So
it is and so it always will be。 He said just now （he nodded at
Razumihin） that I sanction bloodshed。 Society is too well protected by
prisons； banishment； criminal investigators； penal servitude。
There's no need to be uneasy。 You have but to catch the thief。〃
〃And what if we do catch him？〃
〃Then he gets what he deserves。〃
〃You are certainly logical。 But what of his conscience？〃
〃Why do you care about that？〃
〃Simply from humanity。〃
〃If he has a conscience he will suffer for his mistake。 That will be
his punishment… as well as the prison。〃
〃But the real geniuses；〃 asked Razumihin frowning； 〃those who have
the right to murder？ Oughtn't they to suffer at all even for the blood
they've shed？〃
〃Why the word ought？ It's not a matter of permission or prohibition。
He will suffer if he is sorry for his victim。 Pain and suffering are
always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart。 The
really great men must； I think； have great sadness on earth；〃 he added
dreamily； not in the tone of the conversation。
He raised his eyes； looked earnestly at them all； smiled； and took
his cap。 He was too quiet by comparison with his manner at his
entrance； and he felt this。 Every one got up。
〃Well； you may abuse me； be angry with me if you like；〃 Porfiry
Petrovitch began again； 〃but I can't resist。 Allow me one little
question （I know I am troubling you）。 There is just one little
notion I want to express； simply that I may not forget it。〃
〃Very good； tell me your little notion；〃 Raskolnikov stood
waiting； pale and grave before him。
〃Well； you see。。。 I really don't know how to express it properly。。。。
It's a playful； psychological idea。。。。 When you were writing your
article； surely you couldn't have helped； he…he； fancying
yourself。。。 just a little； an 'extraordinary' man； uttering a new word
in your sense。。。。 That's so； isn't it？〃
〃Quite possibly；〃 Raskolnikov answered contemptuously。
Razumihin made a movement。
〃And； if so； could you bring yourself in case of worldly
difficulties and hardship or for some service to humanity… to overstep
obstacles？。。。 For instance； to rob and murder？〃
And again he winked with his left eye； and laughed noiselessly
just as before。
〃If I did I certainly should not tell you；〃 Raskolnikov answered
with defiant and haughty
