crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第93章
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twice with a switch… there were no marks even。。。 don't regard me as
a cynic； please； I am perfectly aware how atrocious it was of me and
all that； but I know for certain； too； that Marfa Petrovna was very
likely pleased at my； so to say； warmth。 The story of your sister
had been wrung out to the last drop； for the last three days Marfa
Petrovna had been forced to sit at home； she had nothing to show
herself with in the town。 Besides； she had bored them so with that
letter （you heard about her reading the letter）。 And all of a sudden
those two switches fell from heaven！ Her first act was to order the
carriage to be got out。。。。 Not to speak of the fact that there are
cases when women are very； very glad to be insulted in spite of all
their show of indignation。 There are instances of it with every one；
human beings in general； indeed； greatly love to be insulted； have you
noticed that？ But it's particularly so with women。 One might even
say it's their only amusement。〃
At one time Raskolnikov thought of getting up and walking out and so
finishing the interview。 But some curiosity and even a sort of
prudence made him linger for a moment。
〃You are fond of fighting？〃 he asked carelessly。
〃No； not very；〃 Svidrigailov answered； calmly。 〃And Marfa Petrovna
and I scarcely ever fought。 We lived very harmoniously； and she was
always pleased with me。 I only used the whip twice in all our seven
years （not counting a third occasion of a very ambiguous character）。
The first time； two months after our marriage； immediately after we
arrived in the country； and the last time was that of which we are
speaking。 Did you suppose I was such a monster； such a reactionary；
such a slave driver？ Ha； ha！ By the way； do you remember； Rodion
Romanovitch； how a few years ago； in those days of beneficent
publicity； a nobleman； I've forgotten his name； was put to shame
everywhere； in all the papers； for having thrashed a German woman in
the railway train。 You remember？ It was in those days； that very
year I believe； the 'disgraceful action of the Age' took place （you
know； 'The Egyptian Nights；' that public reading； you remember？ The
dark eyes； you know！ Ah； the golden days of our youth； where are
they？）。 Well； as for the gentleman who thrashed the German； I feel
no sympathy with him； because after all what need is there for
sympathy？ But I must say that there are sometimes such provoking
'Germans' that I don't believe there is a progressive who could
quite answer for himself。 No one looked at the subject from that point
of view then； but that's the truly humane point of view； I assure
you。〃
After saying this； Svidrigailov broke into a sudden laugh again。
Raskolnikov saw clearly that this was a man with a firm purpose in his
mind and able to keep it to himself。
〃I expect you've not talked to any one for some days？〃 he asked。
〃Scarcely any one。 I suppose you are wondering at my being such an
adaptable man？〃
〃No； I am only wondering at your being too adaptable a man。〃
〃Because I am not offended at the rudeness of your questions？ Is
that it？ But why take offence？ As you asked； so I answered；〃 he
replied； with a surprising expression of simplicity。 〃You know；
there's hardly anything I take interest in；〃 he went on； as it were
dreamily； 〃especially now； I've nothing to do。。。。 You are quite at
liberty to imagine though that I am making up to you with a motive；
particularly as I told you I want to see your sister about
something。 But I'll confess frankly； I am very much bored。 The last
three days especially； so I am delighted to see you。。。。 Don't be
angry； Rodion Romanovitch； but you seem to be somehow awfully
strange yourself。 Say what you like； there's something wrong with you；
and now； too。。。 not this very minute； I mean； but now； generally。。。。
Well； well； I won't； I won't； don't scowl！ I am not such a bear； you
know； as you think。〃
Raskolnikov looked gloomily at him。
〃You are not a bear； perhaps； at all；〃 he said。 〃I fancy indeed that
you are a man of very good breeding； or at least know how on
occasion to behave like one。〃
〃I am not particularly interested in any one's opinion；〃
Svidrigailov answered； dryly and even with a shade of haughtiness；
〃and therefore why not be vulgar at times when vulgarity is such a
convenient cloak for our climate。。。 and especially if one has a
natural propensity that way；〃 he added； laughing again。
〃But I've heard you have many friends here。 You are； as they say；
'not without connections。' What can you want with me； then； unless
you've some special object？〃
〃That's true that I have friends here；〃 Svidrigailov admitted； not
replying to the chief point。 〃I've met some already。 I've been
lounging about for the last three days； and I've seen them； or they've
seen me。 That's a matter of course。 I am well dressed and reckoned not
a poor man； the emancipation of the serfs hasn't affected me； my
property consists chiefly of forests and water meadows。 The revenue
has not fallen off； but。。。 I am not going to see them； I was sick of
them long ago。 I've been here three days and have called on no one。。。。
What a town it is！ How has it come into existence among us； tell me
that？ A town of officials and students of all sorts。 Yes； there's a
great deal I didn't notice when I was here eight years ago； kicking up
my heels。。。。 My only hope now is in anatomy； by Jove； it is！〃
〃Anatomy？〃
〃But as for these clubs； Dussauts； parades； or progress； indeed； may
be… well； all that can go on without me；〃 he went on； again without
noticing the question。 〃Besides； who wants to be a card…sharper？〃
〃Why； have you been a card…sharper then？〃
〃How could I help being？ There was a regular set of us； men of the
best society； eight years ago； we had a fine time。 And all men of
breeding； you know； poets； men of property。 And indeed as a rule in
our Russian society； the best manners are found among those who've
been thrashed； have you noticed that？ I've deteriorated in the
country。 But I did get into prison for debt； through a low Greek who
came from Nezhin。 Then Marfa Petrovna turned up； she bargained with
him and bought me off for thirty thousand silver pieces （I owed
seventy thousand）。 We were united in lawful wedlock and she bore me
off into the country like a treasure。 You know she was five years
older than I。 She was very fond of me。 For seven years I never left
the country。 And； take note； that all my life she held a document over
me； the I。O。U。 for thirty thousand roubles； so if I were to elect to
be restive about anything I should be trapped at once！ And she would
have done it！ Women find nothing incompatible in that。〃
〃If it hadn't been for
