crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第96章
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Romanovna through your mediation； and if you like in your presence； to
explain to her that in the first place she will never gain anything
but harm from Mr。 Luzhin。 Then begging her pardon for all past
unpleasantness； to make her a present of ten thousand roubles and so
assist the rupture with Mr。 Luzhin； a rupture to which I believe she
is herself not disinclined； if she could see the way to it。〃
〃You are certainly mad；〃 cried Raskolnikov not so much angered as
astonished。 〃How dare you talk like that！〃
〃I knew you would scream at me； but in the first place； though I
am not rich； this ten thousand roubles is perfectly free； I have
absolutely no need for it。 If Avdotya Romanovna does not accept it；
I shall waste it in some more foolish way。 That's the first thing。
Secondly； my conscience is perfectly easy； I make the offer with no
ulterior motive。 You may not believe it； but in the end Avdotya
Romanovna and you will know。 The point is； that I did actually cause
your sister； whom I greatly respect； some trouble and
unpleasantness； and so； sincerely regretting it； I want… not to
compensate； not to repay her for the unpleasantness； but simply to
do something to her advantage； to show that I am not； after all；
privileged to do nothing but harm。 If there were a millionth
fraction of self interest in my offer； I should not have made it so
openly； and I should not have offered her ten thousand only； when five
weeks ago I offered her more； Besides； I may； perhaps； very soon marry
a young lady； and that alone ought to prevent suspicion of any
design on Avdotya Romanovna。 In conclusion； let me say that in
marrying Mr。 Luzhin； she is taking money just the same； only from
another man。 Don't be angry； Rodion Romanovitch； think it over
coolly and quietly。〃
Svidrigailov himself was exceedingly cool and quiet as he was saying
this。
〃I beg you to say no more；〃 said Raskolnikov。 〃In any case this is
unpardonable impertinence。〃
〃Not in the least。 Then a man may do nothing but harm to his
neighbour in this world； and is prevented from doing the tiniest bit
of good by trivial conventional formalities。 That's absurd。 If I died；
for instance； and left that sum to your sister in my will； surely
she wouldn't refuse it？〃
〃Very likely she would。〃
〃Oh； no； indeed。 However； if you refuse it； so be it； though ten
thousand roubles is a capital thing to have on occasion。 In any case I
beg you to repeat what I have said to Avdotya Romanovna。〃
〃No； I won't。〃
〃In that case； Rodion Romanovitch； I shall be obliged to try and see
her myself and worry her by doing so。〃
〃And if I do tell her； will you not try to see her？〃
〃I don't know really what to say。 I should like very much to see her
once more。〃
〃Don't hope for it。〃
〃I'm sorry。 But you don't know me。 Perhaps we may become better
friends。〃
〃You think we may become friends？〃
〃And why not？〃 Svidrigailov said； smiling。 He stood up and took
his hat。 〃I didn't quite intend to disturb you and I came here without
reckoning on it。。。 though I was very much struck by your face this
morning。〃
〃Where did you see me this morning？〃 Raskolnikov asked uneasily。
〃I saw you by chance。。。。 I kept fancying there is something about
you like me。。。。 But don't be uneasy。 I am not intrusive； I used to get
on all right with card…sharpers； and I never bored Prince Svirbey； a
great personage who is a distant relation of mine； and I could write
about Raphael's Madonna in Madam Prilukov's album； and I never left
Marfa Petrovna's side for seven years； and I used to stay the night at
Viazemsky's house in the Hay Market in the old days； and I may go up
in a balloon with Berg； perhaps。〃
〃Oh； all right。 Are you starting soon on your travels； may I ask？〃
〃What travels？〃
〃Why； on that 'journey'； you spoke of it yourself。〃
〃A journey？ Oh； yes。 I did speak of a journey。 Well； that's a wide
subject。。。。 if only you knew what you are asking；〃 he added； and
gave a sudden； loud； short laugh。 〃Perhaps I'll get married instead of
the journey。 They're making a match for me。〃
〃Here？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃How have you had time for that？〃
〃But I am very anxious to see Avdotya Romanovna once。 I earnestly
beg it。 Well； good…bye for the present。 Oh； yes； I have forgotten
something。 Tell your sister； Rodion Romanovitch； that Marfa Petrovna
remembered her in her will and left her three thousand rubles。
That's absolutely certain。 Marfa Petrovna arranged it a week before
her death； and it was done in my presence。 Avdotya Romanovna will be
able to receive the money in two or three weeks。〃
〃Are you telling the truth？〃
〃Yes； tell her。 Well； your servant。 I am staying very near you。〃
As he went out； Svidrigailov ran up against Razumihin in the
doorway。
Chapter Two
IT WAS nearly eight o'clock。 The two young men hurried to
Bakaleyev's； to arrive before Luzhin。
〃Why； who was that？〃 asked Razumihin； as soon as they were in the
street。
〃It was Svidrigailov； that landowner in whose house my sister was
insulted when she was their governess。 Through his persecuting her
with his attentions； she was turned out by his wife； Marfa Petrovna。
This Marfa Petrovna begged Dounia's forgiveness afterwards； and
she's just died suddenly。 It was of her we were talking this
morning。 I don't know why I'm afraid of that man。 He came here at once
after his wife's funeral。 He is very strange； and is determined on
doing something。。。。 We must guard Dounia from him。。。 that's what I
wanted to tell you； do you hear？〃
〃Guard her！ What can he do to harm Avdotya Romanovna？ Thank you；
Rodya； for speaking to me like that。。。。 We will； we will guard her。
Where does he live？〃
〃I don't know。〃
〃Why didn't you ask？ What a pity！ I'll find out； though。〃
〃Did you see him？〃
