crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第98章
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preceding it。〃
〃Good heavens！ won't he leave Dounia in peace even here？〃 cried
Pulcheria Alexandrovna。
〃I imagine that neither you nor Avdotya Romanovna have any grounds
for uneasiness； unless； of course； you are yourselves desirous of
getting into communication with him。 For my part I am on my guard； and
am now discovering where he is lodging。〃
〃Oh； Pyotr Petrovitch； you would not believe what a fright you
have given me；〃 Pulcheria Alexandrovna went on。 〃I've only seen him
twice； but I thought him terrible； terrible！ I am convinced that he
was the cause of Marfa Petrovna's death。〃
〃It's impossible to be certain about that。 I have precise
information。 I do not dispute that he may have contributed to
accelerate the course of events by the moral influence； so to say；
of the affront； but as to the general conduct and moral
characteristics of that personage； I am in agreement with you。 I do
not know whether he is well off now； and precisely what Marfa Petrovna
left him； this will be known to me within a very short period； but
no doubt here in Petersburg； if he has any pecuniary resources； he
will relapse at once into his old ways。 He is the most depraved； and
abjectly vicious specimen of that class of men。 I have considerable
reason to believe that Marfa Petrovna； who was so unfortunate as to
fall in love with him and to pay his debts eight years ago； was of
service to him also in another way。 Solely by her exertions and
sacrifices； a criminal charge； involving an element of fantastic and
homicidal brutality for which he might well have been sentenced to
Siberia； was hushed up。 That's the sort of man he is； if you care to
know。〃
〃Good heavens！〃 cried Pulcheria Alexandrovna。 Raskolnikov listened
attentively。
〃Are you speaking the truth when you say that you have good evidence
of this？〃 Dounia asked sternly and emphatically。
〃I only repeat what I was told in secret by Marfa Petrovna。 I must
observe that from the legal point of view the case was far from clear。
There was； and I believe still is； living here a woman called
Resslich； a foreigner； who lent small sums of money at interest； and
did other commissions； and with this woman Svidrigailov had for a long
while close and mysterious relations。 She had a relation； a niece I
believe； living with her； a deaf and dumb girl of fifteen； or
perhaps not more than fourteen。 Resslich hated this girl； and
grudged her every crust； she used to beat her mercilessly。 One day the
girl was found hanging in the garret。 At the inquest the verdict was
suicide。 After the usual proceedings the matter ended； but； later
on； information was given that the child had been。。。 cruelly
outraged by Svidrigailov。 It is true； this was not clearly
established； the information was given by another German woman of
loose character whose word could not be trusted； no statement was
actually made to the police； thanks to Marfa Petrovna's money and
exertions； it did not get beyond gossip。 And yet the story is a very
significant one。 You heard； no doubt； Avdotya Romanovna； when you were
with them the story of the servant Philip who died of ill treatment he
received six years ago； before the abolition of serfdom。〃
〃I heard on the contrary that this Philip hanged himself。〃
〃Quite so； but what drove him； or rather perhaps disposed him； to
suicide； was the systematic persecution and severity of Mr。
Svidrigailov。〃
〃I don't know that；〃 answered Dounia； dryly。 〃I only heard a queer
story that Philip was a sort of hypochondriac； a sort of domestic
philosopher； the servants used to say； 'he read himself silly；' and
that he hanged himself partly on account of Mr。 Svidrigailov's mockery
of him and not his blows。 When I was there he behaved well to the
servants； and they were actually fond of him； though they certainly
did blame him for Philip's death。〃
〃I perceive； Avdotya Romanovna； that you seem disposed to
undertake his defence all of a sudden；〃 Luzhin observed； twisting
his lips into an ambiguous smile； 〃there's no doubt that he is an
astute man； and insinuating where ladies are concerned； of which Marfa
Petrovna； who has died so strangely； is a terrible instance。 My only
desire has been to be of service to you and your mother with my
advice； in view of the renewed efforts which may certainly be
anticipated from him。 For my part it's my firm conviction； that he
will end in a debtor's prison again。 Marfa Petrovna had not the
slightest intention of settling anything substantial on him； having
regard for his children's interests； and； if she left him anything； it
would only be the merest sufficiency； something insignificant and
ephemeral； which would not last a year for a man of his habits。〃
〃Pyotr Petrovitch； I beg you；〃 said Dounia； 〃say no more of Mr。
Svidrigailov。 It makes me miserable。〃
〃He has just been to see me；〃 said Raskolnikov； breaking his silence
for the first time。
There were exclamations from all； and they all turned to him。 Even
Pyotr Petrovitch was roused。
〃An hour and a half ago； he came in when I was asleep； waked me； and
introduced himself；〃 Raskolnikov continued。 〃He was fairly cheerful
and at ease； and quite hopes that we shall become friends。 He is
particularly anxious by the way； Dounia； for an interview with you； at
which he asked me to assist。 He has a proposition to make to you；
and he told me about it。 He told me； too； that a week before her death
Marfa Petrovna left you three thousand roubles in her will； Dounia；
and that you can receive the money very shortly。〃
〃Thank God！〃 cried Pulcheria Alexandrovna； crossing herself。 〃Pray
for her soul； Dounia！〃
〃It's a fact！〃 broke from Luzhin。
〃Tell us； what more？〃 Dounia urged Raskolnikov。
〃Then he said that he wasn't rich and all the estate was left to his
children who are now with an aunt； then that he was staying
somewhere not far from me； but where； I don't know； I didn't ask。。。。〃
〃But what； what does he want to propose to Dounia？〃 cried
Pulcheria Alexandrovna in a fright。 〃Did he tell you？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What was it？〃
〃I'll tell you afterwards。〃
Raskolnikov ceased speaking and turned his attention to his tea。
Pyotr Petrovitch looked at his watch。
〃I am compelled to keep a business engagement； and so I shall not be
in your way；〃 he added with an air of some pique and he began
getting up。
