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face changed. Having satisfied himself that Raskolnikov was not frightened at his threat, he assumed a mirthful and friendly air.

ā€œWhat a fellow! I purposely refrained from referring to your affair, though I am devoured by curiosity. Itā€™s a fantastic affair. Iā€™ve put it off till another time, but youā€™re enough to rouse the dead.... Well, let us go, only I warn you beforehand I am only going home for a moment, to get some money; then I shall lock up the flat, take a cab and go to spend the evening at the Islands. Now, now are you going to follow me?ā€

ā€œIā€™m coming to your lodgings, not to see you but Sofya Semyonovna, to say Iā€™m sorry not to have been at the funeral.ā€

ā€œThatā€™s as you like, but Sofya Semyonovna is not at home. She has taken the three children to an old lady of high rank, the patroness of some orphan asylums, whom I used to know years ago. I charmed the old lady by depositing a sum of money with her to provide for the three children of Katerina Ivanovna and subscribing to the institution as well. I told her too the story of Sofya Semyonovna in full detail, suppressing nothing. It produced an indescribable effect on her. Thatā€™s why Sofya Semyonovna has been invited to call to-day at the X. Hotel where the lady is staying for the time.ā€

ā€œNo matter, Iā€™ll come all the same.ā€

ā€œAs you like, itā€™s nothing to me, but I wonā€™t come with you; here we are at home. By the way, I am convinced that you regard me with suspicion just because I have shown such delicacy and have not so far troubled you with questions... you understand? It struck you as extraordinary; I donā€™t mind betting itā€™s that. Well, it teaches one to show delicacy!ā€

ā€œAnd to listen at doors!ā€

ā€œAh, thatā€™s it, is it?ā€ laughed SvidrigaĆÆlov. ā€œYes, I should have been surprised if you had let that pass after all that has happened. Ha-ha! Though I did understand something of the pranks you had been up to and were telling Sofya Semyonovna about, what was the meaning of it? Perhaps I am quite behind the times and canā€™t understand. For goodnessā€™ sake, explain it, my dear boy. Expound the latest theories!ā€

ā€œYou couldnā€™t have heard anything. Youā€™re making it all up!ā€

ā€œBut Iā€™m not talking about that (though I did hear something). No, Iā€™m talking of the way you keep sighing and groaning now. The Schiller in you is in revolt every moment, and now you tell me not to listen at doors. If thatā€™s how you feel, go and inform the police that you had this mischance: you made a little mistake in your theory. But if you are convinced that one mustnā€™t listen at doors, but one may murder old women at oneā€™s pleasure, youā€™d better be off to America and make haste. Run, young man! There may still be time. Iā€™m speaking sincerely. Havenā€™t you the money? Iā€™ll give you the fare.ā€

ā€œIā€™m not thinking of that at all,ā€ Raskolnikov interrupted with disgust.

ā€œI understand (but donā€™t put yourself out, donā€™t discuss it if you donā€™t want to). I understand the questions you are worrying overā€”moral ones, arenā€™t they? Duties of citizen and man? Lay them all aside. They are nothing to you now, ha-ha! Youā€™ll say you are still a man and a citizen. If so you ought not to have got into this coil. Itā€™s no use taking up a job you are not fit for. Well, youā€™d better shoot yourself, or donā€™t you want to?ā€

ā€œYou seem trying to enrage me, to make me leave you.ā€

ā€œWhat a queer fellow! But here we are. Welcome to the staircase. You see, thatā€™s the way to Sofya Semyonovna. Look, there is no one at home. Donā€™t you believe me? Ask Kapernaumov. She leaves the key with him. Here is Madame de Kapernaumov herself. Hey, what? She is rather deaf. Has she gone out? Where? Did you hear? She is not in and wonā€™t be till late in the evening probably. Well, come to my room; you wanted to come and see me, didnā€™t you? Here we are. Madame Resslichā€™s not at home. She is a woman who is always busy, an excellent woman I assure you.... She might have been of use to you if you had been a little more sensible. Now, see! I take this five-per-cent bond out of the bureauā€”see what a lot Iā€™ve got of them stillā€”this one will be turned into cash to-day. I mustnā€™t waste any more time. The bureau is locked, the flat is locked, and here we are again on the stairs. Shall we take a cab? Iā€™m going to the Islands. Would you like a lift? Iā€™ll take this carriage. Ah, you refuse? You are tired of it! Come for a drive! I believe it will come on to rain. Never mind, weā€™ll put down the hood....ā€

SvidrigaĆÆlov was already in the carriage. Raskolnikov decided that his suspicions were at least for that moment unjust. Without answering a word he turned and walked back towards the Hay Market. If he had only turned round on his way he might have seen SvidrigaĆÆlov get out not a hundred paces off, dismiss the cab and walk along the pavement. But he had turned the corner and could see nothing. Intense disgust drew him away from SvidrigaĆÆlov.

ā€œTo think that I could for one instant have looked for help from that coarse brute, that depraved sensualist and blackguard!ā€ he cried.

Raskolnikovā€™s judgment was uttered too lightly and hastily: there was something about SvidrigaĆÆlov which gave him a certain original, even a mysterious character. As concerned his sister, Raskolnikov was convinced that SvidrigaĆÆlov would not leave her in peace. But it was too tiresome and unbearable to go on thinking and thinking about this.

When he was alone, he had not gone twenty paces before he sank, as usual, into deep thought. On the bridge he stood by the railing and began gazing at the water. And his sister was standing close by him.

He met her at the entrance to the bridge, but passed by without seeing her. Dounia had never met him like this in the street before and was struck with dismay. She stood still and did not know whether to call to him or not. Suddenly she saw SvidrigaĆÆlov coming quickly from the direction of the Hay Market.

He seemed to be approaching cautiously. He did not go on to the bridge, but stood aside on the pavement, doing all he could to avoid Raskolnikovā€™s seeing him. He had observed Dounia for some time and had been making signs to her. She fancied he was signalling to beg her not to speak to her brother, but to come to him.

That was what Dounia did. She stole by her brother and went up to SvidrigaĆÆlov.

ā€œLet us make haste away,ā€ SvidrigaĆÆlov whispered to her, ā€œI donā€™t want Rodion Romanovitch to know of our meeting. I must tell you Iā€™ve been sitting with him in the restaurant close by, where he looked me up and I had great difficulty in getting rid of him. He has somehow heard of my letter to you and suspects something. It wasnā€™t you who told him, of course, but if not you, who then?ā€

ā€œWell, weā€™ve turned the corner now,ā€ Dounia interrupted, ā€œand my brother wonā€™t see us. I have to tell you that I am going no further with you. Speak to me here. You can tell it all in the street.ā€

ā€œIn the first place, I canā€™t say it in the street; secondly, you must hear Sofya Semyonovna too; and, thirdly, I will show you some papers.... Oh well, if you wonā€™t agree to come with me, I shall refuse to give any explanation and go away at once. But I beg you not to forget that a very curious secret of your beloved brotherā€™s is entirely in my keeping.ā€

Dounia stood still, hesitating, and looked at SvidrigaĆÆlov with searching eyes.

ā€œWhat are you afraid of?ā€ he observed quietly. ā€œThe town is not the country. And even in the country you did me more harm than I did you.ā€

ā€œHave you prepared Sofya Semyonovna?ā€

ā€œNo, I have not said a word to her and am not quite certain whether she is at home now. But most likely she is. She has buried her stepmother to-day: she is not likely to go visiting on such a day. For the time I donā€™t want to speak to anyone about it and I half regret having spoken to you. The slightest indiscretion is as bad as betrayal in a thing like this. I live there in that house, we are coming to it. Thatā€™s the porter of our houseā€”he knows me very well; you see, heā€™s bowing; he sees Iā€™m coming with a lady and no doubt he has noticed your face already and you will be glad of that if you are afraid of me and suspicious. Excuse my putting things so coarsely. I havenā€™t a flat to myself; Sofya Semyonovnaā€™s room is next to mineā€”she lodges in the next flat. The whole floor is let out in lodgings. Why are you frightened like a child? Am I really so terrible?ā€

SvidrigaĆÆlovā€™s lips were twisted in a condescending smile; but he was in no smiling mood. His heart was throbbing and he could scarcely breathe. He spoke rather loud to cover his growing excitement. But Dounia did not notice this peculiar excitement, she was so irritated by his remark that she was frightened of him like a child and that he was so terrible to her.

ā€œThough I know that you are not a man... of honour, I am not in the least afraid of you. Lead the way,ā€ she said with apparent composure, but her face was very pale.

SvidrigaĆÆlov stopped at Soniaā€™s room.

ā€œAllow me to inquire whether she is at home.... She is not. How unfortunate! But I know she may come quite soon. If sheā€™s gone out, it can only be to see a lady about the orphans. Their mother is dead.... Iā€™ve been meddling and making arrangements for them. If Sofya Semyonovna does not come back in ten minutes, I will send her to you, to-day if you like. This is my flat. These are my two rooms. Madame Resslich, my landlady, has the next room. Now, look this way. I will show you my chief piece of evidence: this door from my bedroom leads into two perfectly empty rooms, which are to let. Here they are... You must look into them with some attention.ā€

SvidrigaĆÆlov occupied two fairly large furnished rooms. Dounia was looking about her mistrustfully, but saw nothing special in the furniture or position of the rooms. Yet there was something to observe, for instance, that SvidrigaĆÆlovā€™s flat was exactly between two sets of almost uninhabited apartments. His rooms were not entered directly from the passage, but through the landladyā€™s two almost empty rooms. Unlocking a door leading out of his bedroom, SvidrigaĆÆlov showed Dounia the two empty rooms that were to let. Dounia stopped in the doorway, not knowing what she was called to look upon, but SvidrigaĆÆlov hastened to explain.

ā€œLook here, at this second large room. Notice that door, itā€™s locked. By the door stands a chair, the only one in the two rooms. I brought it from my rooms so as to listen more conveniently. Just the other side of the door is Sofya Semyonovnaā€™s table; she sat there talking to Rodion Romanovitch. And I sat here listening on two successive evenings, for two hours each timeā€”and of course I was able to learn something, what do you think?ā€

ā€œYou listened?ā€

ā€œYes, I did. Now come back to my room; we canā€™t sit down here.ā€

He brought Avdotya Romanovna back into his sitting-room and offered her a chair. He sat down at the opposite side of the table, at least seven feet from her, but probably there was the same glow in his eyes which had once frightened Dounia so much. She

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