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Lebeziatnikov was not merely a commonplace simpleton； but； perhaps；
a liar； too； and that he had no connections of any consequence even in
his own circle； but had simply picked things up third…hand； and that
very likely he did not even know much about his own work of
propaganda； for he was in too great a muddle。 A fine person he would
be to show any one up！ It must be noted； by the way； that Pyotr
Petrovitch had during those ten days eagerly accepted the strangest
praise from Andrey Semyonovitch； he had not protested； for instance；
when Andrey Semyonovitch belauded him for being ready to contribute to
the establishment of the new 〃commune；〃 or to abstain from christening
his future children； or to acquiesce if Dounia were to take a lover
a month after marriage； and so on。 Pyotr Petrovitch so enjoyed hearing
his own praises that he did not disdain even such virtues when they
were attributed to him。
Pyotr Petrovitch had had occasion that morning to realise some
five per cent。 bonds and now he sat down to the table and counted over
bundles of notes。 Andrey Semyonovitch who hardly ever had any money
walked about the room pretending to himself to look at all those
bank notes with indifference and even contempt。 Nothing would have
convinced Pyotr Petrovitch that Andrey Semyonovitch could really
look on the money unmoved； and the latter； on his side； kept
thinking bitterly that Pyotr Petrovitch was capable of entertaining
such an idea about him and was； perhaps； glad of the opportunity of
teasing his young friend by reminding him of his inferiority and the
great difference between them。
He found him incredibly inattentive and irritable； though he； Andrey
Semyonovitch； began enlarging on his favourite subject； the foundation
of a new special 〃commune。〃 The brief remarks that dropped from
Pyotr Petrovitch between the clicking of the beads on the reckoning
frame betrayed unmistakable and discourteous irony。 But the 〃humane〃
Andrey Semyonovitch ascribed Pyotr Petrovitch's ill…humour to his
recent breach with Dounia and he was burning with impatience to
discourse on that theme。 He had something progressive to say on the
subject which might console his worthy friend and 〃could not fail〃
to promote his development。
〃There is some sort of festivity being prepared at that。。。 at the
widow's； isn't there？〃 Pyotr Petrovitch asked suddenly； interrupting
Andrey Semyonovitch at the most interesting passage。
〃Why； don't you know？ Why； I was telling you last night what I think
about all such ceremonies。 And she invited you too； I heard。 You
were talking to her yesterday。。。〃
〃I should never have expected that beggarly fool would have spent on
this feast all the money she got from that other fool； Raskolnikov。
I was surprised just now as I came through at the preparations
there； the wines！ Several people are invited。 It's beyond everything！〃
continued Pyotr Petrovitch； who seemed to have some object in pursuing
the conversation。 〃What？ You say I am asked too？ When was that？ I
don't remember。 But I shan't go。 Why should I？ I only said a word to
her in passing yesterday of the possibility of her obtaining a
year's salary as a destitute widow of a government clerk。 I suppose
she has invited me on that account； hasn't she？ He…he…he！〃
〃I don't intend to go either；〃 said Lebeziatnikov。
〃I should think not； after giving her a thrashing！ You might well
hesitate； he…he！〃
〃Who thrashed？ Whom？〃 cried Lebeziatnikov； flustered and blushing。
〃Why； you thrashed Katerina Ivanovna a month ago。 I heard so
yesterday。。。 so that's what your convictions amount to。。。 and the
woman question； too； wasn't quite sound； he…he…he！〃 and Pyotr
Petrovitch； as though comforted； went back to clicking his beads。
〃It's all slander and nonsense！〃 cried Lebeziatnikov； who was always
afraid of allusions to the subject。 〃It was not like that at all； it
was quite different。 You've heard it wrong； it's a libel。 I was simply
defending myself。 She rushed at me first with her nails； she pulled
out all my whiskers。。。。 It's permissable for any one I should hope
to defend himself and I never allow any one to use violence to me on
principle； for it's an act of despotism。 What was I to do？ I simply
pushed her back。〃
〃He…he…he！〃 Luzhin went on laughing maliciously。
〃You keep on like that because you are out of humour yourself。。。。
But that's nonsense and it has nothing； nothing whatever to do with
the woman question！ You don't understand； I used to think； indeed；
that if women are equal to men in all respects even in strength （as is
maintained now） there ought to be equality in that； too。 Of course；
I reflected afterwards that such a question ought not really to arise；
for there ought not to be fighting and in the future society； fighting
is unthinkable。。。 and that it would be a queer thing to seek for
equality in fighting。 I am not so stupid。。。 though； of course； there
is fighting。。。 there won't be later； but at present there is。。。
confound it！ How muddled one gets with you！ It's not on that account
that I am not going。 I am not going on principle； not to take part
in the revolting convention of memorial dinners； that's why！ Though；
of course； one might go to laugh at it。。。。 I am sorry there won't be
any priests at it。 I should certainly go if there were。〃
〃Then you would sit down at another man's table and insult it and
those who invited you。 Eh？〃
〃Certainly not insult； but protest。 I should do it with a good
object。 I might indirectly assist the cause of enlightenment and
propaganda。 It's a duty of every man to work for enlightenment and
propaganda and the more harshly； perhaps； the better。 I might drop a
seed； an idea。。。。 And something might grow up from that seed。 How
should I be insulting them？ They might be offended at first； but
afterwards they'd see I'd done them a service。 You know； Terebyeva
（who is in the community now） was blamed because when she left her
family and。。。 devoted。。。 herself； she wrote to her father and mother
that she wouldn't go on living conventionally and was entering on a
free marriage and it was said that that was too harsh； that she
might have spared them and have written more kindly。 I think that's
all nonsense and there's no need of softness； on the contrary；
what's wanted is protest。 Varents had been married seven years； she
abandoned her two children； she told her husband straight out in a
letter： 'I have realised that I cannot be happy with you。 I can
never forgive you that you have deceived me by concealing from me that
there is another organisation of society by means of the
communities。 I have only lately learned it from a great…hearted man to
whom I have given myself and with whom I am establishing a
community。 I speak plainly because I consider it dishonest to
deceive you。 Do as you think best。 Do not hope to get me back； you are
too late。 I hope you will be happy。' That's how letters like that
ought to be written！〃
〃Is that Terebyeva the one you said had made a third free marriage？〃
〃No； it's only the second； really！ But what if it were the fourth；
what if it were the fifteenth； that's all nonsense！ And if ever I
regretted the death of my father and mother； it is now； and I
sometimes think if my parents were living what a protest I would
have aimed at them！ I would have done something on purpose。。。 I
would have shown them！ I would have astonished them！ I am really sorry
there is no one！〃
〃To surprise！ He…he！ Well； be that as you will；〃 Pyotr Petrovitch
interrupted； 〃but tell me this； do you know the dead man's daughter；
the delicate…looking little thing？