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〃No； before。〃
〃How do you mean？〃
〃How long have you been coming here？〃
〃Why I told you all about it this morning。 Don't you remember？〃
Raskolnikov pondered。 The morning seemed like a dream to him。 He
could not remember alone； and looked inquiringly at Razumihin。
〃Hm！〃 said the latter； 〃he has forgotten。 I fancied then that you
were not quite yourself。 Now you are better for your sleep。。。。 You
really look much better。 First rate！ Well； to business。 Look here；
my dear boy。〃
He began untying the bundle； which evidently interested him。
〃Believe me； brother； this is something specially near my heart。 For
we must make a man of you。 Let's begin from the top。 Do you see this
cap？〃 he said； taking out of the bundle a fairly good； though cheap；
and ordinary cap。 〃Let me try it on。〃
〃Presently； afterwards；〃 said Raskolnikov； waving it of pettishly。
〃Come； Rodya； my boy； don't oppose it； afterwards will be too
late； and I shan't sleep all night； for I bought it by guess；
without measure。 Just right！〃 he cried triumphantly； fitting it on；
〃just your size！ A proper head…covering is the first thing in dress
and a recommendation in its own way。 Tolstyakov； a friend of mine；
is always obliged to take off his pudding basin when he goes into
any public place where other people wear their hats or caps。 People
think he does it from slavish politeness； but it's simply because he
is ashamed of his bird's nest； he is such a bashful fellow！ Look；
Nastasya； here are two specimens of headgear： this Palmerston〃… he
took from the corner Raskolnikov's old； battered hat； which for some
unknown reason； he called a Palmerston… 〃or this jewel！ Guess the
price； Rodya； what do you suppose I paid for it； Nastasya！〃 he said；
turning to her； seeing that Raskolnikov did not speak。
〃Twenty copecks； no more； I dare say；〃 answered Nastasya。
〃Twenty copecks； silly！〃 he cried； offended。 〃Why； nowadays you
would cost more than that… eighty copecks！ And that only because it
has been worn。 And it's bought on condition that when's it's worn out；
they will give you another next year。 Yes； on my word！ Well； now let
us pass to the United States of America； as they called them at
school。 I assure you I am proud of these breeches；〃 and he exhibited
to Raskolnikov a pair of light； summer trousers of grey woollen
material。 〃No holes； no spots； and quite respectable； although a
little worn； and a waistcoat to match； quite in the fashion。 And its
being worn really is an improvement； it's softer； smoother。。。。 You
see； Rodya； to my thinking； the great thing for getting on in the
world is always to keep to the seasons； if you don't insist on
having asparagus in January； you keep your money in your purse！ and
it's the same with this purchase。 It's summer now； so I've been buying
summer things… warmer materials will be wanted for autumn； so you will
have to throw these away in any case。。。 especially as they will be
done for by then from their own lack of coherence if not your higher
standard of luxury。 Come； price them！ What do you say？ Two roubles
twenty…five copecks！ And remember the conditions： if you wear these
out； you will have another suit for nothing！ They only do business
on that system at Fedyaev's； if you've bought a thing once； you are
satisfied for life； for you will never go there again of your own free
will。 Now for the boots。 What do you say？ You see that they are a
bit worn； but they'll last a couple of months； for it's foreign work
and foreign leather； the secretary of the English Embassy sold them
last week… he had only worn them six days； but he was very short of
cash。 Price… a rouble and a half。 A bargain？〃
〃But perhaps they won't fit；〃 observed Nastasya。
〃Not fit？ Just look！〃 and he pulled out of his pocket
Raskolnikov's old； broken boot； stiffly coated with dry mud。 〃I did
not go empty…handed… they took the size from this monster。 We all
did our best。 And as to your linen； your landlady has seen to that。
Here； to begin with are three shirts； hempen but with a fashionable
front。。。。 Well now then； eighty copecks the cap； two roubles
twenty…five copecks the suit… together three roubles five copecks… a
rouble and a half for the boots… for； you see； they are very good… and
that makes four roubles fifty…five copecks； five roubles for the
underclothes… they were bought in the lot… which makes exactly nine
roubles fifty…five copecks。 Forty…five copecks change in coppers。 Will
you take it？ And so； Rodya； you are set up with a complete new
rig…out； for your overcoat will serve； and even has a style of its
own。 That comes from getting one's clothes from Sharmer's！ As for your
socks and other things； I leave them to you； we've twenty…five roubles
left。 And as for Pashenka and paying for your lodging； don't you
worry。 I tell you she'll trust you for anything。 And now； brother； let
me change your linen； for I daresay you will throw off your illness
with your shirt。〃
〃Let me be！ I don't want to！〃 Raskolnikov waved him off。 He had
listened with disgust to Razumihin's efforts to be playful about his
purchases。
〃Come； brother； don't tell me I've been trudging around for
nothing；〃 Razumihin insisted。 〃Nastasya； don't be bashful； but help
me… that's it；〃 and in spite of Raskolnikov's resistance he changed
his linen。 The latter sank back on the pillows and for a minute or two
said nothing。
〃It will be long before I get rid of them；〃 he thought。 〃What
money was all that bought with？〃 he asked at last； gazing at the wall。
〃Money？ Why； your own； what the messenger brought from Vahrushin；
your mother sent it。 Have you forgotten that； too？〃
〃I remember now；〃 said Raskolnikov after a long； sullen silence。
Razumihin looked at him； frowning and uneasy。
The door opened and a tall； stout man whose appearance seemed
familiar to Raskolnikov came in。
〃Zossimov！ At last！〃 cried Razumihin； delighted。
Chapter Four
ZOSSIMOV WAS a tall； fat man with a puffy； colourless；
clean…shaven face and straight flaxen hair。 He wore spectacles； and
a big gold ring on his fat finger。 He was twenty…seven。 He had on a
light grey fashionable loose coat； light summer trousers； and
everything about him loose； fashionable and spick and able； his
linen was irreproachable； his watch…chain was massive。 In manner he
was slow and； as it were； nonchalant； and at the same time
studiously free and easy； he made efforts to conceal his
self…importance； but it was apparent at every instant。 All his
acquaintances found him tedious； but said he was clever at his work。
〃I've been to you twice to…day； brother。 You see； he's come to
himself；〃 cried Razumihin。
〃I see； I see； and how do we feel now； eh？〃 said Zossimov to
Raskolnikov； watching him carefully and； sitting down at the foot of
the sofa； he settled himself as comfortably as he could。
〃He is still depressed；〃 Razumihin went on。 〃We've just changed
his linen and he almost cried。〃
〃That's very natural； you might have put it off if he did not wish
it。。。。 His pulse is first…rate。 Is your head still aching； eh？〃
〃I am well； I am perfectly well！〃 Raskolnikov declared positively
and irritably。 He raised himself on the sofa and looked at them with
glittering eyes； but sank back