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Raskolnikov knew he would come up to him。 He laid aside the papers
and turned to Zametov。 There was a smile on his lips； and a new
shade of irritable impatience was apparent in that smile。
〃I know you have；〃 he answered。 〃I've heard it。 You looked for my
sock。。。。 And you know Razumihin has lost his heart to you？ He says
you've been with him to Luise Ivanovna's； you know the woman you tried
to befriend； for whom you winked to the Explosive Lieutenant and he
would not understand。 Do you remember？ How could he fail to
understand… it was quite clear； wasn't it？〃
〃What a hot head he is！〃
〃The explosive one？〃
〃No； your friend Razumihin。〃
〃You must have a jolly life； Mr。 Zametov； entrance free to the
most agreeable places。 Who's been pouring champagne into you just
now？〃
〃We've just been。。。 having a drink together。。。。 You talk about
pouring it into me！〃
〃By way of a fee！ You profit by everything！〃 Raskolnikov laughed；
〃it's all right； my dear boy；〃 he added； slapping Zametov on the
shoulder。 〃I am not speaking from temper； but in a friendly way； for
sport； as that workman of yours said when he was scuffling with
Dmitri； in the case of the old woman。。。。〃
〃How do you know about it？〃
〃Perhaps I know more about it than you do。〃
〃How strange you are。。。。 I am sure you are still very unwell。 You
oughtn't to have come out。〃
〃Oh； do I seem strange to you？〃
〃Yes。 What are you doing； reading the papers？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃There's a lot about the fires。〃
〃No； I am not reading about the fires。〃 Here he looked
mysteriously at Zametov； his lips were twisted again in a mocking
smile。 〃No； I am not reading about the fires；〃 he went on； winking
at Zametov。 〃But confess now； my dear fellow； you're awfully anxious
to know what I am reading about？〃
〃I am not in the least。 Mayn't I ask a question？ Why do you keep
on。。。 ？〃
〃Listen； you are a man of culture and education？〃
〃I was in the sixth class at the gymnasium；〃 said Zametov with
some dignity。
〃Sixth class！ Ah； my cocksparrow！ With your parting and your
rings… you are a gentleman of fortune。 Foo； what a charming boy！〃 Here
Raskolnikov broke into a nervous laugh right in Zametov's face。 The
latter drew back； more amazed than offended。
〃Foo； how strange you are！〃 Zametov repeated very seriously。 〃I
can't help thinking you are still delirious。〃
〃I am delirious？ You are fibbing； my cocksparrow！ So I am strange？
You find me curious； do you？〃
〃Yes； curious。〃
〃Shall I tell you what I was reading about； what I was looking
for？ See what a lot of papers I've made them bring me。 Suspicious；
eh？〃
〃Well； what is it？〃
〃You prick up your ears？〃
〃How do you mean… prick up my ears？〃
〃I'll explain that afterwards； but now； my boy； I declare to
you。。。 no； better 'I confess'。。。 No； that's not right either； 'I
make a deposition and you take it。' I depose that I was reading；
that I was looking and searching。。。。〃 he screwed up his eyes and
paused。 〃I was searching… and came here on purpose to do it… for
news of the murder of the old pawnbroker woman；〃 he articulated at
last； almost in a whisper； bringing his face exceedingly close to
the face of Zametov。 Zametov looked at him steadily； without moving or
drawing his face away。 What struck Zametov afterwards as the strangest
part of it all was that silence followed for exactly a minute； and
that they gazed at one another all the while。
〃What if you have been reading about it？〃 he cried at last；
perplexed and impatient。 〃That's no business of mine！ What of it？〃
〃The same old woman；〃 Raskolnikov went on in the same whisper； not
heeding Zametov's explanation； 〃about whom you were talking in the
police office； you remember； when I fainted。 Well； do you understand
now？〃
〃What do you mean？ Understand。。。 what？〃 Zametov brought out；
almost alarmed。
Raskolnikov's set and earnest face was suddenly transformed； and
he suddenly went off into the same nervous laugh as before； as
though utterly unable to restrain himself。 And in one flash he
recalled with extraordinary vividness of sensation a moment in the
recent past； that moment when he stood with the axe behind the door；
while the latch trembled and the men outside swore and shook it； and
he had a sudden desire to shout at them； to swear at them； to put
out his tongue at them； to mock them； to laugh； and laugh； and laugh！
〃You are either mad； or。。。〃 began Zametov； and he broke off； as
though stunned by the idea that had suddenly flashed into his mind。
〃Or？ Or what？ What？ Come； tell me！〃
〃Nothing；〃 said Zametov； getting angry； 〃it's all nonsense！〃
Both were silent。 After his sudden fit of laughter Raskolnikov
became suddenly thoughtful and melancholy。 He put his elbow on the
table and leaned his head on his hand。 He seemed to have completely
forgotten Zametov。 The silence lasted for some time。
〃Why don't you drink your tea？ It's getting cold；〃 said Zametov。
〃What！ Tea？ Oh； yes。。。〃 Raskolnikov sipped the glass； put a morsel
of bread in his mouth and； suddenly looking at Zametov； seemed to
remember everything and pulled himself together。 At the same moment
his face resumed its original mocking expression。 He went on
drinking tea。
〃There have been a great many of these crimes lately；〃 said Zametov。
〃Only the other day I read in the Moscow News that a whole gang of
false coiners had been caught in Moscow。 It was a regular society。
They used to forge tickets！〃
〃Oh； but it was a long time ago！ I read about it a month ago；〃
Raskolnikov answered calmly。 〃So you consider them criminals？〃 he
added smiling。
〃Of course they are criminals。〃
〃They？ They are children； simpletons； not criminals！ Why； half a
hundred people meeting for such an object… what an idea！ Three would
be too many； and then they want to have more faith in one other than
in themselves！ One has only to blab in his cups and it all
collapses。 Simpletons！ They engaged untrustworthy people to change the
notes… what a thing to trust to a casual stranger！ Well； let us
suppose that these simpletons succeed and each makes a million； and
what follows for the rest of their lives？ Each is dependent on the
others for the rest of his life！ Better hang oneself at once！ And they
did not know how to change the notes either； the man who changed the
notes took five thousand roubles； and his hands trembled。 He counted
the first four thousand； but did not count the fifth thousand… he
was in such a hurry to get the money into his pocket and run away。
Of course he roused suspicion。 And the whole thing came to a crash
through one fool！ Is it possible？〃
〃That his hands trembled？〃 obser