按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Have you been to the police office？〃
〃I've just been there。 What do you want？〃
〃Is it open？〃
〃Of course。〃
〃Is the assistant there？〃
〃He was there for a time。 What do you want？〃
Raskolnikov made no reply； but stood beside them lost in thought。
〃He's been to look at the flat；〃 said the elder workman； coming
forward。
〃Which flat？〃
〃Where we are at work。 'Why have you washed away the blood？' says
he。 'There has been a murder here；' says he； 'and I've come to take
it。' And he began ringing at the bell； all but broke it。 'Come to
the police station；' says he。 'I'll tell you everything there。' He
wouldn't leave us。〃
The porter looked at Raskolnikov； frowning and perplexed。
〃Who are you？〃 he shouted as impressively as he could。
〃I am Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov； formerly a student； I live
in Shil's house； not far from here； flat Number 14； ask the porter； he
knows me。〃 Raskolnikov said all this in a lazy； dreamy voice； not
turning round； but looking intently into the darkening street。
〃Why have you been to the flat？〃
〃To look at it。〃
〃What is there to look at？〃
〃Take him straight to the police station；〃 the man in the long
coat jerked in abruptly。
Raskolnikov looked intently at him over his shoulder and said in the
same slow； lazy tone：
〃Come along。〃
〃Yes； take him；〃 the man went on more confidently。 〃Why was he going
into that； what's in his mind； eh？〃
〃He's not drunk； but God knows what's the matter with him；〃 muttered
the workman。
〃But what do you want？〃 the porter shouted again； beginning to get
angry in earnest… 〃Why are you hanging about？〃
〃You funk the police station then？〃 said Raskolnikov jeeringly。
〃How funk it？ Why are you hanging about？〃
〃He's a rogue！〃 shouted the peasant woman。
〃Why waste time talking to him？〃 cried the other porter； a huge
peasant in a full open coat and with keys on his belt。 〃Get along！
He is a rogue and no mistake。 Get along！〃
And seizing Raskolnikov by the shoulder he flung him into the
street。 He lurched forward； but recovered his footing； looked at the
spectators in silence and walked away。
〃Strange man！〃 observed the workman。
〃There are strange folks about nowadays；〃 said the woman。
〃You should have taken him to the police station all the same；〃 said
the man in the long coat。
〃Better have nothing to do with him；〃 decided the big porter。 〃A
regular rogue！ Just what he wants； you may be sure； but once take
him up； you won't get rid of him。。。。 We know the sort！〃
〃Shall I go there or not？〃 thought Raskolnikov； standing in the
middle of the thoroughfare at the cross roads； and he looked about
him； as though expecting from some one a decisive word。 But no sound
came； all was dead and silent like the stones on which he walked； dead
to him； to him alone。。。。 All at once at the end of the street； two
hundred yards away； in the gathering dusk he saw a crowd and heard
talk and shouts。 In the middle of the crowd stood a carriage。。。。 A
light gleamed in the middle of the street。 〃What is it？〃 Raskolnikov
turned to the right and went up to the crowd。 He seemed to clutch at
everything and smiled coldly when he recognised it； for he had fully
made up his mind to go to the police station and knew that it would
all soon be over。
Chapter Seven
AN ELEGANT carriage stood in the middle of the road with a pair of
spirited grey horses； there was no one in it； and the coachman had got
off his box and stood by； the horses were being held by the
bridle。。。 A mass of people had gathered round； the police standing
in front。 One of them held a lighted lantern which he was turning on
something lying close to the wheels。 Every one was talking；
shouting； exclaiming； the coachman seemed at a loss and kept
repeating：
〃What a misfortune！ Good Lord； what a misfortune！〃
Raskolnikov pushed his way in as far as he could； and succeeded at
last in seeing the object of the commotion and interest。 On the ground
a man who had been run over lay apparently unconscious； and covered
with blood； he was very badly dressed； but not like a workman。 Blood
was flowing from his head and face； his face was crushed； mutilated
and disfigured。 He was evidently badly injured。
〃Merciful heaven！〃 wailed the coachman； 〃what more could I do？ If
I'd been driving fast or had not shouted to him； but I was going
quietly； not in a hurry。 Every one could see I was going along just
like everybody else。 A drunken man can't walk straight； we all
know。。。。 I saw him crossing the street； staggering and almost falling。
I shouted again and a second and a third time； then I held the
horses in； but he fell straight under their feet！ Either he did it
on purpose or he was very tipsy。。。。 The horses are young and ready
to take fright。。。 they started； he screamed。。。 that made them worse。
That's how it happened！〃
〃That's just how it was；〃 a voice in the crowd confirmed。
〃He shouted； that's true； he shouted three times；〃 another voice
declared。
〃Three times it was； we all heard it；〃 shouted a third。
But the coachman was not very much distressed and frightened。 It was
evident that the carriage belonged to a rich and important person
who was awaiting it somewhere； the police； of course； were in no
little anxiety to avoid upsetting his arrangements。 All they had to do
was to take the injured man to the police station and the hospital。 No
one knew his name。
Meanwhile Raskolnikov had squeezed in and stooped closer over him。
The lantern suddenly lighted up the unfortunate man's face。 He
recognised him。
〃I know him！ I know him！〃 he shouted； pushing to the front。 〃It's
a government clerk retired from the service； Marmeladov。 He lives
close by in Kozel's house。。。。 Make haste for a doctor！ I will pay；
see。〃 He pulled money out of his pocket and showed it to the
policeman。 He was in violent agitation。
The police were glad that they had found out who the man was。
Raskolnikov gave his own name and address； and； as earnestly as if
it had been his father； he besought the police to carry the
unconscious Marmeladov to his lodging at once。
〃Just here； three houses away；〃 he said eagerly； 〃the house
belongs to Kozel； a rich German。 He was going home； no doubt drunk。
I know him； he is a drunkard。 He has a family there； a wife； children；
he has one daughter。。。。 It will take time to take him to the hospital；
and there is sure to be a doctor in the house。 I'll pay； I'll pay！
At least he will be looked after at home。。。 they will help him at
once。 But he'll die before you g