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new world was opening before her。 She remembered suddenly that
Raskolnikov meant to come to her that day； perhaps at once！
〃Only not to…day； please； not to…day！〃 she kept muttering with a
sinking heart； as though entreating some one； like a frightened child。
〃Mercy！ to me。。。 to that room。。。 he will see。。。 oh； dear！〃
She was not capable at that instant of noticing an unknown gentleman
who was watching her and following at her heels。 He had accompanied
her from the gateway。 At the moment when Razumihin； Raskolnikov； and
she stood still at parting on the pavement； this gentleman； who was
just passing； started on hearing Sonia's words： 〃and I asked where Mr。
Raskolnikov lived？〃 He turned a rapid but attentive look upon all
three； especially upon Raskolnikov； to whom Sonia was speaking； then
looked back and noted the house。 All this was done in an instant as he
passed； and trying not to betray his interest； he walked on more
slowly as though waiting for something。 He was waiting for Sonia； he
saw that they were parting； and that Sonia was going home。
〃Home？ Where？ I've seen that face somewhere；〃 he thought。 〃I must
find out。〃
At the turning he crossed over； looked round； and saw Sonia coming
the same way； noticing nothing。 She turned the corner。 He followed her
on the other side。 After about fifty paces he crossed over again；
overtook her and kept two or three yards behind her。
He was a man about fifty； rather tall and thickly set； with broad
high shoulders which made him look as though he stooped a little。 He
wore good and fashionable clothes； and looked like a gentleman of
position。 He carried a handsome cane； which he tapped on the
pavement at each step； his gloves were spotless。 He had a broad；
rather pleasant face with high cheek…bones and a fresh colour； not
often seen in Petersburg。 His flaxen hair was still abundant； and only
touched here and there with grey； and his thick square beard was
even lighter than his hair。 His eyes were blue and had a cold and
thoughtful look； his lips were crimson。 He was a remarkedly
well…preserved man and looked much younger than his years。
When Sonia came out on the canal bank； they were the only two
persons on the pavement。 He observed her dreaminess and preoccupation。
On reaching the house where she lodged； Sonia turned in at the gate；
he followed her； seeming rather surprised。 In the courtyard she turned
to the right corner。 〃Bah！〃 muttered the unknown gentleman； and
mounted the stairs behind her。 Only then Sonia noticed him。 She
reached the third storey； turned down the passage； and rang at No。
9。 On the door was inscribed in chalk； 〃Kapernaumov； Tailor。〃 〃Bah！〃
the stranger repeated again； wondering at the strange coincidence； and
he rang next door； at No。 8。 The doors were two or three yards apart。
〃You lodge at Kapernaumov's；〃 he said； looking at Sonia and
laughing。 〃He altered a waistcoat for me yesterday。 I am staying close
here at Madame Resslich's。 How odd！〃 Sonia looked at him attentively。
〃We are neighbours；〃 he went on gaily。 〃I only came to town the
day before yesterday。 Good…bye for the present。〃
Sonia made no reply； the door opened and she slipped in。 She felt
for some reason ashamed and uneasy。
On the way to Porfiry's； Razumihin was obviously excited。
〃That's capital； brother；〃 he repeated several times； 〃and I am
glad！ I am glad！〃
〃What are you glad about？〃 Raskolnikov thought to himself。
〃I didn't know that you pledged things at the old woman's； too。
And。。。 was it long ago？ I mean； was it long since you were there？〃
〃What a simple…hearted fool he is！〃
〃When was it？〃 Raskolnikov stopped still to recollect。 〃Two or three
days before her death it must have been。 But I am not going to
redeem the things now；〃 he put in with a sort of hurried and
conspicuous solicitude about the things。 〃I've not more than a
silver rouble left。。。 after last night's accursed delirium！〃
He laid special emphasis on the delirium。
〃Yes； yes；〃 Razumihin hastened to agree… with what was not clear。
〃Then that's why you。。。 were struck。。。 partly。。。 you know in your
delirium you were continually mentioning some rings or chains！ Yes；
yes。。。 that's clear； it's all clear now。〃
〃Hullo！ How that idea must have got about among them。 Here this
man will go to the stake for me； and I find him delighted at having it
cleared up why I spoke of rings in my delirium！ What a hold the idea
must have on all of them！〃
〃Shall we find him？〃 he asked suddenly。
〃Oh； yes；〃 Razumihin answered quickly。 〃He is a nice fellow you will
see； brother。 Rather clumsy； that is to say； he is a man of polished
manners； but I mean clumsy in a different sense。 He is an
intelligent fellow； very much so indeed； but he has his own range of
ideas。。。。 He is incredulous； sceptical； cynical。。。 he likes to
impose on people； or rather to make fun of them。 His is the old；
circumstantial method。。。。 But he understands his work。。。
thoroughly。。。。 Last year he cleared up a case of murder in which the
police had hardly a clue。 He is very； very anxious to make your
acquaintance。〃
〃On what grounds is he so anxious？〃
〃Oh； it's not exactly。。。 you see； since you've been ill I happen
to have mentioned you several times。。。。 So； when he heard about you。。。
about your being a law student and not able to finish your studies； he
said； 'What a pity！' And so I concluded。。。 from everything together；
not only that； yesterday； Zametov。。。 you know； Rodya； I talked some
nonsense on the way home to you yesterday； when I was drunk。。。 I am
afraid； brother； of your exaggerating it； you see。〃
〃What？ That they think I am a madman？ Maybe they are right；〃 he said
with a constrained smile。
〃Yes； yes。。。。 That is； pooh； no！。。。 But all that I said （and there
was something else too） it was all nonsense； drunken nonsense。〃
〃But why are you apologizing？ I am so sick of it all！〃 Raskolnikov
cried with exaggerated irritability。 It was partly assumed； however。
〃I know； I know； I understand。 Believe me； I understand。 One's
ashamed to speak of it。〃
〃If you are ashamed； then don't speak of it。〃
Both were silent。 Razumihin was more than ecstatic and Raskolnikov
perceived it with repulsion。 He was alarmed； too； by what Razumihin
had just said about Porfiry。
〃I shall have to pull a long face with him too；〃 he thought； with
a beating heart； and he turned white； 〃and do it naturally； too。 But
the most natural thing would be to do nothing at all。 Carefully do
nothing at all！ No； carefully would not be natural again。。。。 Oh； well；
we shall see how it turns out。。。。 We shall see。。。 directly。 Is it a
good thing to go or not？ The butterfly flies to the light。 My heart is
beating； that's what's bad！〃
〃In this grey house；〃 said Razumihin。
〃The most important thing； does Porfiry know that I was at the old
hag's flat yesterday。。。 and asked about the blood？ I must find that
out instantly； as soon as I go in； find out from his face；
otherwise。。。 I'll find out； if it's my ruin。〃
〃I say； brother；〃 he said suddenly； addressing Razumihin； with a sly
smile； 〃I have been noticing all day that you seem to be curiously
excited。 Isn't it so？〃
〃Excited？ Not a bit of it；〃 said Razumihin； stung to the quick。
〃Yes； brother； I assure you it's noticeable。 Why； you sat on your
chair in a way you never do sit； o