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Razumihin） that I sanction bloodshed。 Society is too well protected by
prisons； banishment； criminal investigators； penal servitude。
There's no need to be uneasy。 You have but to catch the thief。〃
〃And what if we do catch him？〃
〃Then he gets what he deserves。〃
〃You are certainly logical。 But what of his conscience？〃
〃Why do you care about that？〃
〃Simply from humanity。〃
〃If he has a conscience he will suffer for his mistake。 That will be
his punishment… as well as the prison。〃
〃But the real geniuses；〃 asked Razumihin frowning； 〃those who have
the right to murder？ Oughtn't they to suffer at all even for the blood
they've shed？〃
〃Why the word ought？ It's not a matter of permission or prohibition。
He will suffer if he is sorry for his victim。 Pain and suffering are
always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart。 The
really great men must； I think； have great sadness on earth；〃 he added
dreamily； not in the tone of the conversation。
He raised his eyes； looked earnestly at them all； smiled； and took
his cap。 He was too quiet by comparison with his manner at his
entrance； and he felt this。 Every one got up。
〃Well； you may abuse me； be angry with me if you like；〃 Porfiry
Petrovitch began again； 〃but I can't resist。 Allow me one little
question （I know I am troubling you）。 There is just one little
notion I want to express； simply that I may not forget it。〃
〃Very good； tell me your little notion；〃 Raskolnikov stood
waiting； pale and grave before him。
〃Well； you see。。。 I really don't know how to express it properly。。。。
It's a playful； psychological idea。。。。 When you were writing your
article； surely you couldn't have helped； he…he； fancying
yourself。。。 just a little； an 'extraordinary' man； uttering a new word
in your sense。。。。 That's so； isn't it？〃
〃Quite possibly；〃 Raskolnikov answered contemptuously。
Razumihin made a movement。
〃And； if so； could you bring yourself in case of worldly
difficulties and hardship or for some service to humanity… to overstep
obstacles？。。。 For instance； to rob and murder？〃
And again he winked with his left eye； and laughed noiselessly
just as before。
〃If I did I certainly should not tell you；〃 Raskolnikov answered
with defiant and haughty contempt。
〃No； I was only interested on account of your article； from a
literary point of view。。。〃
〃Foo； how obvious and insolent that is；〃 Raskolnikov thought with
repulsion。
〃Allow me to observe；〃 he answered dryly； 〃that I don't consider
myself a Mahomet or a Napoleon； nor any personage of that kind； and
not being one of them I cannot tell you how I should act。〃
〃Oh； come； don't we all think ourselves Napoleons now in Russia？〃
Porfiry Petrovitch said with alarming familiarity。
Something peculiar betrayed itself in the very intonation of his
voice。
〃Perhaps it was one of these future Napoleons who did for Alyona
Ivanovna last week？〃 Zametov blurted out from the corner。
Raskolnikov did not speak； but looked firmly and intently at
Porfiry。 Razumihin was scowling gloomily。 He seemed before this to
be noticing something。 He looked angrily around。 There was a minute of
gloomy silence。 Raskolnikov turned to go。
〃Are you going already？〃 Porfiry said amiably； holding out his
hand with excessive politeness。 〃Very； very glad of your acquaintance。
As for your request； have no uneasiness； write just as I told you； or；
better still； come to me there yourself in a day or two。。。
to…morrow； indeed。 I shall be there at eleven o'clock for certain。
We'll arrange it all； we'll have a talk。 As one of the last to be
there； you might perhaps be able to tell us something；〃 he added
with a most good…natured expression。
〃You want to cross…examine me officially in due form？〃 Raskolnikov
asked sharply。
〃Oh； why？ That's not necessary for the present。 You misunderstand
me。 I lose no opportunity； you see； and。。。 I've talked with all who
had pledges。。。。 I obtained evidence from some of them； and you are the
last。。。。 Yes； by the way；〃 he cried； seemingly suddenly delighted；
〃I just remember； what was I thinking of？〃 he turned to Razumihin；
〃you were talking my ears off about that Nikolay。。。 of course； I know；
I know very well；〃 he turned to Raskolnikov； 〃that the fellow is
innocent； but what is one to do？ We had to trouble Dmitri too。。。。 This
is the point； this is all： when you went up the stairs it was past
seven； wasn't it？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Raskolnikov； with an unpleasant sensation at the
very moment he spoke that he need not have said it。
〃Then when you went upstairs between seven and eight； didn't you see
in a flat that stood open on a second storey； do you remember； two
workmen or at least one of them？ They were painting there； didn't
you notice them？ It's very； very important for them。〃
〃Painters？ No； I didn't see them；〃 Raskolnikov answered slowly； as
though ransacking his memory； while at the same instant he was racking
every nerve； almost swooning with anxiety to conjecture as quickly
as possible where the trap lay and not to overlook anything。 〃No； I
didn't see them； and I don't think I noticed a flat like that open。。。。
But on the fourth storey〃 （he had mastered the trap now and was
triumphant） 〃I remember now that some one was moving out of the flat
opposite Alyona Ivanovna's。。。。 I remember。。。 I remember it clearly。
Some porters were carrying out a sofa and they squeezed me against the
wall。 But painters。。。 no； I don't remember that there were any
painters； and I don't think that there was a flat open anywhere； no；
there wasn't。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 Razumihin shouted suddenly； as though he had
reflected and realised。 〃Why； it was on the day of the murder the
painters were at work； and he was there three days before？ What are
you asking？〃
〃Foo！ I have muddled it！〃 Porfiry slapped himself on the forehead。
〃Deuce take it！ This business is turning my brain！〃 he addressed
Raskolnikov somewhat apologetically。 〃It would be such a great thing
for us to find out whether any one had seen them between seven and
eight at the flat； so I fancied you could perhaps have told us
something。。。。 I quite muddled it。〃
〃Then you should be more careful；〃 Razumihin observed grimly。
The last words were uttered in the passage。 Porfiry Petrovitch saw
them to the door with excessive politeness。
They went out into the street gloomy and sullen； and for some
steps they did not say a word。 Raskolnikov drew a deep breath。
Chapter Six
〃I DON'T BELIEVE it； I can't believe it！〃 repeated Razumihin； trying
in perplexity to refute Raskolnikov's arguments。
They were by now approaching Bakaleyev's lodgings； where Pulcheria
Alexandrovna and Dounia had been expecting them a long while。
Razumihin kept stopping on the way in the heat of discussion； confused
and excited by the very fact th