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！
such a slave driver？ Ha； ha！ By the way； do you remember； Rodion
Romanovitch； how a few years ago； in those days of beneficent
publicity； a nobleman； I've forgotten his name； was put to shame
everywhere； in all the papers； for having thrashed a German woman in
the railway train。 You remember？ It was in those days； that very
year I believe； the 'disgraceful action of the Age' took place （you
know； 'The Egyptian Nights；' that public reading； you remember？ The
dark eyes； you know！ Ah； the golden days of our youth； where are
they？）。 Well； as for the gentleman who thrashed the German； I feel
no sympathy with him； because after all what need is there for
sympathy？ But I must say that there are sometimes such provoking
'Germans' that I don't believe there is a progressive who could
quite answer for himself。 No one looked at the subject from that point
of view then； but that's the truly humane point of view； I assure
you。〃
After saying this； Svidrigailov broke into a sudden laugh again。
Raskolnikov saw clearly that this was a man with a firm purpose in his
mind and able to keep it to himself。
〃I expect you've not talked to any one for some days？〃 he asked。
〃Scarcely any one。 I suppose you are wondering at my being such an
adaptable man？〃
〃No； I am only wondering at your being too adaptable a man。〃
〃Because I am not offended at the rudeness of your questions？ Is
that it？ But why take offence？ As you asked； so I answered；〃 he
replied； with a surprising expression of simplicity。 〃You know；
there's hardly anything I take interest in；〃 he went on； as it were
dreamily； 〃especially now； I've nothing to do。。。。 You are quite at
liberty to imagine though that I am making up to you with a motive；
particularly as I told you I want to see your sister about
something。 But I'll confess frankly； I am very much bored。 The last
three days especially； so I am delighted to see you。。。。 Don't be
angry； Rodion Romanovitch； but you seem to be somehow awfully
strange yourself。 Say what you like； there's something wrong with you；
and now； too。。。 not this very minute； I mean； but now； generally。。。。
Well； well； I won't； I won't； don't scowl！ I am not such a bear； you
know； as you think。〃
Raskolnikov looked gloomily at him。
〃You are not a bear； perhaps； at all；〃 he said。 〃I fancy indeed that
you are a man of very good breeding； or at least know how on
occasion to behave like one。〃
〃I am not particularly interested in any one's opinion；〃
Svidrigailov answered； dryly and even with a shade of haughtiness；
〃and therefore why not be vulgar at times when vulgarity is such a
convenient cloak for our climate。。。 and especially if one has a
natural propensity that way；〃 he added； laughing again。
〃But I've heard you have many friends here。 You are； as they say；
'not without connections。' What can you want with me； then； unless
you've some special object？〃
〃That's true that I have friends here；〃 Svidrigailov admitted； not
replying to the chief point。 〃I've met some already。 I've been
lounging about for the last three days； and I've seen them； or they've
seen me。 That's a matter of course。 I am well dressed and reckoned not
a poor man； the emancipation of the serfs hasn't affected me； my
property consists chiefly of forests and water meadows。 The revenue
has not fallen off； but。。。 I am not going to see them； I was sick of
them long ago。 I've been here three days and have called on no one。。。。
What a town it is！ How has it come into existence among us； tell me
that？ A town of officials and students of all sorts。 Yes； there's a
great deal I didn't notice when I was here eight years ago； kicking up
my heels。。。。 My only hope now is in anatomy； by Jove； it is！〃
〃Anatomy？〃
〃But as for these clubs； Dussauts； parades； or progress； indeed； may
be… well； all that can go on without me；〃 he went on； again without
noticing the question。 〃Besides； who wants to be a card…sharper？〃
〃Why； have you been a card…sharper then？〃
〃How could I help being？ There was a regular set of us； men of the
best society； eight years ago； we had a fine time。 And all men of
breeding； you know； poets； men of property。 And indeed as a rule in
our Russian society； the best manners are found among those who've
been thrashed； have you noticed that？ I've deteriorated in the
country。 But I did get into prison for debt； through a low Greek who
came from Nezhin。 Then Marfa Petrovna turned up； she bargained with
him and bought me off for thirty thousand silver pieces （I owed
seventy thousand）。 We were united in lawful wedlock and she bore me
off into the country like a treasure。 You know she was five years
older than I。 She was very fond of me。 For seven years I never left
the country。 And； take note； that all my life she held a document over
me； the I。O。U。 for thirty thousand roubles； so if I were to elect to
be restive about anything I should be trapped at once！ And she would
have done it！ Women find nothing incompatible in that。〃
〃If it hadn't been for that； would you have given her the slip？〃
〃I don't know what to say。 It was scarcely the document restrained
me。 I didn't want to go anywhere else。 Marfa Petrovna herself
invited me to go abroad； seeing I was bored； but I've been abroad
before； and always felt sick there。 For no reason； but the sunrise；
the bay of Naples； the sea… you look at them and it makes you sad。
What's most revolting is that one is really sad！ No； it's better at
home。 Here at least one blames others for everything and excuses
oneself。 I should have gone perhaps on an expedition to the North
Pole； because j'ai le vin mauvais and hate drinking； and there's
nothing left but wine。 I have tried it。 But； I say； I've been told
Berg is going up in a great balloon next Sunday from the Yusupov
Garden and will take up passengers at a fee。 Is it true？〃
〃Why； would you go up？〃
〃I。。。 No； oh； no；〃 muttered Svidrigailov really seeming to be deep
in thought。
〃What does he mean？ Is he in earnest？〃 Raskolnikov wondered。
〃No； the document didn't restrain me；〃 Svidrigailov went on；
meditatively。 〃It was my own doing； not leaving the country； and
nearly a year ago Marfa Petrovna gave me back the document on my
name day and made me a present of a considerable sum of money； too。
She had a fortune； you know。 'You see how I trust you； Arkady
Ivanovitch'… that was actually her expression。 You don't believe she
used it？ But do you know I managed the estate quite decently； they
know me in the neighbourhood。 I ordered books； too。 Marfa Petrovna
at first approved； but afterwards she was afraid of my over…studying。〃
〃You seem to be missing Marfa Petrovna very much？〃
〃Missing her？ Perhaps。 Really； perhaps I am。 And； by the way； do you
believe in ghosts？〃
〃What ghosts？〃
〃Why； ordinary ghosts。〃
〃Do you believe in them？〃
〃Perhaps not； pour vous plaire。。。。 I wouldn't say no exactly。〃
〃Do you see them； then？〃
Svidrigailov looked at him rather oddly。
〃Marfa Petrovna is pleased to visit me；〃 he said； twisting his mouth
into a strange smile。
〃How do you mean 'she is pleased to visit you'？〃
〃She has been three times。 I saw her first on the very day of the
funeral； an hour after she was bur