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！
might be softened and give it to him； otherwise he might wait
another fortnight； another three weeks； a whole month。。。。
But angry as I was； yet he got the better of me。 I could not
hold out for four days。 He began as he always did begin in such
cases； for there had been such cases already； there had been
attempts （and it may be observed I knew all this beforehand； I
knew his nasty tactics by heart）。 He would begin by fixing upon
me an exceedingly severe stare； keeping it up for several minutes
at a time； particularly on meeting me or seeing me out of the
house。 If I held out and pretended not to notice these stares；
he would； still in silence； proceed to further tortures。 All at
once； a propos of nothing； he would walk softly and smoothly into
my room； when I was pacing up and down or reading； stand at the
door； one hand behind his back and one foot behind the other； and
fix upon me a stare more than severe； utterly contemptuous。 If I
suddenly asked him what he wanted； he would make me no answer；
but continue staring at me persistently for some seconds； then；
with a peculiar compression of his lips and a most significant
air； deliberately turn round and deliberately go back to his
room。 Two hours later he would come out again and again present
himself before me in the same way。 It had happened that in my
fury I did not even ask him what he wanted； but simply raised my
head sharply and imperiously and began staring back at him。 So
we stared at one another for two minutes； at last he turned with
deliberation and dignity and went back again for two hours。
If I were still not brought to reason by all this； but persisted
in my revolt； he would suddenly begin sighing while he looked at
me； long； deep sighs as though measuring by them the depths of my
moral degradation； and； of course； it ended at last by his
triumphing completely： I raged and shouted； but still was forced
to do what he wanted。
This time the usual staring manoeuvres had scarcely begun when I
lost my temper and flew at him in a fury。 I was irritated beyond
endurance apart from him。
〃Stay；〃 I cried； in a frenzy； as he was slowly and silently
turning； with one hand behind his back； to go to his room。
〃Stay！ Come back； come back； I tell you！〃 and I must have bawled
so unnaturally； that he turned round and even looked at me with
some wonder。 However； he persisted in saying nothing； and that
infuriated me。
〃How dare you come and look at me like that without being sent
for？ Answer！〃
After looking at me calmly for half a minute； he began turning
round again。
〃Stay！〃 I roared； running up to him； 〃don't stir！ There。
Answer； now： what did you come in to look at？〃
〃If you have any order to give me it's my duty to carry it out；〃
he answered； after another silent pause； with a slow； measured
lisp； raising his eyebrows and calmly twisting his head from one
side to another； all this with exasperating composure。
〃That's not what I am asking you about； you torturer！〃 I shouted；
turning crimson with anger。 〃I'll tell you why you came here
myself： you see； I don't give you your wages； you are so proud
you don't want to bow down and ask for it； and so you come to
punish me with your stupid stares； to worry me and you have no
sus。。。pic。。。ion how stupid it isstupid； stupid； stupid； stupid！
。。。〃
He would have turned round again without a word； but I seized
him。
〃Listen；〃 I shouted to him。 〃Here's the money； do you see； here
it is；〃 （I took it out of the table drawer）； 〃here's the seven
roubles complete； but you are not going to have it；
you。。。are。。。not。。。going。。。to。。。have it until you come
respectfully with bowed head to beg my pardon。 Do you hear？〃
〃That cannot be；〃 he answered； with the most unnatural
self…confidence。
〃It shall be so；〃 I said； 〃I give you my word of honour； it shall
be！〃
〃And there's nothing for me to beg your pardon for；〃 he went on；
as though he had not noticed my exclamations at all。 〃Why；
besides； you called me a 'torturer；' for which I can summon you
at the police…station at any time for insulting behaviour。〃
〃Go； summon me；〃 I roared； 〃go at once； this very minute； this
very second！ You are a torturer all the same！ a torturer！〃
But he merely looked at me； then turned； and regardless of my
loud calls to him； he walked to his room with an even step and
without looking round。
〃If it had not been for Liza nothing of this would have
happened；〃 I decided inwardly。 Then； after waiting a minute； I
went myself behind his screen with a dignified and solemn air；
though my heart was beating slowly and violently。
〃Apollon；〃 I said quietly and emphatically； though I was
breathless； 〃go at once without a minute's delay and fetch the
police…officer。〃
He had meanwhile settled himself at his table； put on his
spectacles and taken up some sewing。 But； hearing my order； he
burst into a guffaw。
〃At once； go this minute！ Go on； or else you can't imagine what
will happen。〃
〃You are certainly out of your mind；〃 he observed； without even
raising his head； lisping as deliberately as ever and threading
his needle。 〃Whoever heard of a man sending for the police
against himself？ And as for being frightenedyou are upsetting
yourself about nothing； for nothing will come of it。〃
〃Go！〃 I shrieked； clutching him by the shoulder。 I felt I should
strike him in a minute。
But I did not notice the door from the passage softly and slowly
open at that instant and a figure come in； stop short； and begin
staring at us in perplexity I glanced； nearly swooned with shame；
and rushed back to my room。 There； clutching at my hair with
both hands； I leaned my head against the wall and stood
motionless in that position。
Two minutes later I heard Apollon's deliberate footsteps。 〃There
is some woman asking for you；〃 he said； looking at me with
peculiar severity。 Then he stood aside and let in Liza。 He
would not go away； but stared at us sarcastically。
〃Go away； go away；〃 I commanded in desperation。 At that moment
my clock began whirring and wheezing and struck seven。
IX
〃Into my house come bold and free；
Its rightful mistress there to be。〃
I stood before her crushed； crestfallen； revoltingly confused；
and I believe I smiled as I did my utmost to wrap myself in the
skirts of my ragged wadded dressing…gownexactly as I had
imagined the scene not long before in a fit of depression。 After
standing over us for a couple of minutes Apollon went away； but
that did not make me more at ease。 What made it worse was that
she； too； was overwhelmed with confusion； more so； in fact； than
I should have expected。 At the sight of me； of course。
〃Sit down；〃 I said mechanically； moving a chair up to the table；
and I sat down on the sofa。 She obediently sat down at once and
gazed at me open…eyed； evidently expecting something from