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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 that they were for the first time
speaking openly about it。
〃Don't believe it； then！〃 answered Raskolnikov； with a cold；
careless smile。 〃You were noticing nothing as usual； but I was
weighing every word。〃
〃You are suspicious。 That is why you weighed their words。。。 h'm。。。
certainly； I agree； Porfiry's tone was rather strange； and still
more that wretch Zametov！。。。 You are right； there was something
about him… but why？ Why？〃
〃He has changed his mind since last night。〃
〃Quite the contrary！ If they had that brainless idea； they would
do their utmost to hide it； and conceal their cards； so as to catch
you afterwards。。。。 But it was all impudent and careless。〃
〃If they had had facts… I mean； real facts… or at least grounds
for suspicion； then they would certainly have tried to hide their
game； in the hope of getting more （they would have made a search
long ago besides）。 But they have no facts； not one。 It is all
mirage… all ambiguous。 Simply a floating idea。 So they try to throw me
out by impudence。 And perhaps； he was irritated at having no facts；
and blurted it out in his vexation… or perhaps he has some plan。。。
he seems an intelligent man。 Perhaps he wanted to frighten me by
pretending to know。 They have a psychology of their own； brother。
But it is loathsome explaining it all。 Stop！〃
〃And it's insulting； insulting！ I understand you。 But。。。 since we
have spoken openly now （and it is an excellent thing that we have at
last… I am glad） I will own now frankly that I noticed it in them long
ago； this idea。 Of course the merest hint only… an insinuation… but
why an insinuation even？ How dare they？ What foundation have they？
If only you knew how furious I have been。 Think only！ Simply because a
poor student； unhinged by poverty and hypochondria； on the eve of a
severe delirious illness （note that）； suspicious； vain； proud； who has
not seen a soul to speak to for six months； in rags and in boots
without soles； has to face some wretched policemen and put up with
their insolence； and the unexpected debt thrust under his nose； the
I。O。U。 presented by Tchebarov； the new paint； thirty degrees Reaumur
and a stifling atmosphere； a crowd of people； the talk about the
murder of a person where he had been just before； and all that on an
empty stomach… he might well have a fainting fit！ And that； that is
what they found it all on！ Damn them！ I understand how annoying it is；
but in your place； Rodya； I would laugh at them； or better still； spit
in their ugly faces； and spit a dozen times in all directions。 I'd hit
out in all directions； neatly too； and so I'd put an end to it。 Damn
them！ Don't be downhearted。 It's a shame！〃
〃He really has put it well； though；〃 Raskolnikov thought。
〃Damn them？ But the cross…examination again； to…morrow？〃 he said
with bitterness。 〃Must I really enter into explanations with them？ I
feel vexed as it is that I condescended to speak to Zametov
yesterday in the restaurant。。。。〃
〃Damn it！ I will go myself to Porfiry。 I will squeeze it out of him；
as one of the family： he must let me know the ins and outs of it
all！ And as for Zametov。。。〃
〃At last he sees through him！〃 thought Raskolnikov。
〃Stay！〃 cried Razumihin； seizing him by the shoulder again。 〃Stay！
you were wrong。 I have thought it out。 You are wrong！ How was that a
trap？ You say that the question about the workmen was a trap。 But if
you had done that； could you have said you had seen them painting
the flat。。。 and the workmen？ On the contrary； you would have seen
nothing； even if you had seen it。 Who would own it against himself？〃
〃If I had done that thing； I should certainly have said that I had
seen the workmen and the flat。〃 Raskolnikov answered； with
reluctance and obvious disgust。
〃But why speak against yourself？〃
〃Because only peasants； or the most inexperienced novices deny
everything flatly at examinations。 If a man is ever so little
developed and experienced； he will certainly try to admit all the
external facts that can't be avoided； but will seek other explanations
of them； wi