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of course； been able to form even an approximate notion of what they
meant。 He； like every one； had heard that there were； especially in
Petersburg； progressives of some sort； nihilists and so on； and；
like many people； he exaggerated and distorted the significance of
those words to an absurd degree。 What for many years past he had
feared more than anything was being shown up and this was the chief
ground for his continual uneasiness at the thought of transferring his
business to Petersburg。 He was afraid of this as little children are
sometimes panic…stricken。 Some years before； when he was just entering
on his own career； he had come upon two cases in which rather
important personages in the province； patrons of his； had been cruelly
shown up。 One instance had ended in great scandal for the person
attacked and the other had very nearly ended in serious trouble。 For
this reason Pyotr Petrovitch intended to go into the subject as soon
as he reached Petersburg and； if necessary； to anticipate
contingencies by seeking the favour of 〃our younger generation。〃 He
relied on Andrey Semyonovitch for this and before his visit to
Raskolnikov he had succeeded in picking up some current phrases。 He
soon discovered that Andrey Semyonovitch was a commonplace
simpleton； but that by no means reassured Pyotr Petrovitch。 Even if he
had been certain that all the progressives were fools like him； it
would not have allayed his uneasiness。 All the doctrines； the ideas；
the systems with which Andrey Semyonovitch pestered him had no
interest for him。 He had his own object… he simply wanted to find
out at once what was happening here。 Had these people any power or
not？ Had he anything to fear from them？ Would they expose any
enterprise of his？ And what precisely was now the object of their
attacks？ Could he somehow make up to them and get round them if they
really were powerful？ Was this the thing to do or not？ Couldn't he
gain something through them？ In fact hundreds of questions presented
themselves。
Andrey Semyonovitch was an anaemic； scrofulous little man； with
strangely flaxen mutton…chop whiskers of which he was very proud。 He
was a clerk and had almost always something wrong with his eyes。 He
was rather soft…hearted； but self…confident and sometimes extremely
conceited in speech which had an absurd effect； incongruous with his
little figure。 He was one of the lodgers most respected by Amalia
Ivanovna； for he did not get drunk and paid regularly for his
lodgings。 Andrey Semyonovitch really was rather stupid； he attached
himself to the cause of progress and 〃our younger generation〃 from
enthusiasm。 He was one of the numerous and varied legion of
dullards； of half…animate abortions； conceited； half…educated
coxcombs； who attach themselves to the idea most in fashion only to
vulgarise it and who caricature every cause they serve； however
sincerely。
Though Lebeziatnikov was so good…natured； he； too； was beginning
to dislike Pyotr Petrovitch。 This happened on both sides
unconsciously。 However simple Andrey Semyonovitch might be； he began
to see that Pyotr Petrovitch was duping him and secretly despising
him； and that 〃he was not the right sort of man。〃 He had tried
expounding to him the system of Fourier and the Darwinian theory；
but of late Pyotr Petrovitch began to listen too sarcastically and
even to be rude。 The fact was he had begun instinctively to guess that
Lebeziatnikov was not merely a commonplace simpleton； but； perhaps；
a liar； too； and that he had no connections of any consequence even in
his own circle； but had simply picked things up third…hand； and that
very likely he did not even know much about his own work of
propaganda； for he was in too great a muddle。 A fine person he would
be to show any one up！ It must be noted； by the way； that Pyotr
Petrovitch had during those ten days eagerly accepted the strangest
praise from Andrey Semyonovitch； he had not protested； for instance；
when Andrey Semyonovitch belauded him for being ready to contribute to
the establishment of the new 〃commune；〃 or to abstain from christening
his future children； or to acquiesce if Dounia were to take a lover
a month after marriage； and so on。 Pyotr Petrovitch so enjoyed hearing
his own praises that he did not disdain even such virtues when they
were attributed to him。
Pyotr Petrovitch had had occasion that morning to realise some
five per cent。 bonds and now he sat down to the table and counted over
bundles of notes。 Andrey Semyonovitch who hardly ever had any money
walked about the room pretending to himself to look at all those
bank notes with indifference and even contempt。 Nothing would have
convinced Pyotr Petrovitch that Andrey Semyonovitch could really
look on the money unmoved； and the latter； on his side； kept
thinking bitterly that Pyotr Petrovitch was capable of entertaining
such an idea about him and was； perhaps； glad of the opportunity of
teasing his young friend by reminding him of his inferiority and the
great difference between them。
He found him incredibly inattentive and irritable； though he； Andrey
Semyonovitch； began enlarging on his favourite subject； the foundation
of a new special 〃commune。〃 The brief remarks that dropped from
Pyotr Petrovitch between the clicking of the beads on the reckoning
frame betrayed unmistakable and discourteous irony。 But the 〃humane〃
Andrey Semyonovitch ascribed Pyotr Petrovitch's ill…humour to his
recent breach with Dounia and he was burning with impatience to
discourse on that theme。 He had something progressive to say on the
subject which might console his worthy friend and 〃could not fail〃
to promote his development。
〃There is some sort of festivity being prepared at that。。。 at the
widow's； isn't there？〃 Pyotr Petrovitch asked suddenly； interrupting
Andrey Semyonovitch at the most interesting passage。
〃Why； don't you know？ Why； I was telling you last night what I think
about all such ceremonies。 And she invited you too； I heard。 You
were talking t