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！
walked after the dandy and the girl； probably taking Raskolnikov for a
madman or something even worse。
〃He has carried off my twenty copecks；〃 Raskolnikov murmured angrily
when he was left alone。 〃Well； let him take as much from the other
fellow to allow him to have the girl and so let it end。 And why did
I want to interfere？ Is it for me to help？ Have I any right to help？
Let them devour each other alive… what is to me？ How did I dare to
give him twenty copecks？ Were they mine？〃
In spite of those strange words he felt very wretched。 He sat down
on the deserted seat。 His thought strayed aimlessly。。。。 He found it
hard to fix his mind on anything at that moment。 He longed to forget
himself altogether； to forget everything； and then to wake up and
begin life anew。。。。
〃Poor girl！〃 he said； looking at the empty corner where she had sat…
〃She will come to herself and weep； and then her mother will find
out。。。。 She will give her a beating； a horrible； shameful beating
and then maybe； turn her out of doors。。。。 And even if she does not；
the Darya Frantsovnas will get wind of it； and the girl will soon be
slipping out on the sly here and there。 Then there will be the
hospital directly （that's always the luck of those girls with
respectable mothers； who go wrong on the sly） and then。。。 again the
hospital。。。 drink。。。 the taverns。。。 and more hospital； in two or three
years… a wreck； and her life over at eighteen or nineteen。。。。 Have not
I seen cases like that？ And how have they been brought to it？ Why；
they've all come to it like that。 Ugh！ But what does it matter？ That's
as it should be； they tell us。 A certain percentage； they tell us；
must every year go。。。 that way。。。 to the devil； I suppose； so that the
rest may remain chaste； and not be interfered with。 A percentage！ What
splendid words they have； they are so scientific； so consolatory。。。。
Once you've said 'percentage；' there's nothing more to worry about。 If
we had any other word。。。 maybe we might feel more uneasy。。。。 But
what if Dounia were one of the percentage！ Of another one if not
that one？
〃But where am I going？〃 he thought suddenly。 〃Strange； I came out
for something。 As soon as I had read the letter I came out。。。。 I was
going to Vassilyevsky Ostrov； to Razumihin。 That's what it was。。。
now I remember。 What for； though？ And what put the idea of going to
Razumihin into my head just now？ That's curious。〃
He wondered at himself。 Razumihin was one of his old comrades at the
university。 It was remarkable that Raskolnikov had hardly any
friends at the university； he kept aloof from every one； went to see
no one； and did not welcome any one who came to see him； and indeed
every one soon gave him up。 He took no part in the students'
gatherings； amusements or conversations。 He worked with great
intensity without sparing himself； and he was respected for this；
but no one liked him。 He was very poor； and there was a sort of
haughty pride and reserve about him； as though he were keeping
something to himself。 He seemed to some of his comrades to look down
upon them all as children； as though he were superior in
development； knowledge and convictions； as though their beliefs and
interests were beneath him。
With Razumihin he had got on； or； at least； he was more unreserved
and communicative with him。 Indeed it was impossible to be on any
other terms with Razumihin。 He was an exceptionally good…humoured
and candid youth； good…natured to the point of simplicity； though both
depth and dignity lay concealed under that simplicity。 The better of
his comrades understood this； and all were fond of him。 He was
extremely intelligent； though he was certainly rather a simpleton at
times。 He was of striking appearance… tall； thin； blackhaired and
always badly shaved。 He was sometimes uproarious and was reputed to be
of great physical strength。 One night； when out in a festive
company； he had with one blow laid a gigantic policeman on his back。
There was no limit to his drinking powers； but he could abstain from
drink altogether； he sometimes went too far in his pranks； but he
could do without pranks altogether。 Another thing striking about
Razumihin； no failure distressed him； and it seemed as though no
unfavourable circumstances could crush him。 He could lodge anywhere；
and bear the extremes of cold and hunger。 He was very poor； and kept
himself entirely on what he could earn by work of one sort or another。
He knew of no end of resources by which to earn money。 He spent one
whole winter without lighting his stove； and used to declare that he
liked it better； because one slept more soundly in the cold。 For the
present he； too； had been obliged to give up the university； but it
was only for a time； and he was working with all his might to save
enough to return to his studies again。 Raskolnikov had not been to see
him for the last four months； and Razumihin did not even know his
address。 About two months before； they had met in the street； but
Raskolnikov had turned away and even crossed to the other side that he
might not be observed。 And though Razumihin noticed him； he passed him
by； as he did not want to annoy him。
Chapter Five
〃OF COURSE； I've been meaning lately to go to Razumihin's to ask for
work； to ask him to get me lessons or something。。。〃 Raskolnikov
thought； 〃but what help can he be to me now？ Suppose he gets me
lessons； suppose he shares his last farthing with me； if he has any
farthings； so that I could get some boots and make myself tidy
enough to give lessons。。。 hm。。。 Well and what then？ What shall I do
with the few coppers I earn？ That's not what I want now。 It's really
absurd for me to go to Razumihin。。。。〃
The question why he was now going to Razumihin agitated him even
more than he was himself aware； he kept uneasily seeking for some
sinister sig