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which stood the old woman's bed and chest of drawers and into which he
had never looked before。 These two rooms made up the whole flat。
〃What do you want？〃 the old woman said severely； coming into the
room and； as before； standing in front of him so as to look him
straight in the face。
〃I've brought something to pawn here；〃 and he drew out of his pocket
an old…fashioned flat silver watch； on the back of which was
engraved a globe； the chain was of steel。
〃But the time is up for your last pledge。 The month was up the day
before yesterday。〃
〃I will bring you the interest for another month； wait a little。〃
〃But that's for me to do as I please； my good sir； to wait or to
sell your pledge at once。〃
〃How much will you give me for the watch； Alyona Ivanovna？〃
〃You come with such trifles； my good sir； it's scarcely worth
anything。 I gave you two roubles last time for your ring and one could
buy it quite new at a jeweler's for a rouble and a half。〃
〃Give me four roubles for it； I shall redeem it； it was my father's。
I shall be getting some money soon。〃
〃A rouble and a half； and interest in advance； if you like！〃
〃A rouble and a half！〃 cried the young man。
〃Please yourself〃… and the old woman handed him back the watch。
The young man took it； and was so angry that he was on the point of
going away； but checked himself at once； remembering that there was
nowhere else he could go； and that he had had another object also in
coming。
〃Hand it over；〃 he said roughly。
The old woman fumbled in her pocket for her keys； and disappeared
behind the curtain into the other room。 The young man； left standing
alone in the middle of the room； listened inquisitively； thinking。
He could hear her unlocking the chest of drawers。
〃It must be the top drawer；〃 he reflected。 〃So she carries the
keys in a pocket on the right。 All in one bunch on a steel ring。。。。
And there's one key there； three times as big as all the others；
with deep notches； that can't be the key of the chest of drawers。。。
then there must be some other chest or strong…box。。。 that's worth
knowing。 Strong…boxes always have keys like that。。。 but how
degrading it all is。〃
The old woman came back。
〃Here； sir： as we say ten copecks the rouble a month； so I must take
fifteen copecks from a rouble and a half for the month in advance。 But
for the two roubles I lent you before； you owe me now twenty copecks
on the same reckoning in advance。 That makes thirty…five copecks
altogether。 So I must give you a rouble and fifteen copecks for the
watch。 Here it is。〃
〃What！ only a rouble and fifteen copecks now！〃
〃Just so。〃
The young man did not dispute it and took the money。 He looked at
the old woman； and was in no hurry to get away； as though there was
still something he wanted to say or to do； but he did not himself
quite know what。
〃I may be bringing you something else in a day or two； Alyona
Ivanovna… a valuable thing… silver… a cigarette box； as soon as I
get it back from a friend。。。〃 he broke off in confusion。
〃Well； we will talk about it then； sir。〃
〃Good…bye… are you always at home alone； your sister is not here
with you？〃 He asked her as casually as possible as he went out into
the passage。
〃What business is she of yours； my good sir？〃
〃Oh； nothing particular； I simply asked。 You are too quick。。。。
Good…day； Alyona Ivanovna。〃
Raskolnikov went out in complete confusion。 This confusion became
more and more intense。 As he went down the stairs； he even stopped
short； two or three times； as though suddenly struck by some
thought。 When he was in the street he cried out； 〃Oh； God； how
loathsome it all is！ and can I； can I possibly。。。。 No； it's
nonsense； it's rubbish！〃 he added resolutely。 〃And how could such an
atrocious thing come into my head？ What filthy things my heart is
capable of。 Yes； filthy above all； disgusting； loathsome；
loathsome！… and for a whole month I've been。。。。〃 But no words； no
exclamations； could express his agitation。 The feeling of intense
repulsion； which had begun to oppress and torture his heart while he
was on his way to the old woman； had by now reached such a pitch and
had taken such a definite form that he did not know what to do with
himself to escape from his wretchedness。 He walked along the
pavement like a drunken man； regardless of the passers…by； and
jostling against them； and only came to his senses when he was in
the next street。 Looking round； he noticed that he was standing
close to a tavern which was entered by steps leading from the pavement
to the basement。 At that instant two drunken men came out at the door；
and abusing and supporting one another； they mounted the steps。
Without stopping to think； Raskolnikov went down the steps at once。
Till that moment he had never been into a tavern； but now he felt
giddy and was tormented by a burning thirst。 He longed for a drink
of cold beer； and attributed his sudden weakness to the want of
food。 He sat down at a sticky little table in a dark and dirty corner；
ordered some beer； and eagerly drank off the first glassful。 At once
he felt easier； and his thoughts became clear。
〃All that's nonsense；〃 he said hopefully； 〃and there is nothing in
it all to worry about！ It's simply physical derangement。 Just a
glass of beer； a piece of dry bread… and in one moment the brain is
stronger； the mind is clearer and the will is firm！ Phew； how
utterly petty it all is！〃
But in spite