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studiously free and easy； he made efforts to conceal his
self…importance； but it was apparent at every instant。 All his
acquaintances found him tedious； but said he was clever at his work。
〃I've been to you twice to…day； brother。 You see； he's come to
himself；〃 cried Razumihin。
〃I see； I see； and how do we feel now； eh？〃 said Zossimov to
Raskolnikov； watching him carefully and； sitting down at the foot of
the sofa； he settled himself as comfortably as he could。
〃He is still depressed；〃 Razumihin went on。 〃We've just changed
his linen and he almost cried。〃
〃That's very natural； you might have put it off if he did not wish
it。。。。 His pulse is first…rate。 Is your head still aching； eh？〃
〃I am well； I am perfectly well！〃 Raskolnikov declared positively
and irritably。 He raised himself on the sofa and looked at them with
glittering eyes； but sank back on to the pillow at once and turned
to the wall。 Zossimov watched him intently。
〃Very good。。。。 Going on all right；〃 he said lazily。 〃Has he eaten
anything？〃
They told him； and asked what he might have。
〃He may have anything。。。 soup； tea。。。 mushrooms and cucumbers； of
course； you must not give him； he'd better not have meat either；
and。。。 but no need to tell you that！〃 Razumihin and he looked at
each other。 〃No more medicine or anything。 I'll look at him again
to…morrow。 Perhaps； to…day even。。。 but never mind。。。〃
〃To…morrow evening I shall take him for a walk；〃 said Razumihin。 〃We
are going to the Yusupov garden and then to the Palais de Crystal。〃
〃I would not disturb him to…morrow at all； but I don't know。。。 a
little； maybe。。。 but we'll see。〃
〃Ach； what a nuisance！ I've got a house…warming party tonight；
it's only a step from here。 Couldn't he come？ He could lie on the
sofa。 You are coming？〃 Razumihin said to Zossimov。 〃Don't forget；
you promised。〃
〃All right； only rather later。 What are you going to do？〃
〃Oh； nothing… tea； vodka； herrings。 There will be a pie。。。 just
our friends。〃
〃And who？〃
〃All neighbours here； almost all new friends； except my old uncle；
and he is new too… he only arrived in Petersburg yesterday to see to
some business of his。 We meet once in five years。〃
〃What is he？〃
〃He's been stagnating all his life as a district postmaster； gets
a little pension。 He is sixty…five… not worth talking about。。。。 But
I am fond of him。 Porfiry Petrovitch； the head of the Investigation
Department here。。。 But you know him。〃
〃Is he a relation of yours； too？〃
〃A very distant one。 But why are you scowling？ Because you
quarrelled once； won't you come then？〃
〃I don't care a damn for him。〃
〃So much the better。 Well； there will be some students； a teacher； a
government clerk； a musician； an officer and Zametov。〃
〃Do tell me； please； what you or he〃… Zossimov nodded at
Raskolnikov… 〃can have in common with this Zametov？〃
〃Oh； you particular gentleman！ Principles！ You are worked by
principles； as it were by springs； you won't venture to turn round
on your own account。 If a man is a nice fellow； that's the only
principle I go upon； Zametov is a delightful person。〃
〃Though he does take bribes。〃
〃Well； he does！ and what of it？ I don't care if he does take
bribes；〃 Razumihin cried with unnatural irritability。 〃I don't
praise him for taking bribes。 I only say he is a nice man in his own
way！ But if one looks at men in all ways… are there many good ones
left？ Why； I am sure I shouldn't be worth a baked onion myself。。。
perhaps with you thrown in。〃
〃That's too little； I'd give two for you。〃
〃And I wouldn't give more than one for you。 No more of your jokes！
Zametov is no more than a boy。 I can pull his hair and one must draw
him not repel him。 You'll never improve a man by repelling him；
especially a boy。 One has to be twice as careful with a boy。 Oh； you
progressive dullards！ You don't understand。 You harm yourselves
running another man down。。。。 But if you want to know； we really have
something in common。〃
〃I should like to know what。〃
〃Why； it's all about a house…painter。。。。 We are getting him out of a
mess！ Though indeed there's nothing to fear now。 The matter is
absolutely self…evident。 We only put on steam。〃
〃A painter？〃
〃Why； haven't I told you about it？ I only told you the beginning
then about the murder of the old pawnbroker…woman。 Well； the painter
is mixed up in it。。。〃
〃Oh； I heard about that murder before and was rather interested in
it。。。 partly。。。 for one reason。。。。 I read about it in the papers；
too。。。。〃
〃Lizaveta was murdered； too；〃 Nastasya blurted out； suddenly
addressing Raskolnikov。 She remained in the room all the time；
standing by the door listening。
〃Lizaveta；〃 murmured Raskolnikov hardly audibly。
〃Lizaveta； who sold old clothes。 Didn't you know her？ She used to
come here。 She mended a shirt for you； too。〃
Raskolnikov turned to the wall where in the dirty； yellow paper he
picked out one clumsy； white flower with brown lines on it and began
examining how many petals there were in it； how many scallops in the
petals and how many lines on them。 He felt his arms and legs as
lifeless as though they had been cut off。 He did not attempt to
move； but star