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lifeless as though they had been cut off。 He did not attempt to
move； but stared obstinately at the flower。
〃But what about the painter？〃 Zossimov interrupted Nastasya's
chatter with marked displeasure。 She sighed and was silent。
〃Why； he was accused of the murder；〃 Razumihin went on hotly。
〃Was there evidence against him then？〃
〃Evidence； indeed！ Evidence that was no evidence； and that's what we
have to prove。 It was just as they pitched on those fellows； Koch
and Pestryakov； at first。 Foo！ how stupidly it's all done； it makes
one sick； though it's not one's business！ Pestryakov may be coming
to…night。。。。 By the way； Rodya； you've heard about the business
already； it happened before you were ill； the day before you fainted
at the police office while they were talking about it。〃
Zossimov looked curiously at Raskolnikov。 He did not stir。
〃But I say； Razumihin； I wonder at you。 What a busybody you are！〃
Zossimov observed。
〃Maybe I am； but we will get him off anyway；〃 shouted Razumihin；
bringing his fist down on the table。 〃What's the most offensive is not
their lying… one can always forgive lying… lying is a delightful
thing； for it leads to truth… what is offensive is that they lie and
worship their own lying。。。。 I respect Porfiry； but。。。 What threw
them out at first？ The door was locked； and when they came back with
the porter it was open。 So it followed that Koch and Pestryakov were
the murderers… that was their logic！〃
〃But don't excite yourself； they simply detained them； they could
not help that。。。。 And； by the way； I've met that man Koch。 He used
to buy unredeemed pledges from the old woman？ Eh？〃
〃Yes； he is a swindler。 He buys up bad debts； too。 He makes a
profession of it。 But enough of him！ Do you know what makes me
angry？ It's their sickening rotten； petrified routine。。。。 And this
case might be the means of introducing a new method。 One can show from
the psychological data alone how to get on the track of the real
man。 'We have facts；' they say。 But facts are not everything… at least
half the business lies in how you interpret them！〃
〃Can you interpret them； then？〃
〃Anyway； one can't hold one's tongue when one has a feeling； a
tangible feeling； that one might be a help if only。。。。 Eh！ Do you know
the details of the case？〃
〃I am waiting to hear about the painter。〃
〃Oh； yes！ Well； here's the story。 Early on the third day after the
murder； when they were still dandling Koch and Pestryakov… though they
accounted for every step they took and it was as plain as a pikestaff…
an unexpected fact turned up。 A peasant called Dushkin； who keeps a
dram…shop facing the house； brought to the police office a
jeweller's case containing some gold ear…rings； and told a long
rigamarole。 'The day before yesterday； just after eight o'clock'… mark
the day and the hour！… 'a journeyman house…painter； Nikolay； who had
been in to see me already that day； brought me this box of gold
ear…rings and stones； and asked me to give him two roubles for them。
When I asked him where he got them； he said that he picked them up
in the street。 I did not ask him anything more。' I am telling you
Dushkin's story。 'I gave him a note'… a rouble that is… 'for I thought
if he did not pawn it with me he would with another。 It would all come
to the same thing… he'd spend it on drink； so the thing had better
be with me。 The further you hide it the quicker you will find it；
and if anything turns up； if I hear any rumours； I'll take it to the
police。' Of course； that's all taradiddle； he lies like a horse； for I
know this Dushkin； he is a pawnbroker and a receiver of stolen
goods； and he did not cheat Nikolay out of a thirty…rouble trinket
in order to give it to the police。 He was simply afraid。 But no
matter； to return to Dushkin's story。 'I've known this peasant；
Nikolay Dementyev； from a child； he comes from the same province and
district of Zaraisk； we are both Ryazan men。 And though Nikolay is not
a drunkard； he drinks； and I knew he had a job in that house； painting
work with Dmitri； who comes from the same village； too。 As soon as
he got the rouble he changed it； had a couple of glasses； took his
change and went out。 But I did not see Dmitri with him then。 And the
next day I heard that some one had murdered Alyona Ivanovna and her
sister； Lizaveta Ivanovna； with an axe。 I knew them； and I felt
suspicious about the ear…rings at once； for I knew the murdered
woman lent money on pledges。 I went to the house； and began to make
careful inquiries without saying a word to any one。 First of all I
asked； 〃Is Nikolay here？〃 Dmitri told me that Nikolay had gone off
on the spree； he had come home at daybreak drunk； stayed in the
house about ten minutes； and went out again。 Dmitri didn't see him
again and is finishing the job alone。 And their job is on the same
staircase as the murder； on the second floor。 When I heard all that
I did not say a word to any one'… that's Dushkin's tale… 'but I
found out what I could about the murder； and went home feeling as
suspicious as ever。 And at eight o'clock this morning'… that was the
third day； you understand… 'I saw Nikolay coming in； not sober； though
not so very drunk… he could understand what was said to him。 He sat
down on the bench and did not speak。 There was only one stranger in
the bar and a man I knew asleep on a bench and our two boys。 〃Have you
seen Dmitri？〃 said I。 〃No； I haven't；〃 said he。 〃And you've not been
here either？〃 〃Not since the day before yesterday；〃 said he。 〃And
where did you sleep last night？〃 〃In Peski； with the Kolomensky
men。〃 〃And where did you get those ear…rings？〃 I asked。 〃I found
them in the street；〃 and the way he said it was a bit queer； he did
not look at me。 〃Did you hear what happened that very evening； at that
very hour； on that same staircase？〃 said I。 〃No；〃 said he； 〃I had
not heard；〃 and all the while he was listening； his eyes were
staring out of his head and he turned as white as chalk。 I told him
all about it a