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fail to see the character of the man in the whole story？ Don't you see
at once that the answers he has given in the examination are the
holy truth？ They came into his hand precisely as he has told us… he
stepped on the box and picked it up。〃
〃The holy truth！ But didn't he own himself that he told a lie at
first？〃
〃Listen to me； listen attentively。 The porter and Koch and
Pestryakov and the other porter and the wife of the first porter and
the woman who was sitting in the porter's lodge and the man Kryukov；
who had just got out of a cab at that minute and went in at the
entry with a lady on his arm； that is eight or ten witnesses； agree
that Nikolay had Dmitri on the ground； was lying on him beating him；
while Dmitri hung on to his hair； beating him； too。 They lay right
across the way； blocking the thoroughfare。 They were sworn at on all
sides while they 'like children' （the very words of the witnesses）
were falling over one another； squealing； fighting and laughing with
the funniest faces； and； chasing one another like children； they ran
into the street。 Now take careful note。 The bodies upstairs were warm；
you understand； warm when they found them！ If they； or Nikolay
alone； had murdered them and broken open the boxes； or simply taken
part in the robbery； allow me to ask you one question： do their
state of mind； their squeals and giggles and childish scuffling at the
gate fit in with axes； bloodshed； fiendish cunning； robbery？ They'd
just killed them； not five or ten minutes before； for the bodies
were still warm； and at once； leaving the flat open； knowing that
people would go there at once； flinging away their booty； they
rolled about like children； laughing and attracting general attention。
And there are a dozen witnesses to swear to that！〃
〃Of course it is strange！ It's impossible； indeed； but。。。〃
〃No； brother； no buts。 And if the ear…rings' being found in
Nikolay's hands at the very day and hour of the murder constitutes
an important piece of circumstantial evidence against him… although
the explanation given by him accounts for it； and therefore it does
not tell seriously against him… one must take into consideration the
facts which prove him innocent； especially as they are facts that
cannot be denied。 And do you suppose； from the character of our
legal system； that they will accept； or that they are in a position to
accept； this fact… resting simply on a psychological impossibility… as
irrefutable and conclusively breaking down the circumstantial evidence
for the prosecution？ No； they won't accept it； they certainly won't；
because they found the jewel…case and the man tried to hang himself；
'which he could not have done if he hadn't felt guilty。' That's the
point； that's what excites me； you must understand！〃
〃Oh； I see you are excited！ Wait a bit。 I forgot to ask you； what
proof is there that the box came from the old woman？〃
〃That's been proved；〃 said Razumihin with apparent reluctance；
frowning。 〃Koch recognised the jewel…case and gave the name of the
owner； who proved conclusively that it was his。〃
〃That's bad。 Now another point。 Did any one see Nikolay at the
time that Koch and Pestryakov were going upstairs at first； and is
there no evidence about that？〃
〃Nobody did see him；〃 Razumihin answered with vexation。 〃That's
the worst of it。 Even Koch and Pestryakov did not notice them on their
way upstairs； though； indeed； their evidence could not have been worth
much。 They said they saw the flat was open； and that there must be
work going on in it； but they took no special notice and could not
remember whether there actually were men at work in it。〃
〃Hm！。。。 So the only evidence for the defence is that they were
beating one another and laughing。 That constitutes a strong
presumption； but。。。 How do you explain the facts yourself？〃
〃How do I explain them？ What is there to explain？ It's clear。 At any
rate； the direction in which explanation is to be sought is clear； and
the jewel…case points to it。 The real murderer dropped those
ear…rings。 The murderer was upstairs； locked in； when Koch and
Pestryakov knocked at the door。 Koch； like an ass； did not stay at the
door； so the murderer popped out and ran down； too； for he had no
other way of escape。 He hid from Koch； Pestryakov and the porter in
the flat when Nikolay and Dmitri had just run out of it。 He stopped
there while the porter and others were going upstairs； waited till
they were out of hearing； and then went calmly downstairs at the
very minute when Dmitri and Nikolay ran out into the street and
there was no one in the entry； possibly he was seen； but not
noticed。 There are lots of people going in and out。 He must have
dropped the ear…rings out of his pocket when he stood behind the door；
and did not notice he dropped them； because he had other things to
think of。 The jewel…case is a conclusive proof that he did stand
there。。。。 That's how I explain it。〃
〃Too clever！ No； my boy； you're too clever。 That beats everything。〃
〃But； why； why？〃
〃Why； because everything fits too well。。。 it's too melodramatic。〃
〃A…ach！〃 Razumihin was exclaiming； but at that moment the door
opened and a personage came in who was a stranger to all present。
Chapter Five
THIS WAS a gentleman no longer young； of a stiff and portly
appearance； and a cautious and sour countenance。 He began by
stopping short in the doorway； staring about him with offensive and
undisguised astonishment； as though asking himself what sort of
place he had come to。 Mistrustfully and with an affectation of being
alarmed and almost affronted； he scanned Raskolnikov's low and
narrow 〃cabin。〃 With the same amazement he stared at Raskolnikov；
who lay undressed； dishevelled； unwashed； on his miserable dirty sofa；
looking fixe