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Exactly twenty minutes after Razumihin's departure； there came two
subdued but hurried knocks at the door： he had come back。
〃I won't come in； I haven't time；〃 he hastened to say when the
door was opened。 〃He sleeps like a top； soundly； quietly； and God
grant he may sleep ten hours。 Nastasya's with him； I told her not to
leave till I came。 Now I am fetching Zossimov； he will report to you
and then you'd better turn in； I can see you are too tired to do
anything。。。。〃
And he ran off down the corridor。
〃What a very competent and。。。 devoted young man！〃 cried Pulcheria
Alexandrovna exceedingly delighted。
〃He seems a splendid person！〃 Avdotya Romanovna replied with some
warmth； resuming her walk up and down the room。
It was nearly an hour later when they heard footsteps in the
corridor and another knock at the door。 Both women waited this time
completely relying on Razumihin's promise； he actually had succeeded
in bringing Zossimov。 Zossimov had agreed at once to desert the
drinking party to go to Raskolnikov's； but he came reluctantly and
with the greatest suspicion to see the ladies； mistrusting Razumihin
in his exhilarated condition。 But his vanity was at once reassured and
flattered； he saw that they were really expecting him as an oracle。 He
stayed just ten minutes and succeeded in completely convincing and
comforting Pulcheria Alexandrovna。 He spoke with marked sympathy；
but with the reserve and extreme seriousness of a young doctor at an
important consultation。 He did not utter a word on any other subject
and did not display the slightest desire to enter into more personal
relations with the two ladies。 Remarking at his first entrance the
dazzling beauty of Avdotya Romanovna； he endeavoured not to notice her
at all during his visit and addressed himself solely to Pulcheria
Alexandrovna。 All this gave him extraordinary inward satisfaction。
He declared that he thought the invalid at this moment going on very
satisfactorily。 According to his observations the patient's illness
was due partly to his unfortunate material surroundings during the
last few months； but it had partly also a moral origin； 〃was so to
speak the product of several material and moral influences； anxieties；
apprehensions； troubles； certain ideas。。。 and so on。〃 Noticing
stealthily that Avdotya Romanovna was following his words with close
attention； Zossimov allowed himself to enlarge on this theme。 On
Pulcheria Alexandrovna's anxiously and timidly inquiring as to 〃some
suspicion of insanity；〃 he replied with a composed and candid smile
that his words had been exaggerated； that certainly the patient had
some fixed idea； something approaching a monomania… he； Zossimov；
was now particularly studying this interesting branch of medicine… but
that it must be recollected that until to…day the patient had been
in delirium and。。。 and that no doubt the presence of his family
would have a favourable effect on his recovery and distract his
mind； 〃if only all fresh shocks can be avoided；〃 he added
significantly。 Then he got up； took leave with an impressive and
affable bow； while blessings； warm gratitude； and entreaties were
showered upon him； and Avdotya Romanovna spontaneously offered her
hand to him。 He went out exceedingly pleased with his visit and
still more so with himself。
〃We'll talk to…morrow； go to bed at once！〃 Razumihin said in
conclusion； following Zossimov out。 〃I'll be with you to…morrow
morning as early as possible with my report。〃
〃That's a fetching little girl； Avdotya Romanovna；〃 remarked
Zossimov； almost licking his lips as they both came out into the
street。
〃Fetching？ You said fetching？〃 roared Razumihin and he flew at
Zossimov and seized him by the throat。 〃If you ever dare。。。 Do you
understand？ Do you understand？〃 he shouted； shaking him by the
collar and squeezing him against the wall。 〃Do you hear？〃
〃Let me go； you drunken devil；〃 said Zossimov； struggling and when
he had let him go； he stared at him and went off into a sudden guffaw。
Razumihin stood facing him in gloomy and earnest reflection。
〃Of course； I am an ass；〃 he observed； sombre as a storm cloud； 〃but
still。。。 you are another。〃
〃No； brother； not at all such another。 I am not dreaming of any
folly。〃
They walked along in silence and only when they were close to
Raskolnikov's lodgings； Razumihin broke the silence in considerable
anxiety。
〃Listen；〃 he said； 〃you're a first…rate fellow； but among your other
failings； you're a loose fish； that； I know； and a dirty one； too。 You
are a feeble； nervous wretch； and a mass of whims； you're getting
fat and lazy and can't deny yourself anything… and I call that dirty
because it leads on straight into the dirt。 You've let yourself get so
slack that I don't know how it is you are still a good； even a devoted
doctor。 You… a doctor… sleep on a feather bed and get up at night to
your patients！ In another three or four years you won't get up for
your patients。。。 But hang it all； that's not the point！。。。 You are
going to spend to…night in the landlady's flat here。 （Hard work I've
had to persuade her！） And I'll be in the kitchen。 So here's a chance
for you to get to know her better。。。。 It's not as you think！ There's
not a trace of anything of the sort； brother。。。！〃
〃But I don't think！〃
〃Here you have modesty； brother； silence； bashfulness； a savage
virtue。。。 and yet she's sighing and melting like wax； simply
melting！ Save me from her； by all that's unholy！ She's most
prepossessing。。。 I'll repay you； I'll do anything。。。。〃
Zossimov laughed more violently than ever。
〃Well； you are smitten！ But what am I to do with her？〃
〃It won't be much trouble； I assure you。 Talk any rot you like to
her； as long a