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The ladies slowly followed Razumihin； who went on before； and when
they reached the landlady's door on the fourth storey； they noticed
that her door was a tiny crack open and that two keen black eyes
were watching them from the darkness within。 When their eyes met；
the door was suddenly shut with such a slam that Pulcheria
Alexandrovna almost cried out。
Chapter Three
〃HE IS well； quite well！〃 Zossimov cried cheerfully as they entered。
He had come in ten minutes earlier and was sitting in the same place
as before； on the sofa。 Raskolnikov was sitting in the opposite
corner； fully dressed and carefully washed and combed； as he had not
been for some time past。 The room was immediately crowded； yet
Nastasya managed to follow the visitors in and stayed to listen。
Raskolnikov really was almost well； as compared with his condition
the day before； but he was still pale； listless； and sombre。 He looked
like a wounded man or one who has undergone some terrible physical
suffering。 His brows were knitted； his lips compressed； his eyes
feverish。 He spoke little and reluctantly； as though performing a
duty； and there was a restlessness in his movements。
He only wanted a sling on his arm or a bandage on his finger to
complete the impression of a man with a painful abscess or a broken
arm。 The pale； sombre face lighted up for a moment when his mother and
sister entered； but this only gave it a look of more intense
suffering； in place of its listless dejection。 The light soon died
away； but the look of suffering remained； and Zossimov； watching and
studying his patient with all the zest of a young doctor beginning
to practise； noticed in him no joy at the arrival of his mother and
sister； but a sort of bitter； hidden determination to bear another
hour or two of inevitable torture。 He saw later that almost every word
of the following conversation seemed to touch on some sore place and
irritate it。 But at the same time he marvelled at the power of
controlling himself and hiding his feelings in a patient who the
previous day had； like a monomaniac； fallen into a frenzy at the
slightest word。
〃Yes； I see myself now that I am almost well；〃 said Raskolnikov；
giving his mother and sister a kiss of welcome which made Pulcheria
Alexandrovna radiant at once。 〃And I don't say this as I did
yesterday；〃 he said addressing Razumihin； with a friendly pressure
of his hand。
〃Yes； indeed； I am quite surprised at him to…day；〃 began Zossimov；
much delighted at the ladies' entrance； for he had not succeeded in
keeping up a conversation with his patient for ten minutes。 〃In
another three or four days； if he goes on like this； he will be just
as before； that is； as he was a month ago； or two。。。 or perhaps even
three。 This has been coming on for a long while。。。。 eh？ Confess；
now； that it has been perhaps your own fault？〃 he added； with a
tentative smile； as though still afraid of irritating him。
〃It is very possible；〃 answered Raskolnikov coldly。
〃I should say； too；〃 continued Zossimov with zest； 〃that your
complete recovery depends solely on yourself。 Now that one can talk to
you； I should like to impress upon you that it is essential to avoid
the elementary； so to speak； fundamental causes tending to produce
your morbid condition： in that case you will be cured； if not； it will
go from bad to worse。 These fundamental causes I don't know； but
they must be known to you。 You are an intelligent man； and must have
observed yourself； of course。 I fancy the first stage of your
derangement coincides with your leaving the university。 You must not
be left without occupation； and so； work and a definite aim set before
you might； I fancy； be very beneficial。〃
〃Yes； yes； you are perfectly right。。。。 I will make haste and
return to the university： and then everything will go smoothly。。。。〃
Zossimov； who had begun his sage advice partly to make an effect
before the ladies； was certainly somewhat mystified； when； glancing at
his patient； he observed unmistakable mockery on his face。 This lasted
an instant； however。 Pulcheria Alexandrovna began at once thanking
Zossimov； especially for his visit to their lodging the previous
night。
〃What！ he saw you last night？〃 Raskolnikov asked； as though
startled。 〃Then you have not slept either after your journey。〃
〃Ach； Rodya； that was only till two o'clock。 Dounia and I never go
to bed before two at home。〃
〃I don't know how to thank him either；〃 Raskolnikov went on suddenly
frowning and looking down。 〃Setting aside the question of payment…
forgive me for referring to it （he turned to Zossimov）… I really don't
know what I have done to deserve such special attention from you！ I
simply don't understand it。。。 and。。。 and。。。 it weighs upon me； indeed；
because I don't understand it。 I tell you so candidly。〃
〃Don't be irritated。〃 Zossimov forced himself to laugh。 〃Assume that
you are my first patient… well… we fellows just beginning to
practise love our first patients as if they were our children； and
some almost fall in love with them。 And； of course； I am not rich in
patients。〃
〃I say nothing about him；〃 added Raskolnikov； pointing to Razumihin；
〃though he has had nothing from me either but insult and trouble。〃
〃What nonsense he is talking！ Why； you are in a sentimental mood
to…day； are you？〃 shouted Razumihin。
If he had had more penetration he would have seen that there was
no trace of sentimentality in him； but something indeed quite the
opposite。 But Avdotya Romanovna noticed it。 She was intently and
uneasily watching her brother。
〃As for you； mother； I don't dare to speak；〃 he went on； as though
repeating a