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his mirth and utter a few words to introduce himself。 But he had no
sooner succeeded in assuming a serious air and muttering something
when he suddenly glanced again as though accidentally at Razumihin；
and could no longer control himself： his stifled laughter broke out
the more irresistibly the more he tried to restrain it。 The
extraordinary ferocity with which Razumihin received this
〃spontaneous〃 mirth gave the whole scene the appearance of most
genuine fun and naturalness。 Razumihin strengthened this impression as
though on purpose。
〃Fool！ You fiend；〃 he roared； waving his arm which at once struck
a little round table with an empty tea…glass on it。 Everything was
sent flying and crashing。
〃But why break chairs； gentlemen？ You know it's a loss to the
Crown；〃 Porfiry Petrovitch quoted gaily。
Raskolnikov was still laughing； with his hand in Porfiry
Petrovitch's； but anxious not to overdo it； awaited the right moment
to put a natural end to it。 Razumihin； completely put to confusion
by upsetting the table and smashing the glass； gazed gloomily at the
fragments； cursed and turned sharply to the window where he stood
looking out with his back to the company with a fiercely scowling
countenance； seeing nothing。 Porfiry Petrovitch laughed and was
ready to go on laughing； but obviously looked for explanations。
Zametov had been sitting in the corner； but he rose at the visitors'
entrance and was standing in expectation with a smile on his lips；
though he looked with surprise and even it seemed incredulity at the
whole scene and at Raskolnikov with a certain embarrassment。 Zametov's
unexpected presence struck Raskolnikov unpleasantly。
〃I've got to think of that；〃 he thought。 〃Excuse me； please；〃 he
began； affecting extreme embarrassment。 〃Raskolnikov。〃
〃Not at all； very pleasant to see you。。。 and how pleasantly you've
come in。。。。 Why； won't he even say good…morning？〃 Porfiry Petrovitch
nodded at Razumihin。
〃Upon my honour I don't know why he is in such a rage with me。 I
only told him as we came along that he was like Romeo。。。 and proved
it。 And that was all； I think！〃
〃Pig！〃 ejaculated Razumihin； without turning round。
〃There must have been very grave grounds for it； if he is so furious
at the word；〃 Porfiry laughed。
〃Oh； you sharp lawyer！。。。 Damn you all！〃 snapped Razumihin； and
suddenly bursting out laughing himself； he went up to Porfiry with a
more cheerful face as though nothing had happened。 〃That'll do！ We are
all fools。 To come to business。 This is my friend Rodion Romanovitch
Raskolnikov； in the first place he has heard of you and wants to
make your acquaintance； and secondly； he has a little matter of
business with you。 Bah！ Zametov； what brought you here？ Have you met
before？ Have you known each other long？〃
〃What does this mean？〃 thought Raskolnikov uneasily。
Zametov seemed taken aback； but not very much so。
〃Why； it was at your rooms we met yesterday；〃 he said easily。
〃Then I have been spared the trouble。 All last week he was begging
me to introduce him to you。 Porfiry and you have sniffed each other
out without me。 Where is your tobacco？〃
Porfiry Petrovitch was wearing a dressing…gown； very clean linen；
and trodden…down slippers。 He was a man of about five and thirty；
short； stout even to corpulence； and clean shaven。 He wore his hair
cut short and had a large round head； particularly prominent at the
back。 His soft； round； rather snub…nosed face was of a sickly
yellowish colour； but had a vigorous and rather ironical expression。
It would have been good…natured； except for a look in the eyes；
which shone with a watery； mawkish light under almost white；
blinking eyelashes。 The expression of those eyes was strangely out
of keeping with his somewhat womanish figure； and gave it something
far more serious than could be guessed at first sight。
As soon as Porfiry Petrovitch heard that his visitor had a little
matter of business with him； he begged him to sit down on the sofa and
sat down himself on the other end； waiting for him to explain his
business； with that careful and over…serious attention which is at
once oppressive and embarrassing； especially to a stranger； and
especially if what you are discussing is in your opinion of far too
little importance for such exceptional solemnity。 But in brief and
coherent phrases Raskolnikov explained his business clearly and
exactly； and was so well satisfied with himself that he even succeeded
in taking a good look at Porfiry。 Porfiry Petrovitch did not once take
his eyes off him。 Razumihin； sitting opposite at the same table；
listened warmly and impatiently； looking from one to the other every
moment with rather excessive interest。
〃Fool；〃 Raskolnikov swore to himself。
〃You have to give information to the police；〃 Porfiry replied；
with a most businesslike air； 〃that having learnt of this incident；
that is of the murder； you beg to inform the lawyer in charge of the
case that such and such things belong to you； and that you desire to
redeem them。。。 or。。。 but they will write to you。〃
〃That's just the point； that at the present moment；〃 Raskolnikov
tried his utmost to feign embarrassment； 〃I am not quite in funds。。。
and even this trifling sum is beyond me。。。 I only wanted； you see； for
the present to declare that the things are mine； and that when I
have money。。。。〃
〃That's no matter；〃 answered Porfiry Petrovitch； receiving his
explanation of his pecuniary position coldly； 〃but you can； if you
prefer； write straight to me； to say； that having been informed of the
matter； and claiming such and such as your property； you beg。。。〃
〃On an ordinary sheet of paper？〃 Raskolnikov interrupted eagerly；
again interested in the financial side of the question。
〃Oh； the mos