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Something seemed to turn over in his head bringing uppermost a
singularly hard； clear facet of his brain。
〃It would be better； however；〃 he reflected with a quite different
mental accent； 〃to keep that circumstance altogether to myself。〃
He had passed beyond the turn leading to his lodgings； and had
reached a wide and fashionable street。 Some shops were still
open； and all the restaurants。 Lights fell on the pavement where
men in expensive fur coats； with here and there the elegant
figure of a woman； walked with an air of leisure。 Razumov looked
at them with the contempt of an austere believer for the
frivolous crowd。 It was the worldthose officers； dignitaries；
men of fashion； officials； members of the Yacht Club。 The event
of the morning affected them all。 What would they say if they
knew what this student in a cloak was going to do？
〃Not one of them is capable of feeling and thinking as deeply as
I can。 How many of them could accomplish an act of conscience？〃
Razumov lingered in the well…lighted street。 He was firmly
decided。 Indeed； it could hardly be called a decision。 He had
simply discovered what he had meant to do all along。 And yet he
felt the need of some other mind's sanction。
With something resembling anguish he said to himself
〃I want to be understood。〃 The universal aspiration with all its
profound and melancholy meaning assailed heavily Razumov； who；
amongst eighty millions of his kith and kin； had no heart to
which he could open himself。
The attorney was not to be thought of。 He despised the little
agent of chicane too much。 One could not go and lay one's
conscience before the policeman at the corner。 Neither was
Razumov anxious to go to the chief of his district's policea
common…looking person whom he used to see sometimes in the
street in a shabby uniform and with a smouldering cigarette stuck
to his lower lip。 〃He would begin by locking me up most
probably。 At any rate； he is certain to get excited and create
an awful commotion；〃 thought Razumov practically
An act of conscience must be done with outward dignity。
Razumov longed desperately for a word of advice； for moral
support。 Who knows what true loneliness is not the
conventional word； but the naked terror？ To the lonely
themselves it wears a mask。 The most miserable outcast hugs some
memory or some illusion。 Now and then a fatal conjunction of
events may lift the veil for an instant。 For an instant only。
No human being could bear a steady view of moral solitude without
going mad。
Razumov had reached that point of vision。 To escape from it he
embraced for a whole minute the delirious purpose of rushing to
his lodgings and flinging himself on his knees by the side of the
bed with the dark figure stretched on it； to pour out a full
confession in passionate words that would stir the whole being of
that man to its innermost depths； that would end in embraces and
tears； in an incredible fellowship of souls such as the world
had never seen。 It was sublime！
Inwardly he wept and trembled already。 But to the casual eyes
that were cast upon him he was aware that he appeared as a
tranquil student in a cloak； out for a leisurely stroll。
He noted； too； the sidelong； brilliant glance of a pretty
womanwith a delicate head； and covered in the hairy skins
of wild beasts down to her feet； like a frail and beautiful
savagewhich rested for a moment with a sort of mocking tenderness
on the deep abstraction of that good…looking young man。
Suddenly Razumov stood still。 The glimpse of a passing grey
whisker； caught and lost in the same instant； had evoked the
complete image of Prince K…； the man who once had pressed his
hand as no other man had pressed ita faint but lingering
pressure like a secret sign； like a half…unwilling caress。
And Razumov marvelled at himself。 Why did he not think of him before！
〃A senator； a dignitary； a great personage； the very manHe！〃
A strange softening emotion came over Razumovmade his knees
shake a little。 He repressed it with a new…born austerity。 All
that sentiment was pernicious nonsense。 He couldn't be quick
enough； and when he got into a sledge he shouted to the driver
〃TotheK… Palace。 Get onyou！ Fly！〃 The startled moujik；
bearded up to the very whites of his eyes； answered obsequiously
〃I hear； your high Nobility。〃
It was lucky for Razumov that Prince K …was not a man of timid
character。 On the day of Mr。 de P…'s murder an extreme alarm
and despondency prevailed in the high official spheres。
Prince K…； sitting sadly alone in his study； was told by his
alarmed servants that a mysterious young man had forced his way
into the hall； refused to tell his name and the nature of his
business； and would not move from there till he had seen his
Excellency in private。 Instead of locking himself up and
telephoning for the police； as nine out of ten high personages
would have done that evening； the Prince gave way to curiosity
and came quietly to the door of his study。
In the hall； the front door standing wide open； he recognised at
once Razumov； pale as death； his eyes blazing； and surrounded by
perplexed lackeys。
The Prince was vexed beyond measure； and even indignant。 But
his humane instincts and a subtle sense of self…respect could not
allow him to let this young man be thrown out into the street by
base menials。 He retreated unseen into his room； and after a
little rang his bell。 Razumov heard in the hall an ominously
raised harsh voice saying somewhere far away
〃Show the gentleman in here。〃
Razumov walked in without a tremor。 He felt himself
invulnerableraised far above the shallowness of common
judgment。 Though he saw the Prince looking at him with black
displeasure； the lucidity of his mind； of which he was very
conscious； gave him an extraordinary assurance。 He was not
asked to sit down。
Half an hour later they appeared in the hall together。 The lackeys
stood up； and the Prince； moving with difficulty on his
gouty feet； was helped into his furs。 The carriage had been
ordered before。 When the great double door was flung open with a
crash； Razumov； who had been standing silent with a lost gaze but
with every faculty intensely on the alert； heard the Prince's voice
〃Your arm； young man。〃
The mobile； superficial mind of the ex…Guards officer； man of
showy missions； experienced in nothing but the arts of gallant
intrigue and worldly success； had been equally impressed by the
more obvious difficulties of such a situation and by Razumov's
quiet dignity in stating them。
He had said； 〃No。 Upon the whole I can't condemn the step you
ventured to take by coming to me with your story。 It is not an
affair for police understrappers。 The greatest importance is
attached to。 。 。Set your mind at rest。 I shall see you through
this most extraordinary and difficult situati