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suddenly； lay like a log； remembered no dream on waking。 But it
was as if his soul had gone out in the night to gather the
flowers of wrathful wisdom。 He got up in a mood of grim
determination and as if with a new knowledge of his own nature。
He looked mockingly on the heap of papers on his table； and left
his room to attend the lectures； muttering to himself； 〃We shall see。〃
He was in no humour to talk to anybody or hear himself questioned
as to his absence from lectures the day before。 But it was
difficult to repulse rudely a very good comrade with a smooth
pink face and fair hair； bearing the nickname amongst his
fellow…students of 〃Madcap Kostia。〃 He was the idolized only
son of a very wealthy and illiterate Government contractor； and
attended the lectures only during the periodical fits of
contrition following upon tearful paternal remonstrances。
Noisily blundering like a retriever puppy； his elated voice
and great gestures filled the bare academy corridors with the
joy of thoughtless animal life； provoking indulgent smiles at
a great distance。 His usual discourses treated of trotting horses；
wine…parties in expensive restaurants； and the merits of persons
of easy virtue； with a disarming artlessness of outlook。 He
pounced upon Razumov about midday； somewhat less uproariously
than his habit was； and led him aside。
〃Just a moment； Kirylo Sidorovitch。 A few words here in this
quiet corner。〃
He felt Razumov's reluctance； and insinuated his hand under his
arm caressingly。
〃Nopray do。 I don't want to talk to you about any of my silly
scrapes。 What are my scrapes？ Absolutely nothing。 Mere
childishness。 The other night I flung a fellow out of a certain
place where I was having a fairly good time。 A tyrannical little
beast of a quill…driver from the Treasury department。 He was
bullying the people of the house。 I rebuked him。 'You are not
behaving humanely to God's creatures that are a jolly sight more
estimable than yourself；' I said。 I can't bear to see any
tyranny； Kirylo Sidorovitch。 Upon my word I can't。 He didn't
take it in good part at all。 'Who's that impudent puppy？'
he begins to shout。 I was in excellent form as it happened；
and he went through the closed window very suddenly。 He flew
quite a long way into the yard。 I raged likelike aminotaur。
The women clung to me and screamed； the fiddlers got under the table。
。 。 。Such fun！ My dad had to put his hand pretty deep into his pocket；
I can tell you。〃 He chuckled。
〃My dad is a very useful man。 Jolly good thing it is for me； too。
I do get into unholy scrapes。〃
His elation fell。 That was just it。 What was his life？
Insignificant； no good to anyone； a mere festivity。 It
would end some fine day in his getting his skull split with a
champagne bottle in a drunken brawl。 At such times； too； when
men were sacrificing themselves to ideas。 But he could never get
any ideas into his head。 His head wasn't worth anything better
than to be split by a champagne bottle。
Razumov； protesting that he had no time； made an attempt to get
away。 The other's tone changed to confidential earnestness。
〃For God's sake； Kirylo； my dear soul； let me make some sort of
sacrifice。 It would not be a sacrifice really。 I have my rich
dad behind me。 There's positively no getting to the bottom of
his pocket。〃
And rejecting indignantly Razumov's suggestion that this was
drunken raving； he offered to lend him some money to escape
abroad with。 He could always get money from his dad。 He had
only to say that he had lost it at cards or something of that
sort； and at the same time promise solemnly not to miss a single
lecture for three months on end。 That would fetch the old man；
and he； Kostia； was quite equal to the sacrifice。 Though he
really did not see what was the good for him to attend the
lectures。 It was perfectly hopeless。
〃Won't you let me be of some use？〃 he pleaded to the silent
Razumov； who with his eyes on the ground and utterly unable to
penetrate the real drift of the other's intention； felt a strange
reluctance to clear up the point。
〃What makes you think I want to go abroad？〃 he asked at last
very quietly。
Kostia lowered his voice。
〃You had the police in your rooms yesterday。 There are three or
four of us who have heard of that。 Never mind how we know。 It is
sufficient that we do。 So we have been consulting together。〃
〃Ah！ You got to know that so soon；〃 muttered Razumov negligently。
〃Yes。 We did。 And it struck us that a man like you。 。 。〃
〃What sort of a man do you take me to be？〃 Razumov interrupted him。
〃A man of ideasand a man of action too。 But you are very deep；
Kirylo。 There's no getting to the bottom of your mind。 Not for
fellows like me。 But we all agreed that you must be preserved
for our country。 Of that we have no doubt whateverI mean all
of us who have heard Haldin speak of you on certain occasions。
A man doesn't get the police ransacking his rooms without there
being some devilry hanging over his head。 。 。 。 And so if you
think that it would be better for you to bolt at once。 。 。〃
Razumov tore himself away and walked down the corridor； leaving
the other motionless with his mouth open。 But almost at once he
returned and stood before the amazed Kostia； who shut his mouth
slowly。 Razumov looked him straight in the eyes； before saying
with marked deliberation and separating his words
〃I thankyouverymuch。〃
He went away again rapidly。 Kostia； recovering from his surprise
at these manoeuvres； ran up behind him pressingly。
〃No！ Wait！ Listen。 I really mean it。 It would be like giving
your compassion to a starving fellow。 Do you hear； Kirylo？ And
any disguise you may think of； that too I could procure from a
costumier； a Jew I know。 Let a fool be made serviceable
according to his folly。 Perhaps also a false beard or something
of that kind may be needed。
Razumov turned at bay。
〃There are no false beards needed in this business；
Kostiayou good…hearted lunatic； you。 What do you know of
my ideas？ My ideas may be poison to you。〃 The other began to
shake his head in energetic protest。
〃What have you got to do with ideas？ Some of them would make an
end of your dad's money…bags。 Leave off meddling with what you
don't understand。 Go back to your trotting horses and your
girls； and then you'll be sure at least of doing no harm to
anybody； and hardly any to yourself。〃
The enthusiastic youth was overcome by this disdain。
〃You're sending me back to my pig's trough； Kirylo。 That settles
it。 I am an unlucky beastand I shall die like a beast too。
But mindit's your contempt that has done for me。〃
Razumov went off with long strides。 That this simple and grossly
festive soul should have fallen too under the revolutionary curse
affected him as an ominous symptom of the time。 He reproached
himself for