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moral bracing up against the possible excesses of power and
passion went for nothing before this sallow man； who wore a full
unclipped beard。 It was fair； thin； and very fine。 The light
fell in coppery gleams on the protuberances of a high； rugged
forehead。 And the aspect of the broad； soft physiognomy was so
homely and rustic that the careful middle parting of the hair
seemed a pretentious affectation。
The diary of Mr。 Razumov testifies to some irritation on his
part。 I may remark here that the diary proper consisting of the
more or less daily entries seems to have been begun on that very
evening after Mr。 Razumov had returned home。
Mr。 Razumov； then； was irritated。 His strung…up individuality
had gone to pieces within him very suddenly。
〃I must be very prudent with him；〃 he warned himself in the
silence during which they sat gazing at each other。 It lasted
some little time； and was characterized （for silences have their
character） by a sort of sadness imparted to it perhaps by the
mild and thoughtful manner of the bearded official。 Razumov
learned later that he was the chief of a department in the
General Secretariat； with a rank in the civil service equivalent
to that of a colonel in the army。
Razumov's mistrust became acute。 The main point was； not to be
drawn into saying too much。 He had been called there for some
reason。 What reason？ To be given to understand that he was a
suspectand also no doubt to be pumped。 As to what precisely？
There was nothing。 Or perhaps Haldin had been telling lies。 。 。 。
Every alarming uncertainty beset Razumov。 He could bear the
silence no longer； and cursing himself for his weakness spoke
first； though he had promised himself not to do so on any
account。
〃I haven't lost a moment's time；〃 he began in a hoarse； provoking
tone； and then the faculty of speech seemed to leave him and
enter the body of Councillor Mikulin； who chimed in approvingly
〃Very proper。 Very proper。 Though as a matter of fact。 。 。
But the spell was broken； and Razumov interrupted him boldly；
under a sudden conviction that this was the safest attitude to
take。 With a great flow of words he complained of being totally
misunderstood。 Even as he talked with a perception of his own
audacity he thought that the word 〃misunderstood〃 was better than
the word 〃mistrusted；〃 and he repeated it again with insistence。
Suddenly he ceased； being seized with fright before the attentive
immobility of the official。 〃What am I talking about？〃 he
thought； eyeing him with a vague gaze。 Mistrustednot
misunderstoodwas the right symbol for these people。
Misunderstood was the other kind of curse。 Both had been brought
on his head by that fellow Haldin。 And his head ached terribly。
He passed his hand over his browan involuntary gesture of
suffering； which he was too careless to restrain。
End