Loading chat...
“It was through fright I did it. How could I dare to keep it back from
I’ll work for you. We’ll go to the young lady and bow down to her
my beauty, I’ll scorch my face, slash it with a knife, and turn beggar. If
Book XII. A Judicial Error
hear, others I did not notice, and others I have forgotten, but most of
love it.”
hundred? I insist upon that question, Dmitri Fyodorovitch.”
shall tell each other with joy and gladness all that has happened!”
sort of ecstatic gratitude, and tears in his voice, as though some great
agree to accept their happiness on the foundation of the unexpiated blood
“Yes, yes! You have uttered my thought; they love crime, every one loves
Contact with real life will cure you.... It’s always so with characters
day and night over his dead friend, but for the present he, as well as the
This Katya, _cette charmante personne_, has disappointed all my hopes. Now
gentlemen, isn’t it too base of you to say that to my face? It’s base,
“What sort of shape?” inquired the monk, after a pause of vain
right, where there was a door into the garden, trying to see into the
if other nations stand aside from that troika that may be, not from
to be let in.’ And he started like a baby. ‘Where is she?’ he fairly
money was Katerina Ivanovna’s, and so, it’s extremely surprising to me
one hour. Let him open that book and begin reading it without grand words
Nikolay Parfenovitch informed him gently that he would be escorted at once
sight. And the witness Maximov has testified that the prisoner had twenty
himself in his favor, and the affair was ignored.
becoming more frequent, and on the days he was ill Marfa cooked, which did
grave, had gone to Odessa, abandoning the grave and all his memories.
Chapter X. The Speech For The Defense. An Argument That Cuts Both Ways
“You think it’s something to do with you? If it were, he wouldn’t have
at the thought of Mitya’s being saved (and he certainly would have
“Give me the towel: it’s here on the chair. I just threw it down there.”
too, and to‐day I suddenly realized that it’s all due to aberration. Oh,
off altogether for five years or, better still, thirty‐five, and without
in very truth was the turning‐point of my life. In the evening, returning
I sat still and repeated a silent prayer. I got up at last, I felt afraid.
noticed it with some embarrassment. He ascribed his brother’s indifference
nineteen, radiant with health. He was very handsome, too, graceful,
good health, and that she may forgive you for your error. And another
“In the ordinary occasions of life,” he said in the same complacent and
and immortality, and at once he instinctively said to himself: “I want to
“Oh, the devil!”
kneeling and the prayer. Ever since then—only yesterday I took it up—I’ve
all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works.
meek and humble ascetics will rise up and go out to work for the great
darling, for the cross I have to bear to‐morrow.”
another town, we would give it to him, and, indeed, I myself would give
convinced all the morning that you would come.”
he burst into tears. Alyosha found him crying.
syllables. It was, of course, only a bad, underbred habit that showed bad
lips. Alyosha watched it all with a throbbing heart. The whole
guard speaks rudely to me, I have not the strength to bear it. For Grusha
Distributed Proofreading Team at . (This
face a coarse, unmannerly officer and risk a deadly insult on a generous
called upon to sign the protocol of his evidence, and so on. We will only
hadn’t he better go at once to the prosecutor and tell him everything. He
only know that the witnesses for the prosecution were called first. I
Katerina Ivanovna went into a fit of hysterics. She sobbed, and was shaken
during the night. I feel that perhaps my decision is a terrible one—for
Fenya was sitting with her grandmother, the old cook, Matryona, in the
“Now, thank God! we’ve come to the real point: ‘since he was in the
give information, but he would have been silent about that. For, on the
an unclean heathen, from heathen parents. The Lord God can’t surely take a
before Alyosha’s arrival; his visitors had gathered together in his cell
bit?”
“You’ve lost two hundred, _panie_. Will you stake another hundred?” the
furious and brandishing his right arm.
roads, till Ivan had vanished into the darkness. Then he turned and walked
... that some one is hunting me, some one I’m awfully afraid of ... that
“Oh, don’t take her name in vain! I’m a scoundrel to bring her into it.
kiss it. Kiss the earth and love it with an unceasing, consuming love.
morning the general comes out on horseback, with the hounds, his
in truth made ready in peace and quiet “for the day and the hour, the
pray, that there is a fellow creature left on earth to love him too! And
boys, that as he laughs he will say at once in his heart, ‘No, I do wrong
“What murderer? As though you didn’t know! I’ll bet you’ve thought of it
than all, and that they all take me for a buffoon; so I say let me play
so unhappy in his weakness of will that he wouldn’t do it ... that he knew
indeed, why I’ve mentioned it: ‘If there is one of the sons that is like
in good condition, old man, so as to be able to say to you, ‘See, old man,
father were to die now, there’d be some forty thousand for sure, even for
the three thousand is more important than what you did with it. And by the
is woman? The queen of creation! My heart is sad, my heart is sad, Pyotr
what are my convictions, not what is my age, isn’t it?”
of something sacred, as the ladies cried afterwards. The orator himself
tell of it, of course, but I shall have nothing more to do with you for a
I would have said more but I could not; my voice broke with the sweetness
Father Ferapont was that aged monk so devout in fasting and observing
I am not good‐looking. I know I’m hideous, but I’ve a clever face. I
of taking her money, and the very idea caused him a pang of intense
there are twenty‐five saints being saved. They look at one another, and
gentlemen, I couldn’t bear the look of him, there was something in him
time to decide yet. She takes me for her nurse, too. She wants me to sing
capricious, though always friendly. Sometimes there was something fixed
He was wearing his coarse gown girt with a rope. His bare chest, covered
people, and, of course, I am not right and you are, only I shall spy on
sacrifice an hour to it: “In an hour I shall know everything, I shall
thrilling with emotion. And his heart glowed, and he struggled forward
account, Father Zossima’s talk goes on without interruption, as though he
most rich and powerful. Don’t be afraid of satisfying them and even
was that money we spent at Mokroe. Afterwards I pretended I had been to
neighborhood. I may add here, for myself personally, that I feel it almost
“Thank God,” I cried, “no man has been killed,” and I seized my pistol,
you to such a sentiment of hatred for your parent?”
to him in the very room in which she had once received Grushenka. In the
Above all, avoid falsehood, every kind of falsehood, especially falseness
“_Panie_, we’re here in private. There are other rooms.”
capricious, though always friendly. Sometimes there was something fixed
costly and artistic engravings were several of the roughest Russian prints
thousand roubles, and I will venture to anticipate things a little. Can
“Why do you make fun of him like that, naughty girl?”
They remembered that then, as now, he had had a bundle of hundred‐rouble
“And for what reason can _this_ have happened,” some of the monks said, at
apiary, and had been greatly impressed and overawed by the visit. This
served. Fyodor Pavlovitch liked sweet things with brandy after dinner.
for only one rouble and included a receipt signed by both.
Mitya took the piece of paper out of his waistcoat pocket, unfolded it and
which Smerdyakov began to show more and more markedly. Not that he forgot
a single criminal, and the number of crimes does not diminish but is
and nobles, whom he entertained so well.
language, but Rakitin was done for. Captain Snegiryov’s evidence was a
creation who loves the truth and genuinely desires good. I was there when
questions!” cried Mitya enthusiastically. “Or there’s simply no knowing
book (I saw the signature in the book afterwards), stood up, saying he
have—coffee?”
father has just this moment come back, bringing him a mastiff pup, hoping
laughter, but quivering all over with tears. In a tearful, faltering,
to be a man of great piety. But he only repeated aloud what the monks had
“Be silent! Don’t quarrel! I won’t have any quarreling!” cried Grushenka
humiliating lot. They plainly state, even in print—I’ve read it
“My name’s Agrafena, Grushenka, speak Russian or I won’t listen!”
altogether, he knew that well already. He suspected, quite correctly, that
“It was you murdered him?” he cried suddenly.
Dei_, been burnt by the cardinal, the Grand Inquisitor, in a magnificent
Mitya looked at him from the side without stirring. The old man’s profile
peevishly, as the servants promptly withdrew at his word.
almost dropped. So this is the explanation of her dreadful night and her
say? You know, you spend money like a canary, two grains a week. H’m!...
is like an overdriven horse with all of us on her back. She waits on us
the way to that hideous scene at the trial. He wanted to show me that he
“You are welcome with all my heart,” answered the Superior. “Gentlemen!”
confession: that money was _my own_.” The lawyers’ faces lengthened. That
you.’ I’m going to beg forgiveness: ‘Forgive me, good people, a silly
torture me, but not in the same way: not so much as the damned
him! Go, Alyosha; it’s time you went to your brother”; she tore herself
silence who has been mentioned already, as antagonistic to Father Zossima
believe in such a superstition and your hero is no model for others.”
me,” and then the soft and sweet singing in the church: “Let my prayer
suffered so much and is very good‐natured. I keep wondering why he took
“Tell those who sent you that the wisp of tow does not sell his honor,” he
you? Where have you been?”
Ivan sank back on his chair, as though pondering something. He laughed
always outside the precincts. There is a Harkov lady, Madame Hohlakov,
are people who at every blow are worked up to sensuality, to literal
Moscow.”
observing Mitya’s excitement, “did you notice when you ran away from the
inexperience and vanity—vexation at having failed to express himself,
pulling her hair a little. But there it ended: the beating was never
with when he arrived here, at his father’s house, and why depict my client
now—that’s what detained me to‐day. So they left off beating Ilusha and I
sensations blended into a whole and threw a sudden light into his mind. A
Ignatyevna, but it would be simply shameful to imagine her murdering her
the investigating lawyer stopped him, and civilly suggested that he should
“What do you mean by mystic? Cure me of what?” Alyosha was rather
to begin—my confession—with Schiller’s _Hymn to Joy_, _An die Freude_! I
unseemly curiosity, what were your exact sensations, if you can recall
the Russian peasant, worn out by grief and toil, and still more by the
driver, ready waiting for Mitya at the entrance. In the shop they had
“Substantially nothing—but just by way of conversation.”
she has hated me ever so long, oh, ever so long ... and hated me with good
didn’t want to irritate her by contradiction?”
But Smerdyakov did not get through ten pages of Smaragdov. He thought it
she stood up for a whole minute without any support. She wagers that in a
the part of the monks he instantly changed his mind. With dignified
minutes.”
Agrafena Alexandrovna, in your presence.”
speech. But as soon as he had finished, he almost fainted.
and broken while he was struggling in the snow. But at that instant he saw
Chemist or what?”
have you put it away?’ My boy made no answer. He looked away and turned
savories, pies, and sweets—bring them all up at once. That box Andrey has
Fyodorovitch, or the girls either? To spend a sum like that on such
thickly.
Alyosha could have hugged him, he was so pleased. But glancing at him he
that the money was under the mattress. But that wasn’t true. It had been
years before, and the other of some bishop, also long since dead. In the
kept uttering shrieks, and covering her face with her hands....
of the offenders. But Ippolit Kirillovitch was encouraged; he had never
am incapable of loving any one.”
“But I simply asked whether you do know?” Alyosha explained.
decided that you shall spend some time in the world? He must have foreseen
mind—and it was for all his life and for ever and ever. He had fallen on
beginning and end, and who has even forgotten his own name. You are
are complaining on all sides of their miserable income and their
that moment and they kicked up a shindy at once. ‘You did that on
“One head is good, but two are better,” the prosecutor put in impatiently.
by this incident. This was how the thing happened.
there for ever or walks the quadrillion kilometers? It would take a
“Constitute a sin it may, but consider yourself, Grigory Vassilyevitch,
murder, he told that son, Dmitri, about the money, the envelope, and the
Alyosha’s appearance had undergone a complete change since we saw him
heart. The object of that uneasiness was the same as ever—Katerina
eyes, positively malicious, churlish and haughty. “What do you want to
open eyes at the investigating lawyer.
It was exactly eleven o’clock when he entered Madame Hohlakov’s house. He
what happens.”
and the boys have been hunting all over the town for it. Would you believe
coming—Heavens, it was as though something flew down to me suddenly. So
asking for payment, but if any one offered her payment, she didn’t refuse.
“Of that later; now I must speak of something else. I have said nothing
Alyosha stopped dead. Rakitin stopped, too.
murderers have done that, but what sin have you committed yet, that you
innumerable mass of mankind are with me there. The question is, whether
sinners in hell. And God said to him, then, ‘Don’t groan, for you shall
one’s deathbed—would that other refuse, if he were a friend or a brother?”
Ivan said, with a shudder of offense. “But he was unfair to me, unfair to
idea that the boy’s genius should be trained by a teacher of genius. But
Another idea, too, forced itself upon him: “What if she loved neither of
their mothers’ eyes. Doing it before the mothers’ eyes was what gave zest
country in a hired trap. When he overtook him, Mitya asked the way, and it
begotten me, loved me, not spared his life for me, grieved over my
The little pig says—umph! umph! umph!
Not long ago I read the criticism made by a German who had lived in
her lips, as though reconsidering something.
though it’s forty years ago, I recall it now with shame and pain. I went
Author: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
left, covered with knitted quilts. On the one on the left was a pyramid of
straight in front of him, and sat down in his place with a most
Father Zossima raised his hand to bless him. Alyosha could make no
He was saved by meeting an old merchant who was being driven across
a full figure, and beautiful eyes, though a rather coarse face. She had
to Smerdyakov, and he told me that he had seen the notes two days before
used to hear it when I was a child from Matryona, my cook, who is still
trouble came from the fact that he was of great faith. But still the
may not have noticed the child, but he has seen you, and your image,
vengeance more completely than any earthly justice. What’s more, justice
particularly popular with certain ladies “who were pining in solitude.”
every one must have seen it. It’s peculiarly Russian. He describes how a
of the townspeople declared that she did all this only from pride, but
dressed in European style; the other had a small, gray beard, and wore a
“This is unendurable!” was heard on all sides in the cell.
“That’s enough, mamma, enough about Herzenstube,” Lise laughed gayly.
“Though you assure him you are sorry to lose a friend in him, you persist
audience, though they remained hostile to Ippolit Kirillovitch, admitted
“If I could meet him, I might speak to him about that too.”
The Karamazovs’ house was far from being in the center of the town, but it
“Do you remember the fellow that murdered a merchant called Olsufyev,
delight? But I didn’t stab myself. I only kissed my sword and put it back
against him. Because he was not an habitual thief and had never directly
ran after him. He was a very cautious man, though not old.
preceding conversation, which was so surprising from Ivan, impressed every
One such, whose memory was particularly cherished, was an old monk, Job,
loathe everything! I loathe everything, everything. Alyosha, why don’t you
you were telling me, I thought you spoke about it as though it were the
have nothing left of all that was sacred of old. But they have only
Don’t tell any one I told you to. Don’t say a word to Ivan.”
about freedom? Is that the way to understand it? That’s not the idea of it
Chapter XI. Another Reputation Ruined
Ivan laughed.
Mitya had himself, through her sister, proposed they should “send him
reason, but he means to make use of papers I’ve signed to go to law
“All right then. Come, tell us your story,” Grushenka cried to Maximov.
boys hurriedly took leave. Some of them promised to come again in the
the defense he was keeping back, and betrayed it in its most improbable
porch, and taking off all that had been given her—kerchief, sheepskin,
Kalvanov was positively indignant.
irregularities; in fact, his enemies were preparing a surprise for him.
the matter with you? He is rebelling against his God and ready to eat
stones at his school‐fellows! It’s very dangerous. They might kill him.
lots of kites flapping and whirling. There were as many as thirty in
of my disputes with my father, Fyodor Pavlovitch Karamazov, who robbed me
Fyodorovitch. I’m quarreling with my steward about it, and I’ve just
described the whole of that day, in great detail, the visit of Rakitin and
Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg
spare—whom? Him or myself? Tell me, Alexey Fyodorovitch!”
“Ye—es,” answered Ilusha in a long whisper, gasping for breath.
and now you are rotting in prison.’ He says that to my face! A regular
purposely made?
though he had meant to speak of it at first.
the world and of humanity—dost Thou believe that all the wisdom of the
“I received it the day before the crime was committed, but he wrote it the
death!”
looked into his father’s window and how he respectfully withdrew. The
“Oh, what are you doing?” cried Lise. Alyosha was terribly abashed.
and dangerous. What he needed was to feel that there was _another_ man, an
“All right, all right. Talk about me later. Why do I keep on trembling? I
“Then nothing would have happened. I should never have brought myself to
Païssy put implicit trust in. If he had seen him unconscious, if he had
to‐morrow. And, if not, I might fall down the cellar steps. I have to go
hated Alyosha, recalling the conversation he had just had with him. At
“That third is God Himself—Providence. He is the third beside us now. Only
“And pepper perhaps?” Fetyukovitch queried.
enjoyment though, but ecstasy. Damn it all, whatever it is! A strong
doctor uttered with an almost wrathful sternness that made the captain
That was what my heart whispered to me at once. You came in and all grew
in a hurry, afraid of every sound, as always happens with murderers, or he
“Ah! that I bowed down to the ground for that money!” She broke into a
the word ‘sir’ all my life, but as soon as I sank into low water I began
imagined that it had aroused such burning, such intense, interest in every
the champions of our justice, the champions of our holy Russia, of her
rich men, and shall be filled up as you have been in all the ages till I
Poland, so how can he talk about it? I suppose you weren’t married in
you all about it. Hush, Alyosha, your words make me ashamed, for I am bad
exceptional moment, when will it? I will not, however, omit to mention
“And even if nothing had been omitted, if this were the whole story,” the
suffering to bear?” he exclaimed suddenly, with tears. “Grusha’s killing
to stay for? Come and see me now in the town. It is fun there. It is only
his hand across the table.
have given me a punch in the face on the spot, but you were not a bit
“Where did you get the material, that is, the rag in which you sewed the
was a famous murder case. He was killed in a house of harlotry—I believe
“I’ve been teaching you so many years, and therefore I’ve been talking
the shelf from which it was snatched by the prisoner, but had been put
about servants in general society, and I remember every one was amazed at
make your acquaintance. I’ve long been hoping for an opportunity, and have
on his father’s life?”
not (his own words) touch on that story. So be it. I will not touch on it
“That I certainly will, without fail,” cried Fyodor Pavlovitch, hugely
and the leaders of the people are everywhere leading them to bloodshed,
and habits that lasted for years. Limping and writhing with pain he went
‘There, in the corner,’ he pointed. He was whispering, too. ‘Wait a bit,’
to preach to fathers? No one. But as a man and a citizen I make my
nothing to do with it. Alyosha did not dare to look at Rakitin, the
Fyodor Pavlovitch had for the last week locked himself in every night and
permanent, essential, and eternal foundations, he is going directly
would have known nothing about it, and wouldn’t have come here. Oh, it’s
him in argument, and Ippolit Kirillovitch, remembering it, tried now to
He has had only one thing to say since: ‘I’ll kill you, you scoundrel, if
young people commit suicide, without asking themselves Hamlet’s question
When the protocol had been signed, Nikolay Parfenovitch turned solemnly to
“A weighty speech,” a gentleman in one group observed gravely.
to tell. How can you confirm your statement ... if indeed you are not
about myself. In spite of that I became very fond of him and spoke with
talked extremely fast, as though afraid he would not be allowed to say all
it back three days after.”
“Never mind my being witty, but I must say you show nice feeling for
“Ah, how I loved him!” exclaimed Kolya.
There was one point which interested him particularly about Katerina
gentlemen. You’ll laugh yourselves at your suspicion!...”
And Lise kept laughing her thin hysterical giggle, looking slyly at
and not simply for the sake of instructing them, but as though thirsting
with the flowers in his hands and suggested he should give them to some
“Don’t worry,” said Mitya, and he suddenly laughed. “I smashed an old
on!”
“I did. I loved you awfully. I’ve been loving and dreaming of you. And how
to him. Ivan looked with indignation on Katerina Ivanovna’s love for his
in a fainting fit, and then “a terrible, awful weakness had followed, she
acquitted, all the ladies, strange to say, were firmly persuaded up to the
Of the pride of Satan what I think is this: it is hard for us on earth to
could he have had for throwing it so far? And if he was capable of feeling
church, ran towards the deserted grave. But the boys instantly overtook
a whole month.”
Mitya turned upon him a look of profound irony and intense hatred. His
thought—I’ve thought several times since I’ve been here—that you despised
must do now?”
strained look in his face was easy to understand at this moment. Every one
Christ holding out His arms to me and seeking me with those arms, I see it
boy yourself if you can do that, a perfect boy! But you must find out for
innocent of his father’s blood. He was troubled, he was grieving that
told me the story and laughed at you.... You wanted to put me in prison
in due time. Yet even when I did know of this special circumstance I still
the first directly he arrived. He galloped here from Moscow at once, of
it, his evidence as to returning the money to Mitya was naturally regarded
after the destruction of Constantinople—this institution fell into
that she received Dmitri Fyodorovitch simply from fear because “he
knocked down at the fence! Let this fearful cup pass from me! Lord, thou
worldly and all who set themselves up above the people of God, has not
thousands of millions of happy babes, and a hundred thousand sufferers who
son. And besides that, there is still preserved, though only in thought,
tainted member for the preservation of society, as at present, into
bring the money in.”
fully conscious though he could not talk; up to his last hour he did not
who was such a fateful influence in his life, aroused such love in his
been possible, as showed itself in unseemly disorder immediately after
the prosecutor was now seated, and on Mitya’s right hand, where Grushenka
not friends.”
down, put it on her lap. “A child of God—an orphan is akin to all,” he
Every one noticed with pleasure, moreover, that he, after so short a stay,
Why Ivan Fyodorovitch had come amongst us I remember asking myself at the
Dmitri led his brother to the most secluded corner of the garden. There,
sharply into Mitya’s face. “She’s here, too ...”
eyes almost starting out of his head. And if Krassotkin, who had no
crying out against him.”
is just such a man as they. But now the turning comes to the next street.
was what did it—that it would be such a fine scene.... And yet, believe
God and no immortality, the new man may well become the man‐god, even if
fancying this, that he met Alyosha in the street. He stopped him at once,
went and committed the murder. As for his saying he didn’t, he very likely
“Perezvon?”(7) repeated the doctor, perplexed.
“Oh, but she did not finish cutting it.”
whenever he was absent at school, and when he came in, whined with
touched on his favorite topic. “To my thinking ... Ah, you boys! You
unconcern, though he did go to see to it.
against an unjustly oppressive force. Society cuts him off completely by a
leave of the dead and closing the coffin, he flung his arms about, as
groaning. I’ve tried all the medical faculty: they can diagnose
almost disappeared. He seemed as though he had passed through an
Karamazov character—that’s just what I am leading up to—capable of
I may myself chance to go some day to those happy parts of Europe?”
a disdainful and contemptuous air.
possession, firmly uttering his words, and not shouting as before. “Only
Father Superior, Pyotr Alexandrovitch, to apologize for the disturbance
Gorstkin was lodging in the other, the better room the other side of the
Such a murder is not a parricide. No, the murder of such a father cannot
“That’s a lie!” said the peasant, calmly and confidently.
“Shall I order you fish, soup or anything. You don’t live on tea alone, I
ordered the best counsel, the most learned one, too. So he loves her, if
up my mind to give it back to‐morrow, and I’m a scoundrel no longer, but I
us. This is what our God has taught us and not that to forbid children to
and another basin of water. Now she is gone, I can speak; will you give me
forage‐cap with a cockade—was the police captain, Mihail Makarovitch. And
did not object to any of this, and thought it amusing, though he persisted
little bed is still there—”
the grave. It was an expensive one in the churchyard close to the church,
“Stay, wait a bit! You will be of use, for I will tell you the signs by
Miüsov driving away in his carriage. You see, he’s going. And there’s old
the meat. “Dogs don’t like hot things. No, it’s all right. Look,
verdict was regarded as infallible by both of them. This time the “kids’”
confidant (we have his own word for it) and he frightened him into
“I said that yesterday at dinner on purpose to tease you and I saw your
shawl over her shoulders. “The official” was asked to walk into the
house? There are three ways from it, and I might have missed you. At last
“Yes, it’s your fault! You’re the chief criminal! You fury! You harlot!
bound and sold to him; Satan brought us together, but there has been no
talking such rot I’m ashamed to be with him. I’m taking him back.”
“Good‐by, dear fellow! I shan’t forget your generosity,” he cried warmly.
I might as well be in my grave at once. And a more serious matter still,
Then a gypsy comes along and he, too, tries:
LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES — Except for the “Right of
I won’t take. Trifon Borissovitch, bear witness. Forgive my foolish words
“There’s no need of defense. In 1812 there was a great invasion of Russia
over according to the rules of canine etiquette.
“Yes, on his account. Damn him, I certainly did want to see Dmitri, but
trembling I hastened to tell him every secret to pacify him, that he might
have brought him to this, I am most to blame,’ the woman herself cried, in
of keeping ... in fact, quite unseemly ... as”—he glanced at the
wait on one another.”
Karamazov so for ever.... She always used to call me Mityenka, do you
bolder with growing prosperity. His abject and servile characteristics
composure.
Alas, put no faith in such a bond of union. Interpreting freedom as the
aside half his money and hide it somewhere—I cannot otherwise explain the
moralists—and poets especially—often call that thirst for life base. It’s
reason.’
there’s a damnable question involved in it? If there’s no ceiling there
“Yes, yes, for ever, for ever!” the boys cried in their ringing voices,
towards the new, beckoning light, and to hasten, hasten, now, at once!
“Alexey Fyodorovitch,” she wrote, “I am writing to you without any one’s
“_Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled
dependent on Fyodor Pavlovitch. He inquired, however, with surprise, why
didn’t speak to you as a judge but as the lowest of the judged. What am I
“This is the one who is a saint! This is the one who is a holy man!” some
1.E.8.
“All right, all right. Talk about me later. Why do I keep on trembling? I
“She has been there, sir. She stayed a little while, and went off again.”
“Lise, for mercy’s sake, don’t scream, don’t persecute me. At your age one
Chapter V. A Laceration In The Drawing‐Room
to move on a little, would it break the goose’s neck or not?’ ‘It’d be
pretty certainly that the masculine, as distinguished from the feminine,
and down. Then, without a word, she went straight to the cottage to the
and said to Thee, “If Thou wouldst know whether Thou art the Son of God
both his hands. “You are persuading me to take it, saying that it’s a
gravely and emphatically.
been his devoted friends for many years. There were four of them: Father
Alyosha cried peremptorily.
composed. The President began his examination discreetly and very
the world would at once be dried up. Moreover, nothing then would be
got up all this monastery business. You urged it, you approved of it. Why
would not have left you two roubles between the three of you. And were
me by now ... if he had got up, he wouldn’t have forgiven me”—Mitya
once, what was his motive? What was he reckoning on? What was he aiming
“Grusha, my life, my blood, my holy one!” Mitya fell on his knees beside
Those words seemed strange to us, and mother would go to her room and
overhead in the cupola, mingled in rising waves with the sunlight that
Will they marry us? Do they let convicts marry? That’s the question. And
side, as though for security. At their door stood one of the peasants with
It was almost night, and too dark to see anything clearly at thirty paces
tell me, why did you want my consent, if you really took Tchermashnya for
does it amount to?”
“In that case, here is a chair, sir; kindly be seated. That’s what they
out a program, to carry out what he had written, that is, not for an act
will be a great and awful day for you, the judgment of God will be
said Miüsov with the same irritability, regardless of the fact that the
to his mother particularly impressed the old man.
of it all,’ you pierced right through me by that remark, and read me to
“You know, Kolya, you will be very unhappy in your life,” something made
are represented—sometimes there are robbers and battles, too—and isn’t
yesterday to be sure to come and see her to‐day.”
accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us
the cap, which they were also fingering.
already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to
me, not to ruin me!’ Oh, this act of mercy is so easy for you, for in the
way. I fascinated poor Dmitri Fyodorovitch that day simply for fun.”
He walked across the room with a harassed air.
stone picked up in the garden. But what for, with what object? Why, the
they enter so completely into their part that they tremble or shed tears
Chapter V. A Laceration In The Drawing‐Room
opened and inside was found the body of a new‐born child which she had
“that I have a secret with Fyodor Pavlovitch in this business. As you know
people, and, of course, I am not right and you are, only I shall spy on
till the exile was summoned to Petersburg to take up his post again at his
That I swear by all that’s holy!
looked on him as a simpleton or naïve person. There was something about
Then Grushenka suddenly felt sorry for them, and at dusk she went round
you turned away from me; if you passed me, you dropped your eyes. And I’ve
hopeless?”
and apparently attaching no significance to his answer. “I put you off
“Now I am condemned!”
was a regular snowstorm. There were scarcely any lamp‐posts in the part of
birth of the dauphin. It was called _Le bon jugement de la très sainte et
servant of all, as the Gospel teaches.
“Aie! Aie!” cried Madame Hohlakov, alarmed, and she flew to the other end
faint smile on his lips.
trample on the elementary decencies of marriage. He gathered loose women
only quote some passages from it, some leading points.
conversation, through absent‐mindedness he often forgot the most ordinary
couldn’t speak. It’s not them he’s afraid of—could you be frightened of
Alyosha coming in told Ivan that a little over an hour ago Marya
asked Alyosha. He, too, nodded at the door through which Rakitin had
his favor.”
pass, for as soon as Father Zossima dies, I am to leave the monastery.
woodwork smelled musty. In the summer‐house there was a green wooden table
learn of you, Karamazov,” Kolya concluded, in a voice full of spontaneous
father, it would grieve me that you should reject your punishment. But you
“No, he didn’t kill him. Well, I might as well have told you now that he
down seemed burning and rankling in his soul. His pride above all suffered
he? Why? The window opened at the signals given by the prisoner. Some word
“If you want to talk to me, please change the subject,” he said suddenly.
nonsense,” he cried, as though suddenly coming out of his absorption.
“I assure you I’m in earnest.... Why do you imagine I’m not serious?” It
Smerdyakov took the rag from his eyes. Every line of his puckered face
At last! I won’t repeat the questions in order, and, indeed, I have
only to know about that blood!”
“What Podvysotsky?”
Katya never had made such confessions to Alyosha before, and he felt that
brother.
afterwards what need there was to say this then to Smerdyakov.
time that all sources of revenue from Fyodor Pavlovitch, doles which had
you any idea of horse‐breeding, Dmitri Fyodorovitch?”
He hardly contested the evidence against him, and if he tried to turn a
anything, and yet he is respected by every one. I may be only a soup‐
nineteen, radiant with health. He was very handsome, too, graceful,
are these keepers of the mystery who have taken some curse upon themselves
terrible obligation, even that reminder made no impression on him, did not
Troy, but is looking at me with his jolly, kind, dear little eyes. Boys,
“Thanks, my dear, thanks! You are a good woman. I love you. I will do so
convict and murderer by my side, and I may make friends with him, for even
Chapter VIII. Delirium
him now. Go, greet him on his way into the darkness—stand at his door,
“Of my love, if you like. I fell in love with the young lady, I worried
empty, and slit open at one end. Mitya stared at it with open eyes.
You’re not worth it—no one is ... Enough, gentlemen. I’m not going on.”
“Madam, that’s not the point, not at all....” Mitya clasped his hands in
on me: “Master dear, is it you? Is it really you I see?” He took me home
caught stealing government money. He lost everything, his estate and all,
underlay her attitude to both of them. Even Grushenka’s two servants
warmth. “She is one of the most fantastic of fantastic creatures. I know
was of immense importance in his brothers’ lives and that a great deal
did not know; but it’s not true that I killed my father, the prosecutor is
As soon as he began waving his arms, the cruel irons he wore under his
either. Is it the parting with Alyosha and the conversation I had with
The words “murderer” and “monster” echoed painfully in Alyosha’s heart.
to know how he was walking down there below and what he must be doing now.
your unhappy brother. Your peculiar view of the whole tragic episode is
Païssy heard Alyosha come in, he did not even look in his direction.
“I think I quite understand his exclamations just now, and part of what
he had thought over in the cart where he could get a loan. He had a brace
would at least have been recommended to mercy. But of that later. A few
Alyosha looked at him in silence.
long time, and now something seemed to snap in his soul.) “You almost
at that very instant, he felt that it was time to draw back.
All that’s base in me, all that’s mean and contemptible. Yes, I am a
She meant Kalganov. He was, in fact, drunk, and had dropped asleep for a
priest made a speech full of feeling. All lamented the terrible illness
that I can’t get over it. Listen, Alexey Fyodorovitch. I don’t even know
that her mistress had been particularly distressed since the previous day.
following your very words.”
go to the cupboard, the second shelf on the right. Here are the keys. Look
because I was cool in responding to his endearments. And so, in order to
“Now I am condemned!”
flinging himself on a chair, and bursting into tears, turning his head
refuse to answer, at a crisis so full of danger to you?”
referred already. After listening to him and examining him the doctor came
He was saved by meeting an old merchant who was being driven across
caustic lotion for wounds, what’s it called? We’ve got some. You know
“Female, indeed! Go on with you, you brat.”
gone home, but went straight to Smerdyakov again.
I’m in a fever—”
first words he lost his embarrassment and gained the whole of Lise’s
“Oh, she is such a lofty, incomparable creature! If only for her
preserve all Christian communion with the criminal. She admits him to
excited. But there’s wit in that elder, don’t you think, Ivan?”
particularly unpleasant to him to meet certain persons, whose presence
with a number of visitors. Several boys were sitting with Ilusha, and
hero ‘decorated for bravery’ kills the mother of his chief and benefactor,
with complete frankness, that, though “at times” she had thought him
some circumstance of great importance in the case, of which he had no
Hearing of the message, Mitya suddenly smiled, and there was a flush of
Saying this, Dmitri bowed once more. Then, turning suddenly towards his
with insane hatred.
felled to the ground by the brass pestle.
torturers behave mildly and benevolently, like cultivated and humane
“Alexey Fyodorovitch ... I ... you,” muttered the captain, faltering,
longed to spare her. It made the commission on which he had come even more
such horror. She was just then expecting the “message,” and was much
“You must love him” (Fyodor Pavlovitch was by this time very drunk).
hands she suggested at once that he should walk with her to Samsonov’s,
you, and couldn’t possibly have received any.’ That was all the answer he
If she were to say to him: “I’m yours; take me away,” how could he take
kitten ... a little white one ... and the _pan_‐father and _pan_‐mother
the soul of the penitent thief. I heard the glad shrieks of the cherubim
needle in hand, how at the slightest sound he slipped behind the screen
sir, grant me this favor?”
he really did shoot himself.
were able to do it. These Turks took a pleasure in torturing children,
profound, intense dejection! He sat thinking, but could reach no
dull. Before you came, Mitya, they were just as silent and kept turning up
followed is still confused to my mind. The President must, I suppose, have
is the prisoner before us, all the rest of my speech will deal with him.
in the mists of uncertainty, though there are people who’d be pleased to
rushed off to Smerdyakov. “I shall kill him, perhaps, this time,” he
showed it. In a large, distinct hand was written: “I punish myself for my
He was almost choking. There was so much, so much he wanted to say, but
any depth. He had, moreover, told him to describe to Katerina Ivanovna the
“What need had he of precaution? Two or three times he almost confessed,
absolutely without a stain upon his character. The effect left by the
Fetyukovitch flew to him in hot haste entreating him to keep quiet, and at
last, went out. I saw the window open on the left into the garden, and I
Both the women squealed.
plainly what he feared. He confined himself to hints, but his hints were
“Then change your shirt.”
“Very. I want to get to know you once for all, and I want you to know me.
parted, and Dmitri Fyodorovitch broke into uncontrolled, spontaneous
These phrases burst from Mitya almost hysterically. Though Andrey was
“And he couldn’t resist doing it now. That’s vanity.”
in her pride and chastity, sacrificed herself and her maidenly modesty
case of murder you would have rejected the charge in view of the
efface myself!” he said, in a rush of almost hysterical ecstasy.
Chapter III. A Little Demon
regiment was stationed at the time. We found the people of the town
with shame.
In any case the anecdote made a certain favorable impression on the
who persuaded him! Oh, my vile temper was the cause of everything! I paved
word ‘wife’ means? When I went out, the children called to me, ‘Good‐by,
happens with epileptics.
social phenomenon, in its classification and its character as a product of
The captain flushed red.
“If I am like you in my way of thinking, it’s all to my credit,” the
theft, at least, was as good as disproved. “The case” was thrown into
evidently in the background, and his remarks were treated with neglect,
speak out, should speak openly of what he has thought in silence for
“Well, Karamazov, or whatever it is, but I always think of
conquest!” he cried, with a coarse laugh.
“And you bragged!” cried Rakitin.
The woman went on in a low whisper, so that it was almost impossible to
“An unseemly farce which I foresaw when I came here!” cried Dmitri
Adelaïda Ivanovna had run away, Grigory took Dmitri, then a child of three
you. In the first place I never lend money. Lending money means losing
Dmitri stood up, thought a moment, and put his finger to his forehead.
just as they were in a rug, put them in the carriage, and drove off to her
whose name was well known to us, as he had hidden in our town. This
of no importance, Fenya and her mother, for instance, but the effect of it
for ever. I referred to her being rich and having a dowry while I was only
decent little sum. I knew, too, that she was fond of money, that she
alley for ever—his filthy back‐alley, his beloved back‐alley, where he is
“In spirit.”
upon even one question on the subject. Fetyukovitch made a low bow to her.
The latter, at last, answered him, not condescendingly, as Alyosha had
first arrival, Mitya had been made very welcome at the police captain’s,
centuries ago. He came down to the ‘hot pavements’ of the southern town in
“No, no, on the contrary, Father Païssy did once say something rather the
“Yes, he summed us up, too,” chimed in another voice. “Do you remember, at
love of his, had been till the last moment, till the very instant of his
that you are sincere and good at heart. If you do not attain happiness,
to him, that the crowd immediately makes way for the guards, and in the
seeking and laying down those foundations, he had looked upon them as a
not the slightest jealousy of this new rival, who seemed to have sprung
“By all means, Mihail Makarovitch,” answered the investigating lawyer. “In
I thought, it’s a bad job; there’s something fresh. We had reached the
purpose in my life. And I only said so then to boast to you. It was just
new mistress. He championed her cause, abusing Fyodor Pavlovitch in a
The colonel, of course, was a very different matter. He was one of the
And, therefore, how should I be particularly to blame if not seeing my
Herzenstube to come. He says that he can make nothing of it, that we must
an aquarium in the window. It was twilight and rather dark. Alyosha made
too.
“Suddenly the new major arrived to take command of the battalion. The old
shouting so rudely at a visitor in my house?’ And, would you believe it, I
sometimes tragic in the extreme. His whole life now is centered in Ilusha,
A captivating little foot,
“Don’t be ill‐tempered with my brother. Leave off attacking him,” Alyosha
fussing about and listening, called Nikolay Parfenovitch’s attention to
exploits. It had flourished and been glorious all over Russia through its
my last message to you: in sorrow seek happiness. Work, work unceasingly.
funny, wouldn’t it be awful?”
through the newspapers. One can love one’s neighbors in the abstract, or
“But he is left‐handed,” another, a fine healthy‐looking boy of eleven,
as much more as you need, and you know, I have money too, take what you
“He is in very great need of money now—the greatest need, Ivan
after that four thousand. She’ll pay it back to the last farthing. I don’t
so. Her eyes glowed, her lips laughed, but it was a good‐hearted merry
at the back of Fyodor Pavlovitch’s garden to keep watch on Grushenka, and
woman, though a little shorter than Katerina Ivanovna, who was
with me. It’s like this. Once upon a time there was a peasant woman and a
But what is most important is that the majority of our national crimes of
phraseology, were as effective as eloquence. He observed that he was not
the fence into the garden. Though he knew Grigory was ill and very likely
“How clever you are! How is it you’ve gone so deep into everything?” The
opinion! you, a Parisian, and so advanced. I’m surprised at you.”
pray for them and outwardly the Church, as it were, renounces them, but in
away rejoicing that she was not there and that he had not killed his
_auto da fé_, in the presence of the king, the court, the knights, the
harmony of the future? I understand solidarity in sin among men. I
did you hear?” he turned to Ilusha.
taken their sins upon us for their happiness will stand up before Thee and
of his heart, cherished almost the same hopes and could not but be aware
day?”
genuine passion “for the security of society.” Even the ladies in the
else.”
“They have been playing, but they’ve left off. They’ve been drinking tea,
without reserve,” she cried, in a sort of frenzy. “I will be a god to whom
too was striving to stand among Thy elect, among the strong and powerful,
suddenly, unmistakably proud of Krassotkin at such a moment. He was
propound certain ideas; I could see that it was not so much that he
before, solely to please her kinsman, the merchant Samsonov, who was known
went to Egypt leaving his own country, and died in a foreign land,
that cell without feelings of the profoundest veneration. Almost every one
_half_ several times) he could free himself from at once, but that he was
unhappy! Though it’s such nonsense, it’s a great blow to me. I feel like
and don’t be surprised that I’m glad to tell you, instead of being
he had carefully looked on purpose to see, in passing. At last he reached
both standing still, gazing into each other’s eyes. They were both pale.
not as his own surmise and theory, but as the direct confirmation, by a
“No, not that.... There was nothing like that, Mitya. There—I found them
looking, and of very pleasing countenance. I suppose he caught cold,
repulsion he inspired. It is quite possible that both versions were true,
she does come, you run up and knock at my door or at the window from the
servant, a stout woman of forty, marked with small‐pox, appeared in the
satisfactorily ascertain. Pyotr Ilyitch persisted in returning to this
everything, and was looking round at every one with a childlike smile of
need for the harmony of our undertaking is some one of that sort.’ And I
am an incurable Socialist,” he announced suddenly, apropos of nothing.
ached and there was a painful throbbing in his temples. He felt that his
feast. And they bare it._
fit in with the facts. Ivan was completely reassured. The next morning he
“But what for? What for?”
senseless to beg forgiveness of the birds, but birds would be happier at
wilderness? Turn them into bread, and mankind will run after Thee like a
seventy feet away, Mitya jumped up at once, and with his long, military
want to kill him ... many times I wanted to ... unhappily, unhappily!”
too fond of female charms, too, and you mind most of all about living in
sight. And the witness Maximov has testified that the prisoner had twenty
seeing him, he was very mournful and dispirited; he suddenly began to feel
“Brother,” interposed Alyosha—his heart sank with terror, but he still
to the question of most importance, concerning the three thousand roubles.
from a phrase of Smerdyakov’s, that it was to his, Ivan’s, advantage that
late. He received no answer. Miüsov looked with hatred at Ivan.
despair. The peasant still stroked his beard, and suddenly screwed up his
By the way, let us say a word or two of Ivan’s feeling to his brother
us remember, however, that he was a father, and one of the typical fathers
apparently not at all surprised at his coming. There was a great change in
come before completing his studies, and seemed, so they say, unusually
afraid of me all at once. Am I going to eat him? Why doesn’t he want to
“We are full of hatred, my girl, you and I! We are both full of hatred! As
notice that the bell had ceased ringing, nor did he notice that the songs
“I have no other proof.”
though I am bad, I did give away an onion.”
It will find it in love for freedom, for equality, for fraternity.”
At last, however, he began brooding over the past, and the strain of it
(the woman living near Fyodor Pavlovitch’s) he learned the very disturbing
rogue—but watch his beard! I’ll give you a note and you show it to him.
extremes, gentlemen of the jury, remember that Karamazov can contemplate
duel I had sent Afanasy back to the regiment, as I felt ashamed to look
seen. But Mitya did not look long, and, indeed, he could not see them, he
hands now. In any case he was at her side, on his knees before her, she
official with whom he had pawned his pistols. It was by now half‐past
“I say, I’ve been looking for you for the last two hours. You suddenly
thrum of a guitar somewhere quite close. People were sitting, or had only
addressing Pyotr Ilyitch); “they know all about it, don’t you trouble,
“I had an inkling from the first what he came for. ‘Granting that you go
ikons.
feelings, you are uninfluenced by progress, you are a mere official,’ he
hallucination, yet just as in a nightmare, I say original things which had
Saying, “It’s a shame, sir, to strike a sick man,” he dried his eyes with
Katerina Ivanovna sent for me, and in strict secrecy (why I don’t know, I
“What blood?” asked Grushenka, bewildered.
in silence. But at last they left him alone and gave up taunting him with
thief, because he brought back fourteen hundred roubles. Then another time
Hohlakov might have cause to regret it later, if she refused to see him
confusion.
getting up and walking about the yard, waiting for Agrafena Alexandrovna
morning, in case of emergency, simply not to have it on himself. Two
fastened on one another. So passed two minutes.
wonder, for _soon all will be explained_.”
“What are you talking about?” said Mitya, looking at him rather
Smerdyakov.’ It’s not his doing, gentlemen.”
fussing about and listening, called Nikolay Parfenovitch’s attention to
dirty and frayed, however. He had spectacles on his nose, which Ivan had
money hidden in a crevice, in the dungeons of the castle of Udolpho?
come, I reject the sign. I have a way of salvation and I turn my back on
shall certainly spy on her!”
cash. At the same time, he was all his life one of the most senseless,
third, and yesterday too, and then yesterday that aberration. She suddenly
from Katerina Ivanovna. And why the devil should I like him? He
very weak, though he wanted to get out of bed and sit up in a chair. His
own!”
Fyodorovitch.”
will, Ilusha,’ said I, ‘only I must save up for it.’ I was glad to be able
I’m not drinking, I’m only ‘indulging,’ as that pig, your Rakitin, says.
so gay and happy.”
her aunt and sister, went to Moscow. And, behold, on the very day they
Alyosha stood still, holding her hand in his. Suddenly he stooped down and
conjecture why. His health had been giving way for a week past: he had
the money or without the money_, and say, ‘He sends his compliments to
father.
relation to the man she loved so dearly was no secret to her; that she
“Polish women?” repeated Mitya, perfectly ecstatic.
and have taken away the money next morning or even that night, and it
“Tut, tut, tut! Bethinking thyself and the rest of the rigmarole. Bethink
manners. And who’s the better for it? Only those who have got no
cried out, beside himself, pounced on him, and clutched his leg in his two
generation, ours are worse specimens still....”
affection of the heart. But it became known that the doctors had been
why did I degrade myself by confessing my secret to you? It’s a joke to
country in a hired trap. When he overtook him, Mitya asked the way, and it
“But you can’t consider me as a child, a little girl, after that silly
and gave entertainments in her honor. She was the belle of the balls and
death. They are not sentimentalists there. And in prison he was
from one group to another, listening and asking questions among the monks
sensualists are watching one another, with their knives in their belts.
“No, you have a charming nature, though it’s been distorted, and I quite