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“In a fit or in a sham one?”
battered in,” said the prosecutor.
The children looked anxiously at one another. Their smiling faces showed
Though the monk returned to the cell he was sharing with one of the
“Don’t mention it; it doesn’t matter. Keep it up as long as you like....”
her for her bowing down to him! She believed it herself. She had been
what is it I want? I want Katya! Do I understand what I want? It’s the
“Stay, Trifon Borissovitch, stay, my good soul, I’ll see for myself. Now
can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation web page at
fond of you. Just before you came this morning, I tried my fortune. I
would have run away without a weapon, with empty hands, and then he would
have naturally looked at the ladies and not straight before him, I will
captain, terror‐stricken at the thought that his boy might be dying,
morning Lise waked up and flew into a passion with Yulia and, would you
her! And you, Dmitri Fyodorovitch, have abandoned your betrothed for that
the same way, he went off to the girls.”
The door was opened to him, though no one was admitted at that hour. There
to say that it was frenzied but beautiful as he remembered. But he rarely
and afterwards more, began indeed to believe in the truth of his story,
myself. And when you came in then, and when I called to you and told him
father, and perhaps desired his death himself. Oh, he has a tender, over‐
“But I hit Smurov on the head!” cried the boy.
“I say, I’ve been looking for you for the last two hours. You suddenly
and he counts on the reckoning beads while I sit and put things down in
every one knew that she had taken in Grushenka as a lodger, four years
about that. I didn’t give you my word.”
Money’s like dirt or water to you, it seems. Here are your pistols. It’s
remember the ice burnt my forehead like fire. I did not keep her long,
Distributed Proofreading Team at . (This
to come to me. Do you understand what I want from you? Now, tell me
Alyosha sat down to the table and began to tell his story, but at the
eighty in fact, so he says. He means it only too seriously, though he is a
tell you everything. We’ve something tremendous on hand.... And you shall
time the lawyers did not worry him much. It was obvious that there was no
is the meaning of that great word? What is the great idea in that name? We
“I—there’s nothing the matter,” he turned suddenly to Grushenka, who had
depraved. The stuffy workshop, the din of machinery, work all day long,
old man was laughing at him.
by a child without emotion. That’s the nature of the man.
market!’ And, for some reason, I really am known all over the market,”
only then had he seen “how handsome the woman was,” for, though he had
It came quite as a surprise even to Alyosha himself. He was not required
prosecutor’s speech, which I shall quote immediately. Every one was
what is it, what is it?” The doctor began waving his hands again. “It
millions of God’s creatures have been created as a mockery, that they will
reflection, though he immediately felt a sharp pain in his back, he sat up
on it) that half, or a part of, the three thousand that had come into
“He is a schoolboy, doctor, he is a mischievous boy; take no notice of
(have you heard about Father Zossima?). This is a case of mathematics: you
devil’s to know who is Sabaneyev?”
Then he sat rigid in his place, with his teeth clenched and his arms
“Red’s better. It’s just like the hospital in a white one,” he observed
And Alyosha ran downstairs and into the street.
but not for that reason; only from regret that he had killed the woman he
jealousy.
“Please come in ... you are welcome!” he said hurriedly. “Ilusha, Mr.
Ivan, with a malignant smile.
He was a gray and bald old man of seventy, of middle height and sturdy
peasants had asked him for money at that moment, he would have pulled out
insoluble difficulty presented itself.
there! I would have proposed to raise a subscription in his honor!
“What blunder, and why is it for the best?”
secret.... You cried out, just now, that Siberia would be better than
“Well, must I take off my shirt, too?” he asked sharply, but Nikolay
going. I’ll come to‐morrow.” And turning at once, he walked out of the
sheepskin coat for the winter. But, although she allowed them to dress her
business affairs very successfully, though, no doubt, not over‐
piece of narrow pink ribbon, with which the envelope had been tied up.
“Mitya, you are unhappy, yes! But not as unhappy as you think. Don’t worry
Grigory, and had turned it inside when he was washing his hands at
“So from this Grigory we have received such important evidence concerning
Katerina Ivanovna had sent for him from Moscow at great expense, not
either, for you are not my only tormentress; she is too. Farewell!
I suspected you were only pretending to stop up your ears.”
his having killed his father.”
any one has believed it. My children will never believe it either. I see
every hour and every moment thousands of men leave life on this earth, and
marriage, now she is an orphan and here; she is betrothed to him, yet
suspense, Kuzma Kuzmitch pronounced at last in the most positive and
audience burst like an irresistible storm. It was out of the question to
“Wait a bit, Karamazov, perhaps we shall find it yet; but this is
little room with one window, next beyond the large room in which they had
of unbounded resolution; he would make an end of the wavering that had so
we see a great sign from God.”
time, as it were, absorbed, as though pondering and searching for
our children, and they are not our children, but our enemies, and we have
The prosecutor positively pounced on this piece of evidence. It seemed to
Six weeks later, it is true, he got into another scrape, which even
“No, be sure, be sure to come in; don’t say ‘If you can.’ I shall die if
with business of such urgency be standing over this dolt on whom his whole
not have forgotten where his pistols lay! I know the prisoner: the savage,
Pyotr Ilyitch listened in silence. Mitya, too, was silent for a while.
concealing it in case of emergency?
the secretary); “that’s my personal life, gentlemen, that doesn’t concern
“But how can I possibly be responsible for all?” every one would laugh in
It must be noted that Alyosha felt as it were ashamed of his own thoughts
no means phlegmatic at that moment. He remembered all his life how a
like a fool ... for your amusement?”
“He was always expecting to get some from his father,” said Grushenka in
charming in your new suit. Where did you find such a tailor in these
to‐day! Do you hear?”
expected cart had arrived with the wines and provisions.
at him. “No fear. I am sending you to father, and I know what I’m saying.
irreverent, loathsome, loathsome. But now that he’s dead, I feel
make up your mind to do it now?”
worship; what is essential is that all may be _together_ in it. This
drawn up, and at last Nikolay Parfenovitch went out, and the clothes were
skirt or boots—she left them there and walked away barefoot in her smock
I went out then and ran to play. And many times in my life afterwards I
finished at the gymnasium and entered the university. As Yefim Petrovitch
“To be sure I can, only I don’t quite know whether in this dress—”
can be fired with real gunpowder.”
This way, this way.”
“But, brother, have you no hope then of being acquitted?”
“It’ll be in your family, this crime. Between your brothers and your rich
justified by reason and experience, which have been passed through the
did it alone. If he had killed him it must have been with some object, for
sofa, leaned his elbows on the table again and held his head tight in both
“That’s just the point, that ‘but’!” cried Ivan. “Let me tell you, novice,
generation—to develop them, to be of use to them, and I assure you this
slighted, and so on. But during the last few days she had completely
face I began recalling how often I had been on the point of declaring my
spectacles.... Mitya forgot his surname though he knew him, had seen him:
had never known till then. Towering like a mountain above all the rest
“Alexey Fyodorovitch,” she wrote, “I am writing to you without any one’s
Chapter VI. Smerdyakov
same bright gayety.
you? There, my darling, I couldn’t do anything to vex you. Do you know,
monastery he met this elder. I must digress to explain what an “elder” is
Chapter III. The Sufferings Of A Soul, The First Ordeal
“I went to the Father Superior on Trinity Sunday last year, I haven’t been
did not stand on ceremony with her. Making her feel that she had “wronged”
client is one fact—the dead body of his father. Had it been an ordinary
knew everything and was trying to “throw it all on him to his face.”
They questioned all the peasants suggested by Trifon Borissovitch, Stepan
now, that he positively spat at me. Can you fancy that! But why are we
sing‐song voice, looking at the coffin of the dead elder:
Perezvon. I’ll let him go in now and perhaps it will amuse Ilusha more
business affairs very successfully, though, no doubt, not over‐
triumph of some preconceived idea—oh, no, not at all—what he saw before
fourteen hundred? He could just as well have said then that he was not a
“Three thousand? Roubles? Oh, no, I haven’t got three thousand,” Madame
of the breast where the little bag was, and swore to his brother that he
surmise for the last two months in local society. Every one knew, too,
that’s the story, Alyosha; I know it by heart, for I am that wicked woman
won’t let her follow me to Siberia? Do they let convicts get married? Ivan
Alyosha took the little pink envelope mechanically and put it, almost
the boys in the street, and it was a boy bit his finger, isn’t he a child,
“And I kiss you too, Lise. Listen, Alexey Fyodorovitch,” Madame Hohlakov
the contrary I’ve been wondering all the time how it was you did not bring
it for me, friend, there’ll be a police search at my place to‐morrow.’ And
If he addressed them, he was brief, abrupt, strange, and almost always
asked, with great curiosity. “Why did you reckon on me rather than any one
conduct_ from a man of such a reverend character as Father Zossima.’ That
place. For the present I will only say that this “landowner”—for so we
“It was shut. And who could open it? Bah! the door. Wait a bit!” he seemed
cried out in sing‐song voices.
the thought that a man of lofty mind and heart begins with the ideal of
“One day we see a brilliant young officer of high society, at the very
persistently kissing his dead boy on the lips. At last they succeeded in
politely, addressing Mitya.
it. Father Païssy’s face looked the gravest of all.
solely because he desired to believe and possibly he fully believed in his
particularly unpleasant to him to meet certain persons, whose presence
he was the “investigating lawyer,” from the “school of jurisprudence,” who
“Perhaps there’s rather too much rapture,” thought Alyosha. He blushed. He
“What should I want a light for? I did it with my fingers in one minute.”
seduced by sweetmeats, ladies brought them to him in their pockets, he
for it was always kindly and not spiteful laughter. These conversations
he said, ‘why weep? Our son is no doubt singing with the angels before
“Good God,” I thought, “what has he gone to face!” I fell on my knees
himself to steal, it would not be regular stealing, but simply taking what
had time to guard himself, and the stone struck him on the elbow.
now you are lying, now it’s all different. And don’t let me hear anything
a tavern, dragged him out into the street and beat him publicly, and all
Alyosha gazed a long while with his eyes half closed at Rakitin, and there
want to worm his secret out of him, but if he’ll tell me of himself to‐
5 Probably the public event was the Decabrist plot against the Tsar,
father’s death.’ That was his fence for the moment and behind it he hoped
conclusion. “I want to suffer for my sin!”
this circumstance led to the catastrophe, the account of which forms the
that you don’t believe me. What, you want to write that down, too?” he
for any one else would be only a promise is for her an everlasting
Fyodorovitch and his plans?... If he means to do anything, he’ll do it;
tell you the public would have believed it all, and you would have been
I knew nothing. I was filled with sudden irrepressible fury. With flushed
“In such affairs, Alexey Fyodorovitch, in such affairs, the chief thing is
course, a demon lies hidden—the demon of rage, the demon of lustful heat
motherly exhortation of him. What is more, the Church even tries to
and retirement, seeks to efface himself, to avoid being seen and heard,
“Nuts?”
himself. ‘She won’t believe the notes are there, but when I show her the
unwilling to let him go. The journey was not an expensive one, and the
profound, intense dejection! He sat thinking, but could reach no
when you come out of the monastery? What sort of suit? Don’t laugh, don’t
just now, simply because Miüsov called her an ‘abandoned creature.’ He’s
had said in one of his exhortations.
“N—no. But if you would write three lines with your own hand, stating that
extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.
He stepped forward, opened the door, and quickly went into the inner room.
the house, for Smerdyakov too had gone out marketing. Though he had got up
ago, when Kuzma brought me here, I used to shut myself up, that no one
motives, who had made no secret of it; they would, in fact, have suspected
shoulders. Mitya, dumb with rapture, gazed into her eyes, at her face, at
Parfenovitch, fearfully excited too, “otherwise it’s absolutely
_all_, and said that it was nice. He laughed and said it really was nice.
was good!”
which he had been holding by one corner between his thumb and forefinger
street.
for his children’s education (though the latter never directly refused but
his guilt to Ivan Karamazov, as the latter informs us. If it were not so,
recklessness of youth.
“Mitya’ll be up to something now—I say! Does he know or doesn’t he?”
eloquent letter in which he begged her to lend him three roubles. In the
been reckoning. No doubt that came in, that vexation, it must have done
many cases it would seem to be the same with us, but the difference is
“Damnation, what nonsense! I don’t know where they are.”
society is justly excited against him. The prisoner is of turbulent and
sacrifice thirty thousand on arranging Mitya’s escape. On his return from
forward again; for, indeed, he had no one else to bring forward, but he
away from here, or maybe they’d bear witness themselves how much they got
the fatal day has come and all has been brought to the surface. While his
“I won’t have more!” he muttered, clearing his throat, and again he locked
“I know, I know that you’re in a fever. You could hardly fail to be, and
was a great deal to offend him ... and it could not have been otherwise in
he felt very depressed—depressed by suspense and uncertainty. But he had
“It must be so dreadful and so brave, especially when young officers with
the details of what made up Mitya’s “romance,” so to say, on that night.
it. Ivan says that in America, ‘with the good‐will,’ I can be of more use
only not here but yonder.”
o’clock this morning, here, at dawn. I thought it made no difference
world.”
mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing
Hohlakov heard of his arrival from some one, and immediately sent to beg
The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of
burden through the curtains.
acquittal was inevitable. Some were pleased, others frowned, while some
“Why are you trying me?” Alyosha cried, with sudden distress. “Will you
fuller, his hair stood up jauntily in front, and was plastered down at the
She waved her hand with a look of repulsion.
money, you understand, Alexey Fyodorovitch, I can get medicines for the
lodge so that I don’t get to sleep till midnight, but am on the watch,
little tails of those nerves, and as soon as they begin quivering ... that
do it at all. You won’t go and inform against me then, will you?”
agreement, as a secret league formed long ago for the guarding of the
“You must take off your shirt, too. That’s very important as material
“And I shall be making a fuss!” he thought, with a feeling of positive
And he described the whole scene, how Dmitri had sent him to get the
gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Has it not lasted nineteen
“Aie! Aie!” shrieked the old woman, but Mitya had vanished.
sum of three thousand to go to the gold‐mines....”
“Nothing to speak of—sometimes.”
once so suddenly into the society of robbers and murderers, and that he
appreciate it. He ran out in a fury, stamping. He rushed at me, but I
face a coarse, unmannerly officer and risk a deadly insult on a generous
immediately by Nikolay Parfenovitch.
before with Andrey’s three horses, two carts stood in readiness. Mavriky
terrible gift that had brought them such suffering was, at last, lifted
very obtuse as regards the feelings and sensations of others—partly from
follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to
christening, to save by that same his life, for good deeds, by which, in
withdrew to make room for others. Alyosha stood beside the elder, who was
to me. I told him I don’t want to keep quiet, and he talked about the
man was still undecided. He was thoughtful and absent‐minded. He was nice‐
terrible, at any rate for the time. He simply did not believe in a suitor
“I was led to do so by my brother Dmitri’s words. I was told what took
the jury,” he added, “that till to‐day I have been uncertain whether to
I’m racking my brains and can’t think who. But I can tell you it was not
neglect as insignificant trifles. Oh, they have no thought to spare for
“Go, go with him, Mitya, and I’ll watch from here how he dances,” said
this, and started. He let his outstretched hand fall at once.
morning Lise waked up and flew into a passion with Yulia and, would you
the morning in spite of the scenes at the hermitage and at the Father
smile. “I couldn’t have taken you to the lock‐up just then. Who would have
in a gathering here, principally of ladies, he solemnly declared in
“I am not rebelling against my God; I simply ‘don’t accept His world.’ ”
“Ah, you shameless woman! She is making you a declaration, Alexey!”
Rakitin: ‘The sense of their own degradation is as essential to those
She said just now that you were a friend of her childhood, ‘the greatest
page at http://www.pglaf.org
“But it’s false, it’s false! It can’t be so! He’s slandering me from
‘haunted by profound, unsolved doubts.’ He’s showing off, and what it all
“I can’t answer for a madhouse and for madmen,” Miüsov answered at once
that we have facts, witnesses, and his own words. I confess, gentlemen of
and preparing himself for it for a whole month, he would snatch up
earn then from any one? Those two are all I have to look to, for your
“Are you speaking the truth? Well, now, after such a confession, I believe
So they thought of Greek and Latin. That’s my opinion, I hope I shall
suddenly winked—“only damn him, you know, I say, Pyotr Ilyitch, damn him!
existence!”
was always fancying that Kolya was “unfeeling” to her, and at times,
sought to cling to the ‘ideas of the people,’ or to what goes by that name
the _coup d’état_ of December, I happened to be calling in Paris on an
“Only don’t tell her that,” said Alyosha, “or she will be upset, and
already familiar to the reader. It was close and crowded at that moment
“But what object had you in view in arming yourself with such a weapon?”
“Rebellion? I am sorry you call it that,” said Ivan earnestly. “One can
Mitya. Oh, that was a sacrifice! No, you cannot understand the greatness
changed,” he thought with relief. At that moment he stumbled against
formed a mistaken prejudice against my unfortunate client. Oh, that is so
doesn’t want to?”
always keeps up relations with the criminal as a dear and still precious
trying to steal his beautiful Katerina Ivanovna for the last three months?
them all boldly in the face. “They thought I had gone, and here I am
believed in it. I want to see it, and if I am dead by then, let me rise
“No, it’s not funny; you are wrong there. There’s nothing funny in nature,
The prosecutor ceased speaking. He was provoked. He did not conceal his
unexpectedly and accidentally, and by that time very likely he did not
with such revolting cynicism to ruin his happiness!”
The peasant stroked his beard importantly.
more and more united, more and more bound together in brotherly community,
of her chair to peep sideways at him, eagerly waiting for him to look.
“You don’t like Ivan. Ivan wouldn’t be tempted by money.”
Paris, he left the boy in charge of one of his cousins, a lady living in
punished for their fathers, who have eaten the apple; but that reasoning
of the elder.
Alyosha wondered. “Ivan, poor Ivan, and when shall I see you again?...
before. He was very indignant, too, at the peasant girls drinking liqueur,
“And about mysticism, too!”
and rushed out of the room. All the guests flocked out after him, in their
“He is a man with brains.”
Good heavens, can you have come here to see me! To tell you the truth, I
him, and whispered to him with an air of mystery, though in reality no one
efface myself!” he said, in a rush of almost hysterical ecstasy.
Mitya was sitting on a little chair at the entrance, awaiting his fate
“And how glad she will be, how delighted!” he muttered, but lapsed into
which has so upset me, from this very day I’m a realist and I want to
Alyosha kissed her.
from his bedroom. There were already in the cell, awaiting the elder, two
“The lady’s drunk too much,” Maximov explained to the girls, giggling.
describe his adventures, but she interrupted him at the first words. She
money, he might still endure to take it. But he was too genuinely
“It’s always late with them. They can never do anything!” Grushenka almost
new ones unceasingly for ever and ever.... There they are bringing new
“But he is left‐handed,” another, a fine healthy‐looking boy of eleven,
childhood, cries out, ‘O Lord, heal me and I shall see Thee!’ and, as it
the girl came up, she either kissed her, or made the sign of the cross
and Maximov, who were absent through illness; and Smerdyakov, through his
always sent them small sums. And now that day Mitya had taken it into his
be recognized as such,” the visitor began in an excess of deprecating and
on all the rest. But if the whole truth is to be told, they hardly had a
what’s the matter?”
man; or the lowly, pensive ox, which feeds him and works for him; look at
weeping in a sort of “laceration,” he saw a woman completely self‐
influence of home and childhood on the character. But the boy grows up and
“How have you grown so rich?” the latter asked. “Wait, I’ll send my boy to
capons, that’s what you are!”
be if I were to say that from these meek monks, who yearn for solitary
it’s no disgrace to a man! No disgrace to a hero, not even a Cæsar! But
eyes. He didn’t seem to believe my word, but as soon as he heard the taps,
and now he draws back and looks and listens. Why listen to me? Kiss me,
often laughs when he ought to be weeping. But he did weep; I saw it. And
always be put to confusion and crushed by the very details in which real
Grushenka said all this in one breath in her agitation. Maximov, feeling
lover during the fortnight of her convalescence. But she knew that the two
“Meanwhile, I spent my time in drink and riot, till the lieutenant‐colonel
prompted me, and that I didn’t remember it of myself?”
soul to God.
you. He will stab you in a minute, on the sly, as he did Krassotkin.”
it would be less offensive for you. But I am going far away, and shall
floated through Alyosha’s head as it lay on the pillow, “yes, if
men, though I’ve long ceased perhaps to have faith in them, yet from old
had committed the murder, finding nothing, he would either have run away
yourself, and see that your image is a seemly one. You pass by a little
myself.’ ‘And where did you get the linen?’ The prisoner was positively
“Don’t speak of my resolution,” cried Ivan, savagely.
intimidated by them. Believe me, Krassotkin, that sort of buffoonery is
examining the coat, the trousers, the waistcoat and the cap; and it was
you insist on Tchermashnya?”
could not believe that I, his former master, an officer, was now before
I was left alone with my mother. Her friends began advising her to send me
one of whom also had a large family. Both the lodge and the lower story
could be served by it, for all, I repeat, felt that the case for the
was seriously ill, and that that was why his mother was begging him to
prisoner had to face this terrible ordeal the next day?
his waist. His throat and chest were bare. Beneath his coat, his shirt of
great. Hate not those who reject you, who insult you, who abuse and
composure.
“Well then you can go to the devil,” said Kolya, cutting short the
time for it, but meantime, consider; we have perhaps a dozen witnesses
eyes with their long lashes. Her mother had been intending to take her
of evidence against himself, I thought as I listened that I was hearing
“Gentlemen! What’s this for, gentlemen?” began Mitya, but suddenly, as
“Excuse me, we don’t undertake such business.”
These were the very words of the old profligate, who felt already that his
up and ran—that’s all. For to me, gentlemen, _passons_, or I declare I
cheating him. Yes, I admit it was hard to bear! It might well drive a man
skirts. Two or three women, perhaps, had run out of the room.
Tchernomazov.... Sit down. Why has he pulled you up? He calls me crippled,
grateful lady, pointing to Krassotkin.
“She asks me to go and see her? Me? What for?” Alyosha muttered in great
“Have you ever seen it, you, who were for so many years in close
But Trifon Borissovitch stood proudly, with both hands behind his back,
child of four years old and cut off the fingers from both hands, and then
nineteenth century, the Church ought to be transformed into the State, as
me, why must I love you? Father, show me that I must love you,’ and if
die, who will care for them, and while I live who but they will care for a
evidently he knew the garden better; the flying figure went towards the
keeping him awake. And it is bound to seem so to him: the intervals of two
hinted at it, all but spoke out.” (Then followed the evidence given by
was not _recherché_, it was abundant. The fish‐pies were excellent, and
“Oh, nothing.”
it were not for the precious image of Christ before us, we should be
him so, he will be offended. If you come to an understanding with him, and
able to say and to repeat to myself every moment, ‘I exist.’ In thousands
the “beast,” as Ivan had called her half an hour before. And yet one would
but rumor had it that Fyodor Pavlovitch did not beat his wife but was
face,” thought Mitya, as he got in. At the gates there was a crowd of
Karamazov, given so genuinely and sincerely, so spontaneously and
“Etcetera. And all dissolved in vodka?”
spiritual crisis such as does not come often in a lifetime. But though
taking you there ... forgive me, sir, it’s my conscience ... maybe it’s
so humane, and would show what a blessing reformed law courts are. I knew
“From the little Obdorsk monastery, from St. Sylvester,” the monk answered
knows what you’ve thought about, and what you know already! You are pure,
And the people at the shop, and that official, and at the tavern, too,
my opponent before I opened my lips) exclaimed several times, ‘Oh, I will
wretched. ‘What is it?’ I asked. He wouldn’t answer. Well, there’s no
can’t blame a sick man for not telling him. He’d be ashamed to.”
excellent mead, and a large glass jug of kvas—both the latter made in the
forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
even “criticized” what he heard about Alyosha. But secretly he had a great
he may lightheartedly overstep all the barriers of the old morality of the
I’m always like that, always like that. Always injuring myself with my
gave up drinking and was almost crazy with terror that his boy would die.
Mitya.
“I think I understand it all now,” said Alyosha gently and sorrowfully,
“He’s mad!” he cried, and rapidly jumping up, he drew back, so that he
story lived Samsonov’s two married sons with their families, his old
tears, hiding her face in her hands.
it. I’ve a word to say to you to‐morrow—but I must think about it.”
“Where are we going? No, wait a minute.... Are you thinking of putting
settle some fortune on you beforehand. But don’t keep on with the captain,
pronounces her _bon jugement_. Similar plays, chiefly from the Old
monastery may stand then, Alyosha, if that’s how it is. And we clever
you of the hymn. They’ll say I’m out of my mind or a fool. I am not out of
monastery. The nearest friends of the deceased and those whose duty it was
be suspected and that he told the prisoner of the money and the signals to
stupid to me at the time ... I remember its seeming stupid ... it flashed
all the gentlemen should, as though intentionally, on the evening of “the
hard upon her, for she’s such a clever little thing. Would you believe it?
was informed that Grigory, who had not been well for the last three days,
soon get to bed.... What’s the time?”
coming to Lise and describing to her what had just happened to him, what
continually in and out of the room all the while the interrogation had
There was such a large number of lawyers from all parts that they did not
ceiling, but hurt no one. The others ran in, took away the gun, and held
better!” She drew the heavy curtains herself. “He’d rush in at once if he
Would they love him, would they not?
such laudable intentions might be received with more attention and
so. When the wise and dread spirit set Thee on the pinnacle of the temple
sum, for three thousand, but I can give you more, immeasurably more, I
and still is, honorable at bottom, in his inner being. I don’t know how to
“You’re not joking? Is that really necessary?” Mitya’s eyes flashed.
Tatar and say he was a Christian? That would mean that the Almighty would
still loved me and treated me good‐humoredly, but there’s no denying that
to turn me out of her room then. I’ll knock that mysticism out of her,
existence and consciousness has sprung up in me within these peeling
“Yes, for her. Foma has a room in the house of these sluts here. Foma
itself. Ha ha ha!”
bound to answer every inquiry you make. We found the servant Smerdyakov,
little room with one window, next beyond the large room in which they had
receipt of the work.
the Statute Book, and so on, has ruled, that, in order to preclude so‐and‐
insufferably close in the overheated room. He suddenly pictured the
candid an expression as though nothing had happened between them. And it
Both the lawyers laughed aloud.
A sturdy‐looking peasant, with a round, simple face and grizzled beard,
firmly believe that there has always been such a man among those who stood
Petrovitch when he was hardly thirteen, entering a Moscow gymnasium, and
perfect mass of fruitful activity open to us. That’s what I answered.”
carpet.... He began hinting at his feelings, in fact, and one day, as he
dimensions. And so I accept God and am glad to, and what’s more, I accept
humility, will understand and give way before him, will respond joyfully
And he pulled out his roll of notes, and held them up before the
Then he brought out and laid on the table all the things he had been
to share it. Why have you come?”
subtlety and talent by the prosecutor. But while I admire his talent I
Andrey, coughing from the brandy he had just swallowed, jumped up on the
myself.’ ‘And where did you get the linen?’ The prisoner was positively
fact, I’m ready to do anything.... I’ll hand over all the deeds ...
generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
with anger, and by evening he was worse, and sent for the doctor.
more and more dying out in the world, and indeed this idea is sometimes
“What should I like you for?” Rakitin snarled, not concealing his ill‐
“The three thousand you promised me ... that you so generously—”
“Some one person screamed out and then was silent,” Marya Kondratyevna
contradiction. But what if the thing happened quite differently? What if
“Madam!” cried Mitya, jumping up at last, clasping his hands before her in
was obviously almost dying; he could be no hindrance to their
Chapter XI. Another Reputation Ruined
signed. The prisoner does not deny his signature.
subtlety, I suppose, that discerns that under certain circumstances I
the playful fancy of a sick child who had been so long confined to her
was the only person to whom Grushenka opened her heart and from whom she
precious. With my memories of home I count, too, my memories of the Bible,
contemptuously. He took it from his waistcoat pocket and flung it on the
Chapter VI. The First Interview With Smerdyakov
them with her as chaperons. Katerina Ivanovna herself gave way to no one
the rest, but their general character can be gathered from what we have in
like most of all. You see, like you, I suffer from the fantastic and so I
“I think if the devil doesn’t exist, but man has created him, he has
arrest him. He hadn’t time to prepare any line of defense in his mind. He
has all faded and disappeared except that fragment. That is how it was
opinion. But he promised to give my words consideration.”
“though ... that’s not Rakitin’s doing. I didn’t see Mitya yesterday. I’ll
monastery still dragged on, he made it the pretext for seeing the
“Nonsense!” said Mitya.
intensely irritated.
those rights which he had already offered to Samsonov and Madame Hohlakov.
simply stolen from me. Yes, gentlemen, I looked upon it as mine, as my own
Only fancy, I’ve written to tell her everything that happened, and would
flung another stone at the group; this time it flew straight at Alyosha
herself began trying to pacify and comfort him. The old man at once
my own accord that I nearly murdered him. But, you see, I didn’t murder
you to sew it up a month ago?”
hear children, or drunkards coming out of taverns shout, ‘I’ll kill you’?
Zossima. And now the news had reached him in his hut that “God’s judgment
meek and humble ascetics will rise up and go out to work for the great
still, July night, a cool mist rose from the broad river, we could hear
“You can never tell what he’s after,” said one of them.
“That’s because your finger is in the water. It must be changed directly,
love of his, had been till the last moment, till the very instant of his
change. He looked happy, his eyes beamed and sought us, he smiled at us,
interrupting. It’s hard to do, you know. You see, a month ago, I was sent
was adopted at once without protest. For it was pointed out, too, that if
dare bid against them. The priest at Ilyinskoe wrote to me last Thursday
priest made a speech full of feeling. All lamented the terrible illness
which had somewhat softened his anxiety at being drawn into such an
and we talked of the beauty of this world of God’s and of the great
prosecutor’s speech, clenching his teeth, with his hands clasped, and his
They are children and stupid. A stone may be thrown and break somebody’s
study? Did any one love him ever so little in his childhood? My client was
personages shed tears. The President submitted, and even postponed ringing
brother Ivan called down to him from it.
and thinking lovingly of him. He moved away quickly, however, for he felt
them, his hands behind his back. The Poles looked severe but were
“Katerina Ivanovna loves you, brother,” said Alyosha sadly.
I liked the way he looked at me as he listened. “All that,” he said, “is
“Write it down, by all means. I know that’s another fact that tells
note. “She particularly begs you to go and see her as soon as possible;
as a sheet, in fact—and all at once, not impetuously but softly, gently,
money, you understand, Alexey Fyodorovitch, I can get medicines for the
fifty years past, from the times of former elders, no visitors had entered
had gone to a party and that the street‐door had been left open till they
effect of the moment: some strove to kiss the hem of his garment, others
his master, revealing to the prisoner the existence of the envelope with
with whom he soon made friends. Some of them were living at the station,
note of fierce anger in the exclamation.
“Nothing to speak of—sometimes.”
garden, he walks to the lighted windows and he hears terrible news from
“And what followed? Notes for three thousand roubles were brought into the
I can’t bear liqueurs. And best of all, you’ve come yourself. We were
finger just now.” The curtain was pulled, and Alyosha saw his assailant
examination. Oh, I was still such a fool then.... In another minute I
rose and greeted him with a very deep bow, touching the ground with their
begging me to bring you. I wondered why she took such an interest in you.
“You wanted to. Would you consent to explain what motives precisely led
The captain flushed red.
talked himself of the broad Karamazov nature; he cried out about the two
then it would know when to bring back from exclusion and to reunite to
floor, no one in the world would have known of the existence of that
priest, he had not noticed the road. He had no revengeful feeling for
Vassilyevitch has been killed outright it may be a bad job for me, but if
Miüsov would come from curiosity, perhaps of the coarsest kind, while his
but with whom he had evidently had a feud.
world of knowledge is not worth that child’s prayer to ‘dear, kind God’! I
faint smile on his lips.
the throat of her lover’s lawful wife.”
Chapter II. Dangerous Witnesses
the speaker might suddenly rise to genuine pathos and “pierce the heart
trample me under foot, every one, every one, not excepting _any one_. For
by her own dream, her own delusion—because it was _her_ dream, _her_
days but my hours are numbered.”
was Smurov, a boy in the preparatory class (two classes below Kolya
child I’ve been babbling of what you know long ago, and can teach me a
because I shouldn’t dare, or because it would be damaging, for it’s all a
he has gone home awfully proud and triumphant, though he knows he has
“There he is shaking all over, as though he is in convulsions!” Varvara
“What is happening? What’s this?” voices were heard in the group of monks.
smile, and as soon as the President, looking at him in astonishment,
sometimes, and when I am pleased about anything I can’t restrain myself
the death of me, if this goes on, or else I shall run away. I can stand no
Parfenovitch said, and his voice was positively peremptory, or so it
should have gone next day to ask for her hand, so that it might end
Mitya jumped up from the table and ran into the next room to give orders,
have been certain to have opened that bag and to have stayed at home to
misfortune sometimes leads to extraordinary, though unapparent, benefits.
real. That may be so, but answer me one question: what motive had he for
Krassotkin sat on the edge of the bed, at Ilusha’s feet. Though he had
and then, without even hiding the money, carrying it almost in his hand in
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Perhotin’s servant‐boy, who met Mitya in the passage, said afterwards that
Mitya jumped up from the table and ran into the next room to give orders,
“And it could kill any one?”
Ivan bent down again with a perfectly grave face.
I can never forget, for my path is a glad and joyful one.”
those words.” But in that case what was Ivan’s position? Alyosha felt
“How do you mean?” faltered Nikolay Parfenovitch, “when at five o’clock on
sank into thought, forgetting both the prayer and what had interrupted it.
shouldn’t mind a drop of vodka myself, I am tired to death. Vodka is going
copecks; how could I take her away, what could I do? Why, I’d be lost. You
there is more joy in heaven than over ten righteous men. Go, and fear not.
all I shall see of you. Goodness! Why are we sitting here and no coffee?
“He talks about some hymn,” she went on again, “some cross he has to bear,
touched the thin, long fingers which lay motionless on her dress, then he
screen as he came out of his bedroom—Karamazov was positively crushed. My
that the great idealist dreamt his dream of harmony. Seeing all that he
for the sake of the money, that is stated clearly, that is written and
who came between us has ruined him; she is the cause of it all, let me
“Oh, no, she is a piquante little woman.”
explained where the powder had to be put, where the shot should be rolled
for the hundredth time how, on the last night in his father’s house, he
because he could never enter a tavern without making a disturbance. It is
an idea made up by men? Then if He doesn’t exist, man is the chief of the
great elder, from shame; it’s simply over‐sensitiveness that makes me
voice. Fetyukovitch positively started, as though scenting something, and
made the sign of the cross over him three times. And he died on the spot
that I should work to get it and pay it back. So in that case I should be
that I should find here a talented opponent whose psychological insight
you? If you won’t, I am glad to see you ...”
written in their lives. Among us, Tyutchev, with absolute faith in the
on the trousers, too. Nikolay Parfenovitch, moreover, in the presence of
horse, “but you’re like a little child ... that’s how we look on you ...
them a maid‐servant. All hurried to her.
share in it. Miüsov, too, was trying to take a part, and apparently very
indicating the forester. “And now I’ll say good‐by. I wish you all
Suddenly, with a motion of his hand, he turned his face away.
“I am afraid to say that I did. But I never doubted that some higher
Mitya sat down on a wicker chair, before a little table, covered with a
his cap on his head. His face looked almost angry and disgusted, as though
begun. Every one looked at him with curiosity.
every one has faith, where did it come from? And then they do say that it
that brothers are never companions at those ages. I don’t know whether I
him.
calling out aloud). Well, those signals are known to Dmitri Fyodorovitch
her story needs a chapter to itself.
immediately by Nikolay Parfenovitch.
in the goodness of my heart. I needn’t have told you. I made you a present
will be at me again to‐morrow morning, ‘Why hasn’t she come? When will she
parts? No, no, that’s not the chief thing—of that later. Forgive me for
the lower jaw was set a trifle forward. Her upper lip was thin, but the
“With terrible eloquence the prosecutor has described to us the dreadful
coach.
“But, gentlemen of the jury, why do I tell you all this, all these
face at that moment. I hate his ugly throat, his nose, his eyes, his
finished.
“Father, I will stay here with a light, and seize the favorable moment. As
A smile lighted up her face that was swollen with weeping, and her eyes
your socks.”
again in the same falsetto:
thought of it as the basest action of his life. For Fyodor Pavlovitch
three thousand, and throw all the blame on to his young master. A terrible
“What do you mean?”
for such eagles to soar above the earth.’ It was he added that—he! And
think you bribe God with gudgeon.”
and more, maybe. Tell that to the person whom you hold dearest in the
all this crude nonsense before you have begun life.”
and pronounced impressively that, “God would repay her for the orphans.”
of her exquisite lips there was something with which his brother might
benefactress.”
would find a shelter for himself, and it would cost him no effort or
And she handed Alyosha a sheet of newspaper which had been under her
choose, and perhaps I will marry you.’ She laughed, and she’s laughing
with a stern and gloomy face, that looked almost composed and sat down
divinity student, whom he knew almost intimately. He alone in the
had never seen in his face before—an expression of youthful sincerity and
‘You can murder my parent, I won’t hinder you!’ ”
“I imagine one can’t see oneself clearly in such circumstances,” Alyosha
you wouldn’t care to talk of it openly.”
and, of course, despised him profoundly for his “feelings”; he had in the
He walked across the room with a harassed air.
russian!”
the district than Katerina Ivanovna. They had already seen “the woman who
analysis of reason and common sense. And so they set up before us a false
could conceive such an audacious, savage act, and carry it out, tells
orphan.”
“Then you don’t mean to take proceedings?”
don’t be angry all the same. You’ve nothing to love me for. You go to
hundred‐rouble notes.
Ivanovna, who’s rich, and the daughter of a colonel, and to marry
“He did speak about it, and it’s that more than anything that’s crushing
Alyosha looked after him, unable to believe he would go away so abruptly.
world mistrustfully. In his childhood he was very fond of hanging cats,
away with the money, making a noise, most likely, and waking people,
you’re anathema they won’t pat you on the head for it in hell. What do you
I am afraid, oh, I am afraid she will tell how she bowed to the ground
come to the conclusion that there isn’t, that is till I am thirty, and
“Yes, Lise, I have a secret one, too,” answered Alyosha mournfully. “I see
“Her proud lips spoke, not her heart,” Grushenka brought out in a tone of
“What trick?”
gazed enchanted at the toy. The sensation was even greater when Kolya
he had to say.
Katerina Ivanovna’s. He was ten minutes telling his story. He can’t be
“You did say so, Dmitri Fyodorovitch. You said it before Andrey. Andrey
Fyodor Pavlovitch, who had given his word to sit still and be quiet, had
prejudicial to Mitya. He calculated almost on his fingers that on his
threatened to murder her.” These servants were an old cook, invalidish and
that I’m innocent and thinking all the time ‘Smerdyakov!’ I can’t get
quite hated you for it, and began talking like a fool. Then I fancied—just
ironically in conclusion, “that the prisoner would, on entering the court,
repentance, continual repentance, but dismiss fear altogether. Believe
But by now the doctor had entered, an important‐looking person with long,
man was too hateful to him at that moment; but such an unceremonious
without the slightest extenuating comment. This no one had expected;
here in the hut. I’m Lieutenant Dmitri Karamazov, the son of the old
whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re‐use it under the terms of
younger, a person of no consequence, and of inferior rank. I learned
“Here he’s found him!” another boy repeated gleefully.
painful effort, shifted his position in bed, but he was not the first to
it. I saw it at once, at the time. He wrote it from spite, and feeling
fellowship of the angels.’ That’s what the saint said to the weeping
on the sand. “Do you see?” he shrieked again, pointing to them. “Look
‘Uncle, _Gott der Vater, Gott der Sohn_,’ and he had only forgotten ‘_Gott
me, and cried bitterly. He hugged me, shaking all over. He kept on
old father. So Father Zossima flopped down to be ready for what may turn
us, “Feed us, for those who have promised us fire from heaven haven’t
they’re asleep. Are the peasants here worth such kindness, Dmitri
“Poor sort of a feast! Nothing to boast of, Dmitri Fyodorovitch.”
real life! I’m a wolf and you’re the hunters. Well, hunt him down!”
that is what such places are called among you—he was killed and robbed,
persuade him to sell them outright. But Mitya would not consent, so the
“Your son cannot last long,” the doctor told my mother, as she accompanied
learnt afterwards, rather strongly about the Karamazov case, but from a
“You must understand, Mr. Karamazov, that it is of vital importance for us
“I didn’t expect it in the least. Only fancy, he is jealous of the Pole.
simply paternal, and that this had been so for a long time.
simply for _that_. With me money is an accessory, the overflow of my
“Splendid! I was not mistaken in you. You know how to console one. Oh, how
The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect
by looking through the window,’ the prosecutor objects. But why couldn’t
“Would you mind sitting on the chair just as you sat on the wall then and
purpose.... He’s the same sort of shaggy dog.... You allow me to call in
“And do you suppose that I can’t put up with that woman? Does he think I
carry out the new plan that he had made on the journey back. He was sure
him from taking proceedings (for I believe he meant to), but simply a
without boots on his feet, and my heart was touched and I said, ‘You are a
drunk on it, and all the women and girls. I sent the thousands flying. In
murmured, suddenly, in a firm rapid whisper, his voice no longer
chest of drawers. The old man looked at himself in it; his nose was
he’d “get three thousand if he had to murder some one to do it,” they
Shall we be happy, shall we?”
with him at the restaurant here, in the market‐place. I went, but didn’t
all for the best.”
vanity that makes you ask, it doesn’t matter.”
pointed out to all visitors on their arrival with peculiar respect and
concealed his movements.
pardon, through Agrafena Alexandrovna ... Agrafena Alexandrovna, the lady
neighbors. That there was no law of nature that man should love mankind,
“But listen!” Pyotr Ilyitch interrupted with some impatience. “I say, let
unconscious man to be carried to her house, disregarding the inevitable
brass plates on, why are they here? And those other two ... peasants....
conduct seems to be crazy, a man must set an example, and so draw men’s
once noticed the crack, and no doubt Lise was peeping through it, but that
“Follow the regular course! Follow the regular course!” cried Nikolay
market‐place. It was a dull morning, but the snow had ceased.
death proudly and serenely like a god. His pride will teach him that it’s
one’s.”
“I had an inkling from the first what he came for. ‘Granting that you go
days? No one. And people have even ceased to feel the impulse to self‐
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“Yes. He was throwing stones with other schoolboys. There were six of them
prayer, the salvation of Russia will come perhaps once more! For they are
“God and immortality?”
the unseen finger which had guided me so clearly to it. But I remember in
charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States.
admitted to the cell felt that a great favor was being shown him. Many
allow of its being folded about him in the form of a cross. On his head he
before at the table, not reading but warmly disputing about something. The
happens with epileptics.
object—to obtain the justification of something which cannot be justified.
Ivanovna was greatly excited, though she looked resolute. At the moment
“There’s no one there, Agrafena Alexandrovna, I’ve just looked out, I keep
turn out to be authentic, no charge could be based on those alone.
with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed
without me, anyway I won’t have to reproach myself all my life with the
treated him exactly like an equal and that he talked to him just as if he
no shaking it. Almost every one in the town was aware, by the way, that
bundle of hundred‐rouble notes in his hand, about two or three thousand
“What then, you don’t believe it,” he said. “You preach it and don’t
“But I am a cripple, wheeled about in a chair,” laughed Lise, flushing
for leave to accompany the criminal to Siberia and to be married to him
third, and yesterday too, and then yesterday that aberration. She suddenly
death, and the story is that he ran out into the street and began shouting
It wouldn’t take much to do for Æsop, would it?” whispered Ivan to
of the speech, of the prosecutor’s feat in examining the prisoner at
solely because he desired to believe and possibly he fully believed in his
to understand anything now. I want to stick to the fact. I made up my mind
distorted smile.
I don’t envy the honor of a life of idle imposture, I am not ambitious.
sullenly.
now? I am trying to explain as quickly as possible my essential nature,
“Leave off laughing at Poland,” said Kalganov sententiously. He too was
“Is that all you can think of?... In what way is he like von Sohn? Have
charitable, too, in secret, a fact which only became known after his
would have run up to take his part. But he suddenly met my eyes. I don’t
they can get off easily. Of course, bribing is dishonest even in such a
said your name was Pyotr Ilyitch), I don’t believe in miracles, but that
America with Grusha. You know I can’t live without Grusha! What if they
such kindness, but ... If only you knew how precious time is to me....
and I can’t endure that. That’s how it is I’ve kept away from you. But in
There was a faint sound of laughter in the court.
passion for psychology. In my opinion, they were wrong, and our prosecutor
to like her; even the boys did not tease her, and the boys of our town,
Nikolay Parfenovitch put in suddenly, “that he intended to make an attempt
door, pinching his tail in it. He squealed and began to struggle, and I
can’t agree on the price, maybe you’ve heard? Now he’s come back again and
of a child and a schoolboy. They are little children rioting and barring
lie!” he said aloud. And suddenly turning to the fence, he vaulted over it
“Never mind. I want to suffer too,” muttered Alyosha.