Страница 55 из 144
“No, Rodya, but he already knows of our arrival. We have heard, Rodya, that Pyotr Petrovich was so good as to visit you today,” Pulcheria Alexandrovna added, somewhat timidly.
“Yes...was so good...Dunya, I told Luzhin I'd kick him down the stairs today, and threw him the hell out of here...”
“Rodya, what are you saying! Surely you...you don't mean . . .” Pulcheria Alexandrovna began fearfully, but stopped, looking at Dunya.
Avdotya Romanovna peered intently at her brother and waited to hear more. They had both been forewarned of the quarrel by Nastasya, as far as she had been able to understand and convey it, and had suffered in perplexity and anticipation.
“Dunya,” Raskolnikov continued with effort, “I do not want this marriage, and therefore you must refuse him tomorrow, first thing, so that he won't drag his face here again.”
“My God!” cried Pulcheria Alexandrovna.
“Brother, think what you are saying!” Avdotya Romanovna began hot-temperedly, but at once restrained herself. “Perhaps you're in no condition now, you're tired,” she said meekly.
“Raving? No...You're marrying Luzhin for my sake. And I do not accept the sacrifice. And therefore, by tomorrow, write a letter...of refusal...Give it to me to read in the morning, and there's an end to it!”
“I ca
“Dunechka, you're too hot-tempered yourself; stop now; tomorrow...Don't you see . . .” the frightened mother rushed to Dunya. “Ah, we'd better go!”
“He's raving!” the drunk Razumikhin shouted. “Otherwise how would he dare! Tomorrow all this foolishness will leave him...But he really did throw him out today. Just like he said. Well, and the other one got angry...He was playing the orator here, showing off his knowledge, and then he left with his tail between his legs . . .”
“So it's true?” Pulcheria Alexandrovna cried out.
“Until tomorrow, brother,” Dunya said with compassion. “Come, mama...Good-bye, Rodya!”
“Listen, sister,” he repeated to her back, summoning a last effort.
“I'm not raving; this marriage is a vile thing. Maybe I'm vile myself, but you mustn't... one is enough...and though I may be vile, I will not regard such a sister as a sister. It's either me or Luzhin! Go, both of you . . .”
“You're out of your mind! Despot!” Razumikhin roared, but Raskolnikov no longer answered, and was perhaps unable to answer. He lay back on the sofa and turned to the wall, completely exhausted. Avdotya Romanovna gave Razumikhin a curious look; her dark eyes flashed; Razumikhin even jumped under her glance. Pulcheria Alexandrovna stood as if stu
“I ca
“You'll spoil the whole thing!” Razumikhin also whispered, losing his temper. “Let's at least go out to the stairs. Nastasya, a light! I swear to you,” he continued in a half whisper, once they were on the stairs, “he almost gave us a beating earlier, the doctor and me! Do you understand? The doctor himself! And he gave in and left so as not to irritate him, and I stayed to keep watch downstairs, but he got dressed and slipped out. And he'll slip out now if you irritate him, in the dark, and do something to himself . . .”
“Ah, what are you saying!”
“Besides, it's impossible for Avdotya Romanovna to be in that place without you! Just think where you're staying! As if that scoundrel Pyotr Petrovich couldn't have found you better...You know, I'm a bit drunk, though; that's why I'm...calling names; don't pay any . . .”
“But I shall go to the landlady here,” Pulcheria Alexandrovna insisted. “I shall plead with her to give me and Dunya a corner for tonight. I ca
They were standing on the stairway as they spoke, on the landing just outside the landlady's door. Nastasya held the light for them from the bottom step. Razumikhin was extremely agitated. Half an hour earlier, as he was taking Raskolnikov home, though he had been u
“Come, mama,” said Avdotya Romanovna, “he will surely do as he's promised. He already resurrected my brother, and if it's true that the doctor is willing to spend the night here, what could be better?”