community-datasets/crime_and_punish · Datasets at Hugging Face

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“You go to the right, and I to the left, or if you like, the other way.
Only _adieu, mon plaisir_, may we meet again.”

And he walked to the right towards the Hay Market.



CHAPTER V

Raskolnikov walked after him.

“What’s this?” cried Svidrigaïlov turning round, “I thought I said...”

“It means that I am not going to lose sight of you now.”

“What?”

Both stood still and gazed at one another, as though measuring their
strength.

“From all your half tipsy stories,” Raskolnikov observed harshly, “I am
_positive_ that you have not given up your designs on my sister, but
are pursuing them more actively than ever. I have learnt that my sister
received a letter this morning. You have hardly been able to sit still
all this time.... You may have unearthed a wife on the way, but that
means nothing. I should like to make certain myself.”

Raskolnikov could hardly have said himself what he wanted and of what he
wished to make certain.

“Upon my word! I’ll call the police!”

“Call away!”

Again they stood for a minute facing each other. At last Svidrigaïlov’s
face changed. Having satisfied himself that Raskolnikov was not
frightened at his threat, he assumed a mirthful and friendly air.

“What a fellow! I purposely refrained from referring to your affair,
though I am devoured by curiosity. It’s a fantastic affair. I’ve put it
off till another time, but you’re enough to rouse the dead.... Well, let
us go, only I warn you beforehand I am only going home for a moment,
to get some money; then I shall lock up the flat, take a cab and go to
spend the evening at the Islands. Now, now are you going to follow me?”

“I’m coming to your lodgings, not to see you but Sofya Semyonovna, to
say I’m sorry not to have been at the funeral.”

“That’s as you like, but Sofya Semyonovna is not at home. She has taken
the three children to an old lady of high rank, the patroness of some
orphan asylums, whom I used to know years ago. I charmed the old lady by
depositing a sum of money with her to provide for the three children of
Katerina Ivanovna and subscribing to the institution as well. I told her
too the story of Sofya Semyonovna in full detail, suppressing nothing.
It produced an indescribable effect on her. That’s why Sofya Semyonovna
has been invited to call to-day at the X. Hotel where the lady is
staying for the time.”

“No matter, I’ll come all the same.”

“As you like, it’s nothing to me, but I won’t come with you; here we are
at home. By the way, I am convinced that you regard me with suspicion
just because I have shown such delicacy and have not so far troubled
you with questions... you understand? It struck you as extraordinary; I
don’t mind betting it’s that. Well, it teaches one to show delicacy!”

“And to listen at doors!”

“Ah, that’s it, is it?” laughed Svidrigaïlov. “Yes, I should have been
surprised if you had let that pass after all that has happened. Ha-ha!
Though I did understand something of the pranks you had been up to and
were telling Sofya Semyonovna about, what was the meaning of it? Perhaps
I am quite behind the times and can’t understand. For goodness’ sake,
explain it, my dear boy. Expound the latest theories!”

“You couldn’t have heard anything. You’re making it all up!”

“But I’m not talking about that (though I did hear something). No, I’m
talking of the way you keep sighing and groaning now. The Schiller in
you is in revolt every moment, and now you tell me not to listen at
doors. If that’s how you feel, go and inform the police that you had
this mischance: you made a little mistake in your theory. But if you are
convinced that one mustn’t listen at doors, but one may murder old women
at one’s pleasure, you’d better be off to America and make haste. Run,
young man! There may still be time. I’m speaking sincerely. Haven’t you
the money? I’ll give you the fare.”

“I’m not thinking of that at all,” Raskolnikov interrupted with disgust.

“I understand (but don’t put yourself out, don’t discuss it if you don’t
want to). I understand the questions you are worrying over--moral ones,
aren’t they? Duties of citizen and man? Lay them all aside. They are
nothing to you now, ha-ha! You’ll say you are still a man and a citizen.
If so you ought not to have got into this coil. It’s no use taking up a
job you are not fit for. Well, you’d better shoot yourself, or don’t you
want to?”

“You seem trying to enrage me, to make me leave you.”

“What a queer fellow! But here we are. Welcome to the staircase. You

“You go to the right, and I to the left, or if you like, the other way.

Only _adieu, mon plaisir_, may we meet again.”

And he walked to the right towards the Hay Market.

CHAPTER V

Raskolnikov walked after him.

“What’s this?” cried Svidrigaïlov turning round, “I thought I said...”

“It means that I am not going to lose sight of you now.”

“What?”

Both stood still and gazed at one another, as though measuring their

strength.

“From all your half tipsy stories,” Raskolnikov observed harshly, “I am

_positive_ that you have not given up your designs on my sister, but

are pursuing them more actively than ever. I have learnt that my sister

received a letter this morning. You have hardly been able to sit still

all this time.... You may have unearthed a wife on the way, but that

means nothing. I should like to make certain myself.”

Raskolnikov could hardly have said himself what he wanted and of what he

wished to make certain.

“Upon my word! I’ll call the police!”

“Call away!”

Again they stood for a minute facing each other. At last Svidrigaïlov’s

face changed. Having satisfied himself that Raskolnikov was not

frightened at his threat, he assumed a mirthful and friendly air.

“What a fellow! I purposely refrained from referring to your affair,

though I am devoured by curiosity. It’s a fantastic affair. I’ve put it

off till another time, but you’re enough to rouse the dead.... Well, let

us go, only I warn you beforehand I am only going home for a moment,

to get some money; then I shall lock up the flat, take a cab and go to

spend the evening at the Islands. Now, now are you going to follow me?”

“I’m coming to your lodgings, not to see you but Sofya Semyonovna, to

say I’m sorry not to have been at the funeral.”

“That’s as you like, but Sofya Semyonovna is not at home. She has taken

the three children to an old lady of high rank, the patroness of some

orphan asylums, whom I used to know years ago. I charmed the old lady by

depositing a sum of money with her to provide for the three children of

Katerina Ivanovna and subscribing to the institution as well. I told her

too the story of Sofya Semyonovna in full detail, suppressing nothing.

It produced an indescribable effect on her. That’s why Sofya Semyonovna

has been invited to call to-day at the X. Hotel where the lady is

staying for the time.”

“No matter, I’ll come all the same.”

“As you like, it’s nothing to me, but I won’t come with you; here we are

at home. By the way, I am convinced that you regard me with suspicion

just because I have shown such delicacy and have not so far troubled

you with questions... you understand? It struck you as extraordinary; I

don’t mind betting it’s that. Well, it teaches one to show delicacy!”

“And to listen at doors!”

“Ah, that’s it, is it?” laughed Svidrigaïlov. “Yes, I should have been

surprised if you had let that pass after all that has happened. Ha-ha!

Though I did understand something of the pranks you had been up to and

were telling Sofya Semyonovna about, what was the meaning of it? Perhaps

I am quite behind the times and can’t understand. For goodness’ sake,

explain it, my dear boy. Expound the latest theories!”

“You couldn’t have heard anything. You’re making it all up!”

“But I’m not talking about that (though I did hear something). No, I’m

talking of the way you keep sighing and groaning now. The Schiller in

you is in revolt every moment, and now you tell me not to listen at

doors. If that’s how you feel, go and inform the police that you had

this mischance: you made a little mistake in your theory. But if you are

convinced that one mustn’t listen at doors, but one may murder old women

at one’s pleasure, you’d better be off to America and make haste. Run,

young man! There may still be time. I’m speaking sincerely. Haven’t you

the money? I’ll give you the fare.”

“I’m not thinking of that at all,” Raskolnikov interrupted with disgust.

“I understand (but don’t put yourself out, don’t discuss it if you don’t

want to). I understand the questions you are worrying over--moral ones,

aren’t they? Duties of citizen and man? Lay them all aside. They are

nothing to you now, ha-ha! You’ll say you are still a man and a citizen.

If so you ought not to have got into this coil. It’s no use taking up a

job you are not fit for. Well, you’d better shoot yourself, or don’t you

want to?”

“You seem trying to enrage me, to make me leave you.”

“What a queer fellow! But here we are. Welcome to the staircase. You