Chapter 11 Volume 2 Mitya

Before Grushenka flew off to a new life, she "commanded" Alyosha to convey her last greetings to Dmitry Fedorovich and to ask him to remember her one hour of love forever; Odorovitch, ignorant of the new situation in Grushenka, was restless and flustered like ants on a hot pot.In the past two days, his mood was unimaginable. Just as he said later, he might really have encephalitis.Alyosha had failed to find him yesterday morning, and his brother Ivan had not been able to see him that day in the tavern.His whereabouts were kept secret by the landlord of his residence, on his orders.For two days he was literally on the move, "struggling with his fate, looking for a way out," as he later put it, and even left the town for a few hours on an urgent matter, though he was terribly afraid to leave. , he did not want Grushenka to escape his surveillance even for a moment.All of this will be detailed later in the form of a document.These were two terrible days of his life, of which we shall now merely outline the chief events, which preceded the sudden and terrible catastrophe which befell him.

It was true that Grushenka had loved him for an hour with all her heart, but at the same time her torments to him were sometimes cruel and merciless.The point is that he can't figure out her intentions.It was impossible to coax her to speak out by being soft and hard on her: she would not give in under any circumstances, but would make her angry and ignore him completely, he knew that.He had guessed right then, that she herself was wrestling with ideas and indecisiveness, and so he assumed, not without reason, though filled with fear, that she must sometimes hate him and his passions.Perhaps it was so, but he still couldn't figure out what was wrong with Grushenka.As a matter of fact, the whole question that was tormenting him was that there were two alternatives: "Either him, Mitya, or Fyodor Pavlovich."Incidentally, here is one undeniable fact: he was absolutely convinced that Fyodor Pavlovich would propose (if he had not already done so) formal marriage to Grushenka; Stick really hoped that only three thousand rubles would be able to perfunctory.Mitya had come to this conclusion because he knew Grushenka and her character well.That is why it is sometimes given the impression that Grushenka's anguish and hesitation arose from her not knowing which of the two to choose, which would be more advantageous to her.Strange to say, it never even occurred to him during those few days that the "officer" would be coming anytime soon.This officer was the one who had decided Grushenka's fate, and she was looking forward to his arrival with excitement and terror.Indeed, during the last few days Grushenka had not spoken to him at all about it.But he knew perfectly well from herself that she had received a letter from the man who had seduced her a month earlier, and he knew part of it.Grushenka showed Mitya the letter in a fit of rage, but to her surprise he didn't take it seriously at all.It's hard to tell why, maybe it's just that he and his biological father felt out of place and terrible because they were jealous of this woman, so he couldn't imagine more terrible and dangerous situations for himself, at least at the time.He didn't even believe that after five years of disappearance, a fiancé suddenly appeared out of nowhere, especially not that he was coming soon.And in the first letter of the "officer" shown to Mitya, the imminent return of this new rival is very uncertain: the letter is very vague, flowery, and full of sentimentality.It should be noted that Gruka had concealed from him on that occasion the last few lines of the letter which spoke of his return with certainty.And Mitenka remembered afterwards that he had noticed at that time that Grushenka himself seemed to be unconsciously expressing a kind of arrogance and contempt towards the letter from Siberia.Thereafter Grushenka did not disclose to Mitenka anything about her continuation of her relationship with this new rival.Gradually, therefore, he completely forgot about the officer.He thought only that, whatever the circumstances, whatever the changes, the imminent final struggle with Fyodor Pavlovich should be settled first.Filled with dread, he looked forward to Grushenka's decision every moment, always believing that it would come suddenly like an inspiration.She would suddenly say to him, "Take me away, I'll be yours forever." That was the end of the matter: he would grab her by the arm and fly away.Oh, take her to a distant place at once, if not to the ends of the earth, then to a remote region of Russia, marry her there, and settle down in secret, anyone, here or elsewhere , do not know their situation.Then, ah, then a new life begins at once!He yearns frantically for another "high-spirited" new life all the time (it must, must be high-spirited), and he longs for resurrection and new life.He was so distressed by the quagmire in which he was willing to sink, that he, like many others in similar situations, was convinced that all it took was a change of place, so long as it had nothing to do with these people, to get out of it, to get out of it. The hell—then everything will be born again, completely different.This is the ideal he firmly believes in and dreams of.

But this is only the first possibility-the problem was solved smoothly.There is another possibility, which leads to a very different and quite dire ending.She would suddenly say to him: "Go away, I've decided to marry Fyodor Pavlovich, I don't need you anymore." Not knowing what would happen then, he didn't know until the last hour, and that should prove it for him.He had no definite plan, no sinister plot.He is nothing more than surveillance, spying, and suffering, but he is after all striving for the first happy ending.Even has been rejecting any other ideas.This then gave rise to a quite different kind of suffering, and another new, but also fatal, insurmountable obstacle.

That is if she said to him, "I am yours, take me away," how would he take her away?Where would he have the money to do that?The income that Fyodor Pavlovich had been paying him for many years ceased precisely at this time.Grushenka was rich, of course, but Mitya was very proud in this respect: he wanted to take her away with his own money, not hers, and start a new life with her.He couldn't even imagine that he was going to take her money.He was troubled by this thought.I won't say much about this matter here, and I won't analyze it. I just point out that his mood was like this at that time.This kind of psychological generation may be indirect, or even subconsciously, from the deep pain in the heart, because I was condemned by conscience for taking Katerina Ivanovna's money like a thief: "It is despicable in front of a woman." A villain, a villain in front of another woman," he thought at the time, as he later admitted, "and if Grushenka knew, she would never want such a villain herself." Anyway, where do you get the money?Where can I get all this damn money?Otherwise it's all over, nothing gets done, "The only reason is that there is not enough money, ah, what a shame!"

Let me say this up front: the problem is that he may know where to get the money, and maybe he knows where it is kept.I won't say more about this, because it will be clear later, but I still want to explain where his difficulty is, although it may not be clear.In order to get the money deposited somewhere, in order to have the right to it, Katerina Ivanovna must first be returned three thousand rubles—otherwise "I'm a pickpocket, a scumbag, and I don't I would like to start a new life as a scumbag," Mitya decided; therefore he resolved to make a mess of it if necessary, and in any case to return the three thousand rubles to Katerina Ivanov first. Na.He finally made this decision, so to speak, at the last moment of his life, two nights ago, after the last meeting with Alyosha on the roadside, just after Grushenka insulted Katerina Ivano After Vna; at that time Mitya, after listening to Alyosha's account, admitted that he was a mean person, and asked Alyosha to convey this meaning to Katerina Ivanovna, "if this can somehow alleviate her painful words".That very night, after breaking up with his brother, he felt in a rage that "Katya's debt must be paid even if he kills and steals money." "Instead of giving Katya the right to say that I betrayed her, stole her money, used her money to elope with Grushenka, and live a noble life, it would be better to kill and rob and make everyone think of me as a murderer And thieves, exile to Siberia! I am determined to do it!" said Mitya through gritted teeth, and sometimes he really thought he was going to die of encephalitis.But now he still has to struggle...

It was very strange indeed: it seemed that, having made such a resolution, there was indeed nothing for him to do but despair; for where would a pauper like him get all this money at once?But he kept hoping that he would get three thousand rubles, and that the money would come or fly to him by itself, or even fall from the sky.This is often the case with all those like Dmitry Fyodorovitch, who spend their lives squandering their inheritance without knowing how to make money.After he had parted from Alyosha two days before, strange and queer thoughts had been whirling through his mind and disturbing his thoughts.As a result, he took the most absurd step.Yes, perhaps it is in such a position that one imagines the most impractical and absurd solutions as the only ones available.He suddenly decided to go to the merchant Samsonov, Grushenka's patron, and propose to him a "plan" by which to get all the money he needed at once from him.From a trade standpoint, he has no doubts about his plans, but if Samsonov looks at it not only from a trade standpoint, it's not known what he will do with his unconscionable moves.Although Mitya had seen the merchant before, he was not familiar with him, and had not even spoken to him once.But somehow he had long ago formed a firm conviction that the old, dying womanizer had no objection at the moment to Grushenka's clean arrangement of her life and marriage to a "reliable man."Not only would he not object, but he also hoped so. If given the chance, maybe he would still be beautiful as an adult.Whether it was from hearsay or from Grushenka's account, he concluded that the old man probably thought him a better fit for Grushenka than Fyodor Pavlovich.Perhaps many readers of our novel will find it indecent and repulsive on the part of Dmitry Fedorovich to expect such help and to take his fiancée from her protectors. up.I am only pointing out that Grushenka's past is completely over in Mitya's opinion.He felt infinitely sympathetic to her past, and concluded with great enthusiasm that if Grushenka told him that she loved him and wanted to marry him, she would immediately be transformed, and he, Dmitry Fyodor Rovich also changed his mind, and both were flawless and noble: the two of them understood each other and started a new life.As for Kuzma Samsonov, he regarded him as her doomed obstacle in Grushenka's rough past, but she never loved him, and the main thing was that he had "passed It's over," and it's over, so he no longer exists now.What's more, Mitya doesn't even consider him a human being at all now, because everyone in the town understands that he is now nothing more than a bedridden waste, who maintains, so to speak, a father-daughter relationship with Grushenka, the same as before. It's a completely different situation now, and has been for almost a year now.In short, there is a lot of innocence here on Mitya's part, for he was a very innocent man, despite his profligacy.Because of his innocence, he firmly believes that the aged Kuzma sincerely repented of his past experience with Grushenka before he was going to meet God. The elderly are more faithful guardians and friends.

The night after the conversation with Alyosha on the roadside, Mitya stayed up almost all night; at about ten o'clock the next morning he arrived at Samsonov's house and ordered a servant to announce his visit.This is an old, gloomy house with a large area and two floors, which are connected with the buildings and wing rooms in the yard.On the ground floor lived Samsonov's two married sons with their families, his old sister and an unmarried daughter.There are two butlers living in the wing room, one of whom has a large family.Both the children and the housekeeper are crowded, and the entire second floor is occupied by the old man alone, and he is not even allowed to take care of his daughter to live there, and she has to come from the house every time at the prescribed time and when he hears his call at any time. Downstairs and upstairs, despite her chronic asthma.On this "floor" there are many large and elegant rooms, furnished in the old-fashioned merchant style, with a long row of heavy mahogany armchairs and stools around the walls, a glass chandelier wrapped in cloth on the top, and between the windows. There are a few cold mirrors embedded in the walls of the rooms, all of which are empty because the sickly old man is huddled in a small room, in his secluded small bedroom, surrounded by a hooded man. The old maid and a "boy" who had been sitting on the long wooden cabinet in the front room waited.Due to the swollen feet, the old man was almost unable to walk at all, and only occasionally stood up from the leather belt and walked a few steps in the room with the support of the old maid.He was stern and didn't even say anything to the old maid.When the visit of the "captain" was reported to him, he immediately ordered to refuse.But Mitya insisted on seeing him, so the servant had to report again.The old man asked the young man in detail: what does he look like?Are you drunk?Is it nonsense?As a result, the answer he heard was: "He is not drunk, but he refuses to leave." The old man ordered again to see no guests.Miya had foreseen it a long time ago, and specially brought paper and pencils just in case.At that moment Mitya wrote on a scrap of paper: "I have important business to discuss, closely related to Agrafena Alexandrovna," and asked the servant to deliver the note to the old man.After thinking about it for a while, the old man ordered the young man to take the guests into the living room, and then sent the maid downstairs to ask the younger son to come upstairs to see him immediately.His youngest son, twenty-foot-twelve inches tall, immensely powerful, beardless, dressed in German style (Samsonov himself wore a robe and beard), immediately bowed his head and came up.They all stood in fear before him.The father didn't call his tall and burly son because he was afraid of the captain. He was not a timid person at all, but just in case, to have a witness.He was supported by his son and the young man, and finally came to the living room with difficulty.One can imagine that he felt some rather intense curiosity.The hall where Mitya is located is a gloomy and oppressive large and useless room, with two rows of windows above and below, with box seats, the walls are made of "artificial marble", and three glass branches wrapped in covers are hung on the top. shaped chandelier.Mitya sat in a chair by the gate, anxiously awaiting the decision of his fate.When the old man appeared at the opposite door, about ten yards away from his seat, Mitya jumped up, striding forward with firm military steps.Mitya was fully dressed, with a buttoned frock coat, black gloves, and a bowler hat in his hand, exactly as he had been with Fyodor Pavlovich and his two brothers three days before at the abbot's. Exactly the same when having a family gathering.The old man stood waiting for him with a haughty and dignified air, and Mitya felt at once that the old man had looked him up and down as he approached him.Kuzma Samsonov's lately particularly puffy face also surprised Mitya: his lower lip, which was already thick, was now hanging like a piece of pie.He saluted the guest haughtily and silently, pointing to the armchair beside the sofa and asking him to sit down, while he leaned on his son's arm, groaning in pain, and slowly sat down on the sofa opposite Mitya.As soon as Mitya saw his pain and effort, he immediately regretted and was ashamed that he had disturbed the dignified old man and appeared wretched and humble before him.

"Sir, what do you want from me?" the old man asked after sitting down. He spoke slowly, clearly, and looked serious, but still polite. Mitya shuddered, and was about to jump up when he sat down again.Then he was talking aloud at once, very fast, excitedly, waving his hands like crazy.Obviously, this person has no way out, no way to return to heaven, and is eager to find a final way of life. If he can't find it, he has no choice but to throw himself into the river immediately.The old man Samsonov probably understood his situation at once, although his facial expression was as unchanged and indifferent as a clay sculpture.

"Noble Kuzma Kuzmich, you have probably heard many times about my conflict with my father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov, who took away my inheritance after my mother's death... . . . the whole town is in a state of confusion ... because people here love to talk about things that need not be publicized ... and perhaps from Grushenka ... Excuse me, from Agrafena Aleksandr Sandrovna . . . from Agrafena Alexandrovna, whom I respect and value very much . . . ” Mitya stuttered at the beginning.However, we do not have to quote his entire speech verbatim, but merely paraphrase its contents.It is said that this is what happened: he, Mitya, deliberately consulted a lawyer in the provincial capital three months ago (he said "intentionally", not on purpose), "Kuzma Kuzmich, yes You have probably heard of a famous lawyer, Korneprodov, right? He is extremely clever, almost capable of governing the country... He also knows you and speaks highly of you..." Mitya continued I can't go on.But he didn't let that stop him, he jumped over it at once, and tried to go on talking.It is said that this Korneplodov, after careful inquiry and study of all the documents he had provided (Mitya was vague and embarrassing about the documents), concluded that the Chermashenian estate was left by his mother. The inheritance given to him belonged to Mitya rightly, and the ownership of the estate could be sued, leaving the absurd old man helpless... "Because not all doors are closed, and the law knows where there are loopholes."In short, one can count on six thousand rubles, or even seven thousand, from Fyodor Pavlovich, since Chermashenia is worth at least twenty-five thousand rubles, perhaps twenty thousand eight thousand. "Thirty thousand, thirty thousand, Kuzma Kuzmich, think about it, and I haven't got seventeen thousand from this cruel man! . . . But I, Mitya, gave up immediately This case, because I don't know how to deal with the law. But, as soon as I got here, he was about to sue, which made me dizzy (here Mitya couldn't explain clearly again, and jumped over it in a hurry): so , noble Kuzma Kuzmich, will you accept the transfer of my rights to this scoundrel, all you have to do is pay me three thousand rubles... I guarantee on my honor that you will never suffer, on the contrary , you can earn six thousand with three thousand... The main thing is that this matter is best settled 'today'. I will tell the notary for you, is that what it is called, or there is another name there... In short, I agree with everything, I will hand over all the documents you asked for, sign all the documents... We can finish this document immediately, and if it is possible, as long as it is possible, then this morning... ... you had better give me three thousand rubles ... because there is no capitalist like you in this city ... you have set me free ... In short, for the most noble cause, you Saved my poor creature for the noblest cause . Father treated him like that, and I will not come. So, it can be said that the three heads were bumped together, because fate - is a terrible monster, Kuzma Kuzmich! Let's face it, Kuzma Kuzmich, just face reality! Since you should have been excluded long ago, there are only two heads left, and I may be very clumsy when speaking, but I am not a writer. That is to say, one is mine The head, the other is the head of the villain. Now you choose: me, or the villain? It's all in your hands now - the fate of three people and two lottery... Sorry, I don't speak logically , but you understand... I see from your admirable eyes that you understand... If you don't understand, I'm going to throw myself into the river today, that's all!"

Mitya ended his nonsense with "That's all" and hastily got up from his seat, waiting for an answer to his stupid suggestion.After he had said the last sentence he felt suddenly and hopelessly that it was all over, and worst of all he said a whole lot of nonsense. "How strange, when I came here, I felt that everything made sense, and now I'm talking a lot of nonsense!" Such a thought suddenly flashed in his already desperate mind.While he spoke, the old man sat quite still, watching him with icy eyes.Kuzma Kuzmic still made him wait for about a minute before speaking, his tone was very firm and there was no room for maneuver.

"I'm sorry, I don't do this kind of thing." Mitya suddenly felt his legs go weak. "What am I going to do now, Kuzma Kuzmich," he murmured, with a pale smile, "I'm really lost now, don't you think?" "Sorry……" Mitya stood still, staring, when suddenly he noticed a movement in the old man's face.He couldn't help shivering. "You know, sir, it's not proper for us to do this kind of thing," said the old man slowly. "There's a trial, and a lawyer. It's hard to deal with! There's a man here, if you like, and you might as well go to him." "My God, who is he? You really saved me, Kuzma Kuzmich," Mitya muttered. "He's not from here, and he's not here now. He's a farmer, a lumber trader, nicknamed 'The Hound'. A year ago he negotiated with Fyodor Pavlovich to buy you Chelma The woods of Shnia, disagreement on the price, you may have heard. Now he just happened to come again, staying at the priest's house in the village of Ilinsky, probably about twelve versts from the town of bullocks, in Ilins Chimura. He wrote about it, asking me about the deal in the grove. Fyodor Pavlovich himself would like to see him. If you are in Fyodor Pavlovich Flovich in front, and give The Hound the idea you told me, and maybe he..." "Excellent idea!" Mitya interrupted cheerfully. "It's him, he's the most suitable! He's doing business, and people ask him for a high price, but what he's being given now is the property rights document, ha, ha, ha!" Mijia suddenly laughed, the laughter was so short , dull, so completely unexpected that even Samsonov's head shook. "Thank you so much, Kuzma Kuzmich," Mitya said enthusiastically. "Nothing." Samsonov bowed his head. "But you don't understand that you saved me, ah, a presentiment brought me to you... Well, I'll go to the priest!" "you are welcome." "I'll do it right away. I've made you worry. I'll never forget you. It's a Russian who said this to you, Kuzma Kuzmich, a Russian." "So be it." Mitya was about to stretch out his hand to hold the old man's hand and was about to shake it a few times, but there seemed to be a fierce light in the old man's eyes.Mitya quickly withdrew his hand, but immediately reproached himself for being suspicious. "It's because he's tired..." The thought flashed through his mind. "For her! For her, Kuzma Kuzmich! You will understand that it is all for her!" He suddenly uttered a cry that resounded through the hall, then bowed, turned abruptly, and walked away. With hurried strides, he rushed straight to the door without looking back.He was shaking with joy. "It can be said that we have reached the end of the mountain, but the patron saint came to save us," his mind was churning, "since such a capable old man (the most noble old man, how graceful!) pointed out this method, then, then ...It must have succeeded. I must go now. I will be back before dark, and even if I come back late at night, it will be done. Is this old man going to make fun of me?" Mitya kept walking back to his house. Exclaimed, this is also inevitable, he could not have thought otherwise, that is: either this is a reasonable suggestion (from such a capable man), very good at it, familiar with this "hound" (how strange !), or the old man was taunting him!Unfortunately, the latter idea is the only correct one.Later, and this was much later, the catastrophe had fully taken place, old Samsonov admitted with a smile when he mocked the "captain".This is vicious, cruel and mocking, and has a morbid distaste for people.Maybe it was the captain's fanaticism, maybe it was the foolishness of this "prodigal loser" to believe that Samsonov would be attracted to his absurd "plans", maybe it was out of love for Grushenka Jealousy that "this rambunctious fellow" was asking him for money in such an inexplicable way in her name—I don't know what caused the old man to feel weak in the legs just as Mitya was standing in front of him, The moment when he blankly called him fucked--the very moment the old man gave him a hateful look and thought of mocking him.After Mitya left, Kuzma Kuzmich turned pale with anger, and ordered his son to continue to order that this poor man should not be allowed to come to the house in the future, and not let him into the yard, otherwise... He didn't finish his threat, but even his son, accustomed to his rage, trembled with fear.An hour later, the old man was still trembling with rage, and in the evening he fell ill and ordered the "doctor" to be sent for. In short, he had to "go on his way at once," but he didn't have a single ruble to hire a carriage, that is to say, he had only two twenty-kopeck pieces, which were all his money, left over from years of economic prosperity. everything!But he still has an old silver watch at home, which is long gone.He immediately took the watch to a Jewish watchmaker who had a small shop in the marketplace.The watchmaker gave six rubles. "I didn't expect that!" exclaimed Mitya with great satisfaction (he remained satisfied), and he took six rubles and ran home.After returning home, he borrowed three more rubles from the landlord, who was willing to lend him, although it was the only rubles they had, and they liked him so much.Mitya immediately confided to them in ecstasy that his fate was about to be decided, and told them in detail, and of course very hastily, almost all the "plans" he had just proposed to Samsonov, and talked about Samsonov's decision, his own future hopes and so on.The landlords had known many of his secrets before, so they regarded him as "one of their own" and not as an arrogant lord, so Mitya scraped together nine rubles and sent for a stagecoach to Steertown.But in this way, the following facts became conclusive evidence and were remembered: "On the eve of the accident, at noon, Mitya had not a single kopek with him, and he sold a kopeck for money. watch, and borrowed three rubles from the landlady, all with witnesses." I point out this fact up front so that you will know why I do it. On the way to Steertown, Mitya, though elated by the optimistic foreboding that he would finally put an end to and solve "those problems," nevertheless trembled with fear: would Grushenka be in his absence? What happened?Could it be that today was the day when she finally made up her mind to go to Fyodor Pavlovich?That's why he didn't tell her he was leaving, and told the landlord never to reveal his whereabouts. "This evening, I must, I must come back," he kept muttering as he bumped in the car. "And this 'Hound Dog', maybe it's better to drag him here...to sign a contract..." Mitya fantasized happily like this, but unfortunately his fantasy is doomed not to be realized according to "his plan". In the first place, he was late by taking the country lanes after leaving Steertown.The country road is not twelve versts, but eighteen versts.Next, he did not see him at the priest's house in the village of Ilyinsky, who had gone to a neighboring village.It was already dark when Mitya went to the neighboring village to look for him in a carriage drawn by the exhausted horses.The priest, who appeared to be a timid and gentle man, explained to him at once that the "hound," although he had originally intended to live in his house, was now in the village of Sukhoi, and today he was spending the night with the forest ranger, because he was Talk about Linzi's business there.Mitya repeatedly begged the priest to take him to the "hound" immediately, "so that his life can be saved." Although the priest hesitated at first, he agreed to accompany him to Sukhoi Village, obviously out of curiosity; He proposed to go "on foot," a distance of no more than a mile in all, and Mitya naturally agreed, and he set off with great strides, while the poor priest followed him almost at a gallop.This is a man who is not yet old and unusually cautious.Mitya immediately talked to him about his plans, eagerly and excitedly asking him for advice on how to deal with The Hound, and talked endlessly along the way.The priest listened attentively, but seldom spoke of his own thoughts.He hawed and hawed at Mitya's question. "I don't know, geez, I don't know, how do I know such things," and so on.When Mitya spoke of his conflict with his father's inheritance, the priest even became frightened, since he still depended on Fyodor Pavlovich in certain respects, but he asked Mitya in surprise why The merchant farmer Golstekin was called "The Hound", and then he made the necessary explanation to Mitya: Even if his nickname was really "The Hound", he was not and could not be called "The Hound", because this Such a title would make him very angry, and he must be called Gorstkin, "otherwise you can't deal with him at all, he will ignore it," said the priest.Mitya was a little surprised by this, and hastened to explain that that was what Samsonov called him.On hearing this, the abbe turned away immediately.If he had been able to tell Dmitry Fyodorovich what he was guessing—if Samsonov himself had sent him to this farmer like the hound—whether he was playing tricks from some motive Man, will there be any problem? —then he did a good deed.But Mitya didn't care about such "details" at all.He walked hurriedly, and it was only when he reached the village of Sukhoi that he realized that they had traveled not one, not one and a half, but three versts; this annoyed him very much, but he still Hold back.They entered a farmhouse.The forest ranger whom the priest knew occupied half of the room, and the other clean half across the passage was occupied by Golstekin.They entered the clean farmhouse and lit tallow candles.The room was very toasty, and on the pine table stood an unfired samovar, and beside it was a tray with flower bowls, an empty rum bottle, an unfinished bottle of vodka, and leftovers. White bread.The visitor lay stretched out on the bench, with his crumpled coat as a pillow under his head, snoring heavily.Mitya was perplexed. "Of course I have to wake him up: my business is too important, I came here in a hurry, and I have to go back today," Mitya said anxiously.But the priest and the forester stood silently, and did not express their opinion.Mitya went up to him and began to call him, shouting loudly, but the sleeping man still did not wake up. “他喝醉了，”米佳断定，“那我怎么办，天哪，我该怎么办呢！”他突然非常不耐烦地拉扯睡着的人的手脚，抓住他的头摇晃，把他架起来坐在长凳上。他花了好大的劲以后也只不过使那个人莫名其妙地哼了几声，接着就含糊不清地骂了起来。 “不行，您最好还是等一会儿吧，”神甫终于开口了，“因为他显然醒不过来了。” “他喝了整整一天酒。”护林人附和说。 “我的天！”米佳叫了起来，“你们不知道我是多么需要找他，我现在是多么着急！” “不，您最好等到明天早上。”神甫重复说。 “等到早晨！得了吧！这绝对不行！”走投无路的米佳几乎马上要扑过去弄醒这个酒鬼，但马上又停住了，因为他知道这是白费劲。神甫沉默着，睡眼惺忪的护林人满脸不高兴。 “现实给人们制造了多么可怕的悲剧！”米佳说道，他完全绝望了。汗珠从他脸上流淌下来。神甫乘机十分信服地劝说道，即使能把睡着的人唤醒，可是如果他醉了，仍然不能谈什么事，“而您的事又很重要，这样的话，还是等到早晨为好……”米佳双手一摊，只好同意。 “神甫，我就带着蜡烛留在这里，等待时机。他一醒过来，我就开始……蜡烛的钱我会付给你的，”他转向护林人说，“宿夜的钱也付，你会记得德米特里·卡拉马佐夫。只是您，神甫，我不知怎么办：您睡在哪儿呢？” “不，我回家。我可以骑他的马回家，”他朝护林人指了指。“那么再见了，祝您愉快。” 他们就这样说妥了。神甫坐上马走了，很高兴终于得到了解脱，但还是不安地摇着头在想，要不要把这件奇怪的事明天预先通知他的保护人费奥多尔·巴夫洛维奇，“不然，万一他知道了会发火的，以后就不再给好处了。”护林人搔了搔头皮，一声不吭回到自己房间，而米佳就在长凳上坐了下来，像他所说的那样，等待时机。深沉的苦闷！像浓重的雾霭一样压在他的心头。深沉的、可怕的苦闷。他坐在那儿不断地想，但什么也没有想出来。蜡烛结起了烛花，一只蟋蟀㘗㘗叫了起来，炉火烧得很旺的房间变得异常闷热。突然他想象中出现了花园，花园后面的通道，他父亲家里的门神秘地打开了，格鲁申卡正跑进门去……他从长凳上跳了起来。 “惨啊！”他咬牙切齿地说，不知不觉走到酣睡的人跟前。这是一个枯瘦的、还没有衰老的庄稼人，长长的脸，一头灰褐色的鬈发，又长又细的浅红色胡须，穿着印花布衬衫和黑色背心，银挂表的链子露在背心口袋外面。米佳怀着无限的憎恨仔细打量这张脸，不知为什么他特别憎恨他有一头鬈发。最使他感到十分气恼的是：现在他，米佳，俯身站在他跟前，等着办急事，为此作出了多大的牺牲，丢下了多么重要的事，搞得筋疲力尽，而这个“掌握着我全部命运”的寄生虫，“似乎来自另外的星球，若无其事地呼呼大睡”。“啊，这是命运在作弄人！”米佳叫了一声，突然又扑过去叫唤喝醉了的庄稼人。他发狂似的扯他，推他，甚至打他，折腾了五分钟还毫无结果，他无可奈何地绝望了，回到原先的长凳上坐了下来。 “荒唐，荒唐！”米佳感叹说，“而且……这一切是多么丢人！”他不知为什么突然加了一句。他的脑袋开始剧烈胀痛：“难道就这样算了？干脆回去，”他闪过了这个想法，“不行，要等到早晨。我偏要留下来，偏要留下！我花了这么多精力到这儿来干吗？再说回去也没有马车了，现在怎样离开这儿呢，啊，真是荒唐透顶！” 他的脑袋越来越痛。他坐着不动，不记得怎样迷迷糊糊打起盹来，后来又突然睡着了。他大概睡了两小时，可能还不止。由于疼痛难忍而醒了过来，头痛得简直要大喊大叫。他的太阳穴怦怦地跳，脑门都快炸裂了。他醒来以后很长时间都不能完全清醒过来，他也不明白出了什么事。最后他才猜到，烤得暖烘烘的房间里充满了大量的煤气，他差一点因此而丧命，而喝醉了的庄稼人仍然躺着，打着呼噜。蜡烛熔化了，马上就快熄灭了。米佳大声呼叫起来，摇摇晃晃穿过过道，冲进护林人的房间。护林人很快就醒了，可是当他听说另一个房间里有煤气，虽然他也去张罗，却把这件事看得异常平淡，这使米佳恼火和惊讶。 “要是他死了，他死掉了，那时候……那时候怎么办？”米佳对着他疯狂地大叫。 门打开了，窗也打开了，烟囱管子也打开了，米佳从堂屋里拖来一桶水，先把水洒在自己头上，接着找了一块抹布，浸湿以后敷在“猎狗”头上。护林人继续对这件事表现出一种不屑一顾的神气，打开窗子以后，就闷声闷气地说了句“这样就行了”，便径自回去睡觉，给米佳留下了一盏铁制的提灯。米佳照料中了煤气的醉鬼约有半小时，一直用水淋他的头，他自己已经打定主意整夜不睡。但由于筋疲力尽，刚坐下想喘一口气，眼皮一合拢，便不知不觉伸开四肢，躺倒在长凳上，酣然入睡了。 他醒得非常晚。大约已经是早上九点钟了。明亮的阳光洒满了小屋的两扇小窗。昨天那个鬈发的庄稼人坐在长凳上，穿好了打褶的外衣。他面前的茶炉已经重新生了火，酒也换了一瓶。昨天的一瓶已经空了，而新的一瓶也已喝了一大半。米佳跃身而起，一下子猜到这该死的庄稼人又醉了，已是酩酊大醉，醒不过来了。他瞪着眼睛看了他片刻。庄稼人则不时对他瞅上一眼，一声不吭，神情狡黠。米佳觉得，他甚至带有一种侮辱人的镇静，目中无人的傲慢。米佳冲到他跟前。 “请允许，您要知道……我……您大概已从那屋里的护林人那儿知道：我是德米特里·卡拉马佐夫中尉，老卡拉马佐夫的儿子，您正想买下他的那片小树林……” “你这是瞎说！”庄稼人突然一字一句说，坚决而又镇静。 “我怎么瞎说？您认识费奥多尔·巴夫洛维奇吗？” “我不认识你的什么费奥多尔·巴夫洛维奇。”庄稼人拙笨地转动着舌头。 “您向他买小树林，小树林；您醒醒，该醒醒了。伊林斯基村的神甫巴维尔送我到这里……你给萨姆索诺夫写过信，他叫我来找你……”米佳都喘不过气来了。 “你瞎说！”“猎狗”又一字一顿说。 米佳的双腿一阵发软。 “您行行好吧！这可不是开玩笑！您也许喝多了。您总还能说话，还能听懂吧……不然……不然我可真的什么也不明白了！” “你是染匠？” “求您了，我是卡拉马佐夫，德米特里·卡拉马佐夫，我给您提一个建议……对您很有利的建议……十分有利……就是关于小树林的买卖。” 庄稼人煞有介事地捋捋胡须。 “不行，你不履行承包合同，你是坏蛋。你是坏蛋！” “请您相信，您搞错了！”米佳在绝望中绞动着双手。庄稼人一直在捋胡须，突然狡黠地眯起眼睛。 “不，你指给我看，哪一条法律允许，你偷工减料？你听见了没有，你是坏蛋，你明白吗？” 米佳沮丧地往后退了一步，突然他似乎感到当头“挨了一闷棍”，就像他以后所说的那样。一瞬间，他豁然开朗，仿佛“亮起了一盏明灯，我大彻大悟”。他站着发愣，不明白他这样的聪明人怎么会干出这种蠢事，陷入如此奇怪的境地，还持续了整整一昼夜，照料这个“猎狗”，给他头上敷湿布……“瞧，这人醉了，醉得不可收拾，而且还要继续狂饮一个星期——那这里还有什么可指望的呢？假如萨姆索诺夫故意打发我到这里来，那究竟有什么用意？如果她……又将如何……啊，天哪，我干得多么蠢啊！……” 庄稼人坐在那儿瞅着他，还暗自嘲笑他。如果在别的场合，米佳也许会气得把他杀死，但现在他虚弱得像婴儿一样。他慢慢走近长凳，拿起大衣，默默地穿上，走出了小屋。在另一间小屋里他没有找到护林人，一个人也没有。他从口袋里掏出了五十戈比的零星小钱，放在桌子上，作为过夜、烛火和麻烦人家的费用。他走出小屋，看到周围全是森林，没有任何别的东西。他信步走去，甚至不知道从小屋里出来后该朝哪个方向拐弯，是向右还是向左；昨天夜里他和神甫一起急于赶到这里来，没有注意认路。现在他对任何人都没有报复心理，甚至对萨姆索诺夫也是如此。他在狭窄的林中小道上走着，没有目标，茫然若失，怀着“毫无希望的想法”，完全不考虑走向哪里。他现在无论在精神上或在体力上都非常虚弱，迎面而来的孩子都能打倒他。但是他好歹还是走出了森林：一望无际的收割后尚未播种的田野突然展现在他面前。“周围一片绝望，死气沉沉！”他反复说，跨着大步径直向前走去。 过路的人搭救了他。一位马车夫驾车载着一位年老的商人在小路上行进。当他们走到并排时，米佳向他问路，原来他们也是去犍牛镇。经过一番讨价还价，就把米佳作为同路人捎带上了。他们走了约三小时就到了。在犍牛镇米佳马上订好去城里的驿站马车，突然他发觉他饿得不行了。乘套马的时候，他要了一份油煎蛋，他一下子把煎蛋吃个精光，还吃了整整一大块面包，一段现成的香肠；喝了三小杯伏特加酒。吃了东西以后米佳来了精神，内心又开朗了。他坐着马车在大道上急驶，不断催赶着车夫并突然构想了一个“刻不容缓的计划”：在今晚之前怎样搞到“这笔该死的钱”。“想想吧，只要想一想，为了这微不足道的三千卢布居然要毁掉一个人的命运！”他鄙夷地感叹一声。“今天我一定解决！”如果不是一直惦记着格鲁申卡，那么他也许又将非常愉快了。但对她的思念像一把尖刀一样无时无刻不在刺戳他的心。最后终于到了，米佳马上向格鲁申卡的家跑去。 这就是格鲁申卡提心吊胆地向拉基京讲过的米佳那次来访。当时她正在等待自己的“专送函件”，庆幸昨天和今天米佳都没有来过，并且指望老天保佑，在她离开之前他不会再来，可是米佳突然从天而降。后来的发展我们都已清楚：为了摆脱他，她说服他送她到库兹马·萨姆索诺夫那里去，推说她非常需要到那里去“盘账”。米佳马上将她送去，格鲁申卡和他在库兹马家的门口分手时，要他保证在十一至十二点之间来接她回去。米佳很高兴这样的安排：“既然一直待在库兹马家里，那就意味着她不会去找费奥多尔·巴夫洛维奇……但愿她不要说谎才好，”他马上又作了补充。在他看来，她似乎没有说谎。他正是这样一种好妒忌的人，他一离开心爱的女人，马上就会臆想出天晓得怎样的可怕情景，诸如她会出什么事，她在那里“背叛”他啦等等，可是当他丧魂落魄，悲观绝望，确信她已经“背叛”了他，再次跑去找她时，一看到她的脸，看到这个女人喜悦、欢乐、温存的脸庞，他马上精神振奋，所有的怀疑全部消失，怀着高兴而又羞愧的心情责骂自己的妒忌。他把格鲁申卡送到后，马上就赶回家去。啊，今天他该有多少事要完成呀！但现在他至少已经放心了。“现在马上要尽快向斯梅尔佳科夫了解，昨天晚上有什么情况，她去过没有，恐怕她会去找费奥多尔·巴夫洛维奇，哎呀！”他脑海里又闪过这种想法。因此，他还没有走到住地，妒忌心又在他不断翻腾着的内心深处涌现出来。 妒忌！“奥赛罗并不好妒忌，但他很轻信”，这是普希金讲的，仅仅这句话就足以证明我们伟大诗人不同凡响的睿智。奥赛罗的心真是破碎了，他对世界上一切事物的看法蒙上了阴影，因为他的理想毁灭了。但奥赛罗决不会躲躲闪闪，暗中监视，左顾右盼：因为他轻信别人。相反，要费很大的劲去开导、推动、激发他，才能使他意识到背叛。一个真正好妒忌的人可不是这样。好妒忌的人可以容忍种种奇耻大辱和伤天害理的丑行而不感到丝毫内疚，简直到了令人难以想象的地步。更何况他们并非都是卑鄙和下流的人。正相反，他们具有崇高的心灵，纯洁而富于自我牺牲精神的爱，与此同时，他们可以躲到桌子底下，可以收买卑鄙透顶的家伙并且容忍暗探、偷听之类令人恶心的肮脏勾当。奥赛罗无论如何也不会与背叛妥协——他不是不会原谅，而是绝不会妥协，虽然他的心像婴儿一样善良和淳朴。真正好妒忌的人便不同了：很难想象一个好妒忌的人有什么不能容忍、妥协和原谅的！好妒忌的人要比其他一切人都容易原谅，这一特点所有的妇女都清楚，好妒忌的人很快（当然，先要大闹一场）就会原谅，例如，证据确凿的背叛，亲眼所见的拥抱与接吻，如果他当时能相信这是“最后一次”，他的竞争对手从此就销声匿迹，远走天涯海角，或者他自己把她带到这个可怕的竞争对手再也到不了的地方的话。自然，妥协是短暂的，因为要是情敌真的销声匿迹，那么明天他马上就会再虚构出一个新的情敌，再去妒忌新的对手。人们似乎觉得：那种需要窥探的爱情有什么意思呢？需要严密监视的爱情又有多大价值呢？一个真正好妒忌的人是永远不理解这一点的，可是在他们中间确实有心灵高尚的人。有意思的是：正是这些心灵高尚的人站在斗室里偷听和窥探的时候，虽然他们通过“高尚的心灵”清清楚楚明白他们自己自愿陷入的那种耻辱，但是只要他们还站在这间斗室里，至少在这一刻是永远也不会感到内疚的。米佳一看到格鲁申卡妒忌心就消失了，一瞬间他变得轻信和高尚，他为了卑劣的感情甚至鄙薄起自己来。但是这只不过意味着，他对这个女人的爱情包含有某种远远比他自己所想象的更为崇高的感情，而不仅仅是情欲，不是像他对阿廖沙所解释的只是“肉体的曲线”。可是一旦格鲁申卡不在眼前，米佳马上开始重新怀疑她会干出所有的下流行为和阴险的背叛。在这种情况下他不会感觉到任何良心的责备。 因此，妒忌重新在米佳身上沸腾了。总而言之，一定要抓紧时间。首要的事是必须搞到一些哪怕是微不足道的暂时借款。昨天九个卢布全花在车费上了，大家知道，身无分文是寸步难行的。不过他在车上已经连同新的计划一起周密考虑好了上哪儿去搞到暂时借款。他有两支很好的、备有子弹的、决斗用的手枪，如果他至今尚未把它们抵押出去，那是因为这是他拥有的一切中最心爱的东西。在京都酒店他与一位年轻的官员早有点头之交，并在酒店中偶然了解到这个手头相当宽裕的独身官员酷爱武器，经常收购手枪、左轮手枪、匕首，挂在自己房间的墙壁上，向熟人炫耀，头头是道地讲解左轮手枪的构造，如何上膛、射击等等。米佳也不多考虑，马上就去找他并向他提出，用十个卢布把两支枪抵押给他。官员听了很高兴，劝他干脆卖掉，但米佳不同意，官员就给了他十个卢布，声明他决不收利息。他们分手时成了朋友。米佳在赶时间。他迅速奔向费奥多尔·巴夫洛维奇后院的那座亭子，想尽早把斯梅尔佳科夫叫出来。这样就造成了以下事实：在我下面要讲到的那个事件发生以前的三四小时，米佳手头一个戈比也没有，他用心爱之物抵押了十个卢布，可是过了三小时，却突然有几千卢布在他手里……不过这是后话。 在玛丽娅·康德拉季耶芙娜（是费奥多尔·巴夫洛维奇的女邻居）家里等待着他的是使他十分震惊和不安的消息。斯梅尔佳科夫发病了。他听说他先掉到了地窖里，接着又癫痫发作，然后医生上门，费奥多尔·巴夫洛维奇忙着照料等情况；他好奇地了解到，他弟弟伊凡·费奥多罗维奇今天一早去了莫斯科。“他经过犍牛镇的时间大概比我早。”德米特里·费奥多罗维奇想道，但斯梅尔佳科夫的情况使他很是不安。“现在怎么办？谁来监视，向我通风报信呢？”他迫不及待地开始盘问那两个女人：昨天晚上有没有发现什么情况？她们也非常清楚他想打听的是什么，并消释了他的疑虑：昨天没有人来过，伊凡·费奥多罗维奇睡在家里，“一切正常”。米佳沉思起来。毫无疑问，就是今天也要有人守候，但守在哪儿呢，在这里，还是在萨姆索诺夫家门口？他决定两边都去，都要见机行事，可是眼下，眼下……问题是他面前摆着这个“计划”，不久前构想的、新的、已经是非常可靠的计划，是在马车上想出来的，实施这一计划已刻不容缓。他决定为此花上一小时。“一小时之内解决问题、搞清一切情况，然后，然后……首先到萨姆索诺夫家去，打听格鲁申卡在不在，再立刻赶回，十一点以前都待在这里，然后再到萨姆索诺夫家去接格鲁申卡，送她回家。”他当即这样决定了。 他火速奔回家，洗了脸，梳好头发，刷净大衣，穿戴整齐后便去见霍赫拉科娃太太。啊，他的“计划”原来是这样！他决定向这位太太借三千卢布。主要是他似乎心血来潮，突然信心十足，以为她决不会拒绝他。也许，有人会对下述情况感到惊讶：如果有这样的信心，为什么他不早一点到这儿来，到自己人的圈子里来，反而去找萨姆索诺夫，去找一个完全属于另一种类型的人，他甚至不知道该怎样和他说话。但问题在于他最近一个月内几乎停止了与霍赫拉科娃太太的交往，而且原先也并不太熟悉，此外，他非常清楚她很讨厌他。这位太太恨他的起因仅仅因为他是卡捷琳娜·伊凡诺芙娜的未婚夫，而她却不知为什么突然希望卡捷琳娜·伊凡诺芙娜抛弃他，嫁给“可爱的、具有骑士般教养、风度翩翩的伊凡·费奥多罗维奇”。她对米佳的作风十分痛恨。米佳甚至取笑过她，有一次竟说这位“太太不仅活跃放肆，而且没有教养”。可是就在今天早晨，在车上，一个非常清晰的想法使他恍然大悟：“如果她这样不希望我和卡捷琳娜·伊凡诺芙娜结婚，这一愿望又如此强烈（他知道，几乎到了要发作歇斯底里的地步），那么她又何必拒绝借给我三千卢布呢，这样正好使我利用这笔钱与卡佳分手，然后能永远离开这里。这些娇生惯养的贵族太太一旦执意要达到某种目的，便会不惜一切代价实现自己的意图。何况她还那样有钱。”米佳这样推论着。至于说到“计划”本身，也还是原来的那一个，即出让自己对契尔马什尼亚的权利，不过已经不带商业目的，像昨天对萨姆索诺夫那样，也不是用三千卢布能赚到双倍的钱，搞到六千或七千卢布来引诱这位太太，像昨天引诱萨姆索诺夫那样，而只是作为对借款的一种高尚的担保。米佳不断对自己这一想法引申发挥，到了神魂颠倒的地步。他常有这种情况，他开始干一件事，突然作出决定时总是这样。他往往对自己的任何一个新的想法心醉神迷，然而，当他踏上霍赫拉科娃太太宅邸的台阶时，便突然感到自己背上一阵恐惧的寒战：只是在这一刻他才充分而精确得像数学那样意识到，这已经是他仅有的最后希望，除此之外再也没别的出路了，要是在这里碰壁，“那就只好为三千卢布去杀人越货，别无其他办法了……”当他拉响门铃时，正好是七点半。 开始进行得似乎挺顺利：主人接到通报以后，马上就接待了他，快得出奇。“好像在等我，”米佳脑子里闪过了这个想法，他刚被引入客厅，女主人几乎跑着进来，直截了当地对他说，她在等他…… “我一直在等您！我真想不到您会来找我，您自己得承认吧，可我还是在等您，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇，您对我的直觉也许会感到惊讶吧！我整整一个早晨都确信您今天一定会来。” “夫人，这真令人惊讶，”米佳说，缓慢地坐定下来。“不过，我是为了一件非常重要的事才来的，是我自己的事，夫人，仅仅有关我个人，因而我急于……” “我明白，为了一件最重要的事，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇，这倒不是什么预感，不是那种希望出现奇迹的落后心理（您听说佐西马长老的事了吗？），这是天意：您不能不来，在卡捷琳娜·伊凡诺芙娜遇上这些事情以后您不能不来，这是肯定无疑的。” “现实生活的现实主义，夫人，就是这么一回事！不过请允许我说……” “的确是现实主义，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇。我现在完全拥护现实主义。我接受有关奇迹的教训太深刻了。您听说佐西马长老去世的消息吗？” “没有，夫人，我第一次听说，”米佳感到有点惊讶。在他的脑海里闪现出阿廖沙的形象。 “是在今天凌晨，您不妨想一想……” “夫人，”米佳打断了她，“我只想到我已走投无路，如果您不帮助我，那么一切都完了，我首先完蛋。请原谅我言语粗俗，我很着急，心急如火……” “我知道，我明白您心急如火，我全都明白，而且您也不可能处于另一种精神状态，无论您说什么，我都能预料到。我早就在考虑您的命运了，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇，我注视着并在研究您的命运……噢，请您相信，我是一个经验丰富的精神医生，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇。” “夫人，如果您是经验丰富的医生，那么我是一个经验丰富的病人，”米佳的恭维实在勉强，“而且我预感到，如果您已经如此关注我的命运，那么您就会帮我免遭灭顶之灾，为此请允许我，总而言之，向您讲一讲我冒昧提出的计划……以及对您的期望……我来到这里，夫人……” “你别说了，这是次要的。至于说到帮助，那么您也不是我帮助的第一个人，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇，您大概听说我的表妹别利梅索娃吧，她的丈夫已经濒临绝境，正像您刚才生动地形容过的那样，快完蛋了，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇，结果又怎么样呢，我指点他办养马场，现在他的事业兴旺发达。您对养马这行当有所了解吗，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇？” “一窍不通，夫人，哎哟，夫人，一窍不通！”米佳以一种神经质的不耐烦口气大声说，甚至要离座站起来。“我只是恳请您，夫人，让我把话说完，只要给我连续谈两分钟，先让我把一切都告诉您，讲明我带来的计划。何况我非常需要抓紧时间，我的时间紧张得要命！……”米佳歇斯底里地叫喊，因为他感到，她马上又要开始说话了，指望能用吼声压住她。“我山穷水尽，走投无路，才来向您借三千卢布，是借款，有可靠的，最最可靠的抵押，夫人，有最最可靠的保证！只是请允许我说……” “这些您以后，以后再说吧！”霍赫拉科娃太太也向他挥着手，“而且无论您讲什么，我都预先知道，我已对您说过了。您要借一笔款子，您需要三千卢布，可是我将给您更多，多出不知多少倍，我一定要救您，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇，不过您一定得听我的！” 米佳又从座位上跳起来了。 “夫人，您真太善良了！”他怀着一种特殊的感情大声说，“我的上帝，您救了我。夫人，您从凶暴的死神手里，从枪口下救出了一个人……我永远铭记在心……” “我给您的将比三千卢布多得多，多不知多少倍！”霍赫拉科娃大声嚷着，露出高兴的微笑，瞧着大喜过望的米佳。 “多不知多少倍！不过太多了也不需要。对我来说，只需要决定我命运的三千卢布，从我这方面来说，我怀着无限感激的心情为这笔借款向您提供担保并提出一个计划，它……” “别说了，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇，我说到做到，”霍赫拉科娃太太毫无顾忌地打断他，流露出乐善好施的人的得意神情。“我答应救您，就一定会救您。我会像救别利梅索夫一样救您。您对金矿有什么想法，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇？” “关于金矿，夫人，我从未想过！” “可是我替您想过了！我反复考虑过了！我已有整整一个月抱着这个目的注视着您。您走过时，我上百次打量您并不断对自己说：这个精力充沛的人应该上金矿，我甚至研究了您的步伐并得出结论：这个人会找到许多金矿。” “根据步伐吗，夫人？”米佳微笑了。 “那又怎样，就是根据步伐。怎么，您难道否认根据步伐可以了解一个人，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇？自然科学确认了这一点。噢，我现在是现实主义者，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇。从今天开始，在经历了使我非常伤心的、修道院里所发生的那件事之后，我已经完全是现实主义者了，我想投入实际活动。我的病完全好了。够了！像屠格涅夫所说的那样。” “不过，夫人，您如此慷慨地答应借给我的三千卢布……” “您不会落空的，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇，”霍赫拉科娃马上打断他，“这三千卢布等于在您口袋里了，而且不是三千，而是三百万，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇，在最短期内就会有的！我来告诉您该拿定的主意：您去找金矿，赚上几百万，然后回来，成为实业家，再来推动指导我们行善。难道一切都让给犹太人吗？您将建造大厦和开办企业。您帮助穷人，他们将为您祝福。如今是蒸汽时代，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇。您会功成名就，成为我们十分困难的财政部必不可少的人物。我们的卢布纸币贬值使我夜不安眠，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇，在这方面人家还很少了解我……” “夫人，夫人！”德米特里·费奥多罗维奇预感到情况不妙，重又打断了她，“我也许非常乐意听从您的意见，您的明智的意见，夫人，我也许会去那里……到矿上去……将来还会找您再谈这件事……甚至多次找您……现在您如此慷慨……那三千卢布……啊，它们将放开我的手脚，因此，如果今天可以……就是说，您要知道，我现在没有时间，一点时间都没有……” “够了，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇，够了！”霍赫拉科娃一个劲儿地打断他，“问题是您去不去找矿，您是否下定决心，请确切地回答。” “我，夫人，以后去……您要我上哪儿，我就去哪儿，夫人，但现在……” “您等等！”霍赫拉科娃太太叫了一声，跳起身来，扑向自己那张很有气派，里面有很多抽屉的书桌，开始挨个打开寻找东西，显得特别匆忙。 “三千卢布！”米佳想，屏住了气息，“马上兑现，不要字据，不签合同……啊，真有君子风度！一个出色的女人，如果她不这样啰嗦就好了……” “找到了！”霍赫拉科娃太太高兴得大叫起来，立即回到米佳身边，“这就是我要找的东西。” 这是系在带子上的一个银制小圣像，这类圣像有时与贴身的十字架一起佩挂。 “它来自基辅，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇，”她虔诚地继续说，“是从大殉难者瓦尔瓦拉的干尸上取下来的，请允许我亲自给您挂在脖子上，祝福您走向新生活，干一番伟业。” 她真的把圣像套在他的脖子上并要将它塞进去。米佳很尴尬地俯下身子，开始帮她，终于将圣像塞到了领结和衬衫领子下面。 “现在您可以走了！”霍赫拉科娃太太说，得意洋洋地坐了下来。“夫人，我太感动了……我简直不知道该怎样表示感谢……您的一番好意，不过，您要知道，我的时间是多么宝贵！我期待着您慷慨承诺的这笔款子……啊，夫人，要是您心肠这样好，对我如此厚爱，”米佳突然满怀激情地说，“那么请允许我向您表白……不过，您早已知道了……我在这儿爱上了一个人……我背叛了卡佳……我说的是卡捷琳娜·伊凡诺芙娜。啊，我对她太无人性和太不公道了，但我在这里爱上了另一个……女人，夫人，可能是您所蔑视的，因为您都了解，但我无论如何也不能离开她，无论如何不能，因此，这三千卢布……” “您一切都别管吧，德米特里·费奥多罗维奇！”霍赫拉科娃的语气十分坚决，“什么都别管，尤其是女人。您的目的是金矿，将女人带到那里毫无意思。以后，当您发了财载誉归来，您会在上流社会中找到心灵的伴侣。这将是一位现代女性，阅历丰富，没有偏见。那时，现在刚提出的妇女问题正好成熟了，