crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第2章
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like a hen's leg； was knotted some sort of flannel rag； and； in
spite of the heat； there hung flapping on her shoulders； a mangy fur
cape； yellow with age。 The old woman coughed and groaned at every
instant。 The young man must have looked at her with a rather
peculiar expression； for a gleam of mistrust came into her eyes again。
〃Raskolnikov； a student； I came here a month ago；〃 the young man
made haste to mutter； with a half bow； remembering that he ought to be
more polite。
〃I remember； my good sir； I remember quite well your coming here；〃
the old woman said distinctly； still keeping her inquiring eyes on his
face。
〃And here。。。 I am again on the same errand；〃 Raskolnikov
continued； a little disconcerted and surprised at the old woman's
mistrust。 〃Perhaps she is always like that though； only I did not
notice it the other time；〃 he thought with an uneasy feeling。
The old woman paused； as though hesitating； then stepped on one
side； and pointing to the door of the room； she said； letting her
visitor pass in front of her：
〃Step in； my good sir。〃
The little room into which the young man walked； with yellow paper
on the walls； geraniums and muslin curtains in the windows； was
brightly lighted up at that moment by the setting sun。
〃So the sun will shine like this then too！〃 flashed as it were by
chance through Raskolnikov's mind； and with a rapid glance he
scanned everything in the room； trying as far as possible to notice
and remember its arrangement。 But there was nothing special in the
room。 The furniture； all very old and of yellow wood； consisted of a
sofa with a huge bent wooden back； an oval table in front of the sofa；
a dressing…table with a looking…glass fixed on it between the windows；
chairs along the walls and two or three half…penny prints in yellow
frames； representing German damsels with birds in their hands… that
was all。 In the corner a light was burning before a small ikon。
Everything was very clean； the floor and the furniture were brightly
polished； everything shone。
〃Lizaveta's work；〃 thought the young man。 There was not a speck of
dust to be seen in the whole flat。
〃It's in the houses of spiteful old widows that one finds such
cleanliness；〃 Raskolnikov thought again； and he stole a curious glance
at the cotton curtain over the door leading into another tiny room； in
which stood the old woman's bed and chest of drawers and into which he
had never looked before。 These two rooms made up the whole flat。
〃What do you want？〃 the old woman said severely； coming into the
room and； as before； standing in front of him so as to look him
straight in the face。
〃I've brought something to pawn here；〃 and he drew out of his pocket
an old…fashioned flat silver watch； on the back of which was
engraved a globe； the chain was of steel。
〃But the time is up for your last pledge。 The month was up the day
before yesterday。〃
〃I will bring you the interest for another month； wait a little。〃
〃But that's for me to do as I please； my good sir； to wait or to
sell your pledge at once。〃
〃How much will you give me for the watch； Alyona Ivanovna？〃
〃You come with such trifles； my good sir； it's scarcely worth
anything。 I gave you two roubles last time for your ring and one could
buy it quite new at a jeweler's for a rouble and a half。〃
〃Give me four roubles for it； I shall redeem it； it was my father's。
I shall be getting some money soon。〃
〃A rouble and a half； and interest in advance； if you like！〃
〃A rouble and a half！〃 cried the young man。
〃Please yourself〃… and the old woman handed him back the watch。
The young man took it； and was so angry that he was on the point of
going away； but checked himself at once； remembering that there was
nowhere else he could go； and that he had had another object also in
coming。
〃Hand it over；〃 he said roughly。
The old woman fumbled in her pocket for her keys； and disappeared
behind the curtain into the other room。 The young man； left standing
alone in the middle of the room； listened inquisitively； thinking。
He could hear her unlocking the chest of drawers。
〃It must be the top drawer；〃 he reflected。 〃So she carries the
keys in a pocket on the right。 All in one bunch on a steel ring。。。。
And there's one key there； three times as big as all the others；
with deep notches； that can't be the key of the chest of drawers。。。
then there must be some other chest or strong…box。。。 that's worth
knowing。 Strong…boxes always have keys like that。。。 but how
degrading it all is。〃
The old woman came back。
〃Here； sir： as we say ten copecks the rouble a month； so I must take
fifteen copecks from a rouble and a half for the month in advance。 But
for the two roubles I lent you before； you owe me now twenty copecks
on the same reckoning in advance。 That makes thirty…five copecks
altogether。 So I must give you a rouble and fifteen copecks for the
watch。 Here it is。〃
〃What！ only a rouble and fifteen copecks now！〃
〃Just so。〃
The young man did not dispute it and took the money。 He looked at
the old woman； and was in no hurry to get away； as though there was
still something he wanted to say or to do； but he did not himself
quite know what。
〃I may be bringing you something else in a day or two； Alyona
Ivanovna… a valuable thing… silver… a cigarette box； as soon as I
get it back from a friend。。。〃 he broke off in confusion。
〃Well； we will talk about it then； sir。〃
〃Good…bye… are you always at home alone； your sister is not here
with you？〃 He asked her as casually as possible as he went out into
the passage。
〃What business is she of yours； my good sir？〃
〃Oh； nothing particular； I simply asked。 You are too quick。。。。
Good…day； Alyona Ivanovna。〃
Raskolnikov went out in complete confusion。 This confusion became
more and more intense。 As he went down the stairs； he even stopped
short； two or three times； as though suddenly struck by some
thought。 When he was in the street he cried out； 〃Oh； God； how
loathsome it all is！ and can I； can I possibly。。。。 No； it's
nonsense； it's rubbish！〃 he added resolutely。 〃And how could such an
atrocious thing come into my head？ What filthy things my heart is
capable of。 Yes； filthy above all； disgusting； loathsome；
loathsome！… and for a whole month I've been。。。。〃 But no words； no
exclamations； could express his agitation。 The feeling of intense
repulsion； which had begun to oppress and torture his heart while he
was on his way to the old woman； had by now reached such a pitch and
had taken such a definite form that he did not know what to do with
himself to escape from his wretchedness。 He walked along the
pavement like a drunken man； regardless of the passers…by； and
jostling against them； and only came to his senses when he was in
the next street。 Looking round； he noticed that he was standing
close to a tavern which was entered by steps leading from the pavement
to the basement。 At that instant two drunken men came out at the door；
and abusing and supporting one another； they mounted the steps。
Without stopping to think； Raskolnikov went down the steps at once。
Till that moment he had never been into a tavern； but now he felt
giddy and was tormented by a burning thirst。 He longed for a drink
of cold beer； and attributed his sudden weakness to the want of
food。 He sat down at a sticky little table in a dark and dirty corner；
ordered some beer； and eagerly drank off the first glassful。 At once
he felt easier； and his thoughts became clear。
〃All that's nonsense；〃 he said hopefully； 〃and there is nothing in
it all to worry about！ It's simply physical derangement。 Just a
glass of beer； a piece of dry bread… and in one moment the brain is
stronger； the mind is clearer and the will is firm！ Phew； how
utterly petty it all is！〃
But in spite of this scornful reflection； he was by now looking
cheerful as though he were suddenly set free from a terrible burden：
and he gazed round in a friendly way at the people in the room。 But
even at that moment he had a dim foreboding that this happier frame of
mind was also not normal。
There were few people at the time in the tavern。 Besides the two
drunken men he had met on the steps； a group consisting of about
five men and a girl with a concertina had gone out at the same time。
Their departure left the room quiet and rather empty。 The persons
still in the tavern were a man who appeared to be an artisan； drunk；
but not extremely so； sitting before a pot of beer； and his companion；
a huge； stout man with a grey beard； in a short full…skirted coat。
He was very drunk： and had dropped asleep on the bench； every now
and then； he began as though in his sleep； cracking hi
