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looked uneasily and suspiciously about him to see whether there was
not some guard； some mysterious watch being kept on him to prevent his
escape。 But there was nothing of the sort： he saw only the faces of
clerks absorbed in petty details； then other people； no one seemed
to have any concern with him。 He might go where he liked for them。 The
conviction grew stronger in him that if that enigmatic man of
yesterday； that phantom sprung out of the earth； had seen
everything； they would not have let him stand and wait like that。
And would they have waited till he elected to appear at eleven？ Either
the man had not yet given information； or。。。 or simply he knew
nothing； had seen nothing （and how could he have seen anything？） and
so all that had happened to him the day before was again a phantom
exaggerated by his sick and overstrained imagination。 This
conjecture had begun to grow strong the day before； in the midst of
all his alarm and despair。 Thinking it all over now and preparing
for a fresh conflict； he was suddenly aware that he was trembling… and
he felt a rush of indignation at the thought that he was trembling
with fear at facing that hateful Porfiry Petrovitch。 What he dreaded
above all was meeting that man again； he hated him with an intense；
unmitigated hatred and was afraid his hatred might betray him。 His
indignation was such that he ceased trembling at once； he made ready
to go in with a cold and arrogant bearing and vowed to himself to keep
as silent as possible； to watch and listen and for once at least to
control his overstrained nerves。 At that moment he was summoned to
Porfiry Petrovitch。
He found Porfiry Petrovitch alone in his study。 His study was a room
neither large nor small； furnished with a large writing…table； that
stood before a sofa； upholstered in checked material； a bureau； a
bookcase in the corner and several chairs… all government furniture；
of polished yellow wood。 In the further wall there was a closed
door； beyond it there were； no doubt； other rooms。 On Raskolnikov's
entrance Porfiry Petrovitch had at once closed the door by which he
had come in and they remained alone。 He met his visitor with an
apparently genial and good…tempered air； and it was only after a few
minutes that Raskolnikov saw signs of a certain awkwardness in him； as
though he had been thrown out of his reckoning or caught in
something very secret。
〃Ah； my dear fellow！ Here you are。。。 in our domain〃。。。 began
Porfiry； holding out both hands to him。 〃Come； sit down； old man。。。 or
perhaps you don't like to be called 'my dear fellow' and 'old
man！'…tout court？ Please don't think it too familiar。。。。 Here； on
the sofa。〃
Raskolnikov sat down； keeping his eyes fixed on him。 〃In our
domain；〃 the apologies for familiarity； the French phrase tout
court； were all characteristic signs。
〃He held out both hands to me； but he did not give me one… he drew
it back in time；〃 struck him suspiciously。 Both were watching each
other； but when their eyes met； quick as lightning they looked away。
〃I brought you this paper。。。 about the watch。 Here it is。 Is it
all right or shall I copy it again？〃
〃What？ A paper？ Yes； yes； don't be uneasy； it's all right；〃
Porfiry Petrovitch said as though in haste； and after he had said it
he took the paper and looked at it。 〃Yes； it's all right。 Nothing more
is needed；〃 he declared with the same rapidity and he laid the paper
on the table。
A minute later when he was talking of something else he took it from
the table and put it on his bureau。
〃I believe you said yesterday you would like to question me。。。
formally。。。 about my acquaintance with the murdered woman？〃
Raskolnikov was beginning again。 〃Why did I put in 'I believe'〃 passed
through his mind in a flash。 〃Why am I so uneasy at having put in that
'I believe'？〃 came in a second flash。 And he suddenly felt that his
uneasiness at the mere contact with Porfiry； at the first words； at
the first looks； had grown in an instant to monstrous proportions； and
that this was fearfully dangerous。 His nerves were quivering； his
emotion was increasing。 〃It's bad； it's bad！ I shall say too much
again。〃
〃Yes； yes； yes！ There's no hurry； there's no hurry；〃 muttered
Porfiry Petrovitch； moving to and fro about the table without any
apparent aim； as it were making dashes towards the window； the
bureau and the table； at one moment avoiding Raskolnikov's
suspicious glance； then again standing still and looking him
straight in the face。
His fat round little figure looked very strange； like a ball rolling
from one side to the other and rebounding back。
〃We've plenty of time。 Do you smoke？ have you your own？ Here； a
cigarette！〃 he went on； offering his visitor a cigarette。 〃You know
I am receiving you here； but my own quarters are through there； you
know； my government quarters。 But I am living outside for the time；
I had to have some repairs done here。 It's almost finished now。。。。
Government quarters； you know； are a capital thing。 Eh； what do you
think？〃
〃Yes； a capital thing；〃 answered Raskolnikov； looking at him
almost ironically。
〃A capital thing； a capital thing；〃 repeated Porfiry Petrovitch；
as though he had just thought of something quite different。 〃Yes； a
capital thing；〃 he almost shouted at last； suddenly staring at
Raskolnikov and stopping short two steps from him。
This stupid repetition was too incongruous in its ineptitude with
the serious； brooding and enigmatic glance he turned upon his visitor。
But this stirred Raskolnikov's spleen more than ever and he could
not resist an ironical and rather incautious challenge。
〃Tell me； please；〃 he asked suddenly； looking almost insolently at
him and taking