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near the bridge to Vassilyevsky Ostrov。 〃Why； he lives here； in that
house；〃 he thought； 〃why； I have not come to Razumihin of my own
accord！ Here it's the same thing over again。。。。 Very interesting to
know； though； have I come on purpose or have I simply walked here by
chance？ Never mind； I said the day before yesterday that I would go
and see him the day after； well； and so I will！ Besides I really
cannot go further now。〃
He went up to Razumihin's room on the fifth floor。
The latter was at home in his garret； busily writing at the
moment； and he opened the door himself。 It was four months since
they had seen each other。 Razumihin was sitting in a ragged
dressing…gown； with slippers on his bare feet； unkempt； unshaven and
unwashed。 His face showed surprise。
〃Is it you？〃 he cried。 He looked his comrade up and down； then after
a brief pause； he whistled。 〃As hard up as all that！ Why； brother；
you've cut me out！〃 he added； looking at Raskolnikov's rags。 〃Come sit
down； you are tired； I'll be bound。〃
And when he had sunk down on the American leather sofa； which was in
even worse condition than his own； Razumihin saw at once that his
visitor was ill。
〃Why； you are seriously ill； do you know that？〃 He began feeling his
pulse。 Raskolnikov pulled away his hand。
〃Never mind；〃 he said； 〃I have come for this； I have no
lessons。。。。 I wanted。。。 but I don't want lessons。。。。〃
〃But I say！ You are delirious； you know！〃 Razumihin observed；
watching him carefully。
〃No； I am not。〃
Raskolnikov got up from the sofa。 As he had mounted the stairs to
Razumihin's； he had not realised that he would be meeting his friend
face to face。 Now； in a flash； he knew； that what he was least of
all disposed for at that moment was to be face to face with any one in
the wide world。 His spleen rose within him。 He almost choked with rage
at himself as soon as he crossed Razumihin's threshold。
〃Good…bye；〃 he said abruptly； and walked to the door。
〃Stop； stop！ You queer fish。〃
〃I don't want to；〃 said the other； again pulling away his hand。
〃Then why the devil have you come？ Are you mad； or what？ Why； this
is。。。 almost insulting！ I won't let you go like that。〃
〃Well； then； I came to you because I know no one but you who could
help。。。 to begin。。。 because you are kinder than any one… clever； I
mean； and can judge。。。 and now I see that I want nothing。 Do you hear？
Nothing at all。。。 no one's services。。。 no one's sympathy。 I am by
myself。。。 alone。 Come； that's enough。 Leave me alone。〃
〃Stay a minute； you sweep！ You are a perfect madman。 As you like for
all I care。 I have no lessons； do you see； and I don't care about
that； but there's a bookseller； Heruvimov… and he takes the place of a
lesson。 I would not exchange him for five lessons。 He's doing
publishing of a kind； and issuing natural science manuals and what a
circulation they have！ The very titles are worth the money！ You always
maintained that I was a fool； but by Jove； my boy； there are greater
fools than I am！ Now he is setting up for being advanced； not that
he has an inkling of anything； but； of course； I encourage him。 Here
are two signatures of the German text… in my opinion； the crudest
charlatanism； it discusses the question； 'Is woman a human being？'
And； of course； triumphantly proves that she is。 Heruvimov is going to
bring out this work as a contribution to the woman question； I am
translating it； he will expand these two and a half signatures into
six； we shall make up a gorgeous title half a page long and bring it
out at half a rouble。 It will do！ He pays me six roubles the
signature； it works out to fifteen roubles for the job； and I've had
six already in advance。 When we have finished this； we are going to
begin a translation about whales； and then some of the dullest
scandals out of the second part of Les Confessions we have marked
for translation； somebody has told Heruvimov； that Rousseau was a kind
of Radishchev。 You may be sure I don't contradict him； hang him！ Well；
would you like to do the second signature of 'Is woman a human being？'
If you would； take the German and pens and paper… all those are
provided； and take three roubles； for as I have had six roubles in
advance on the whole thing； three roubles come to you for your
share。 And when you have finished the signature there will be
another three roubles for you。 And please don't think I am doing you a
service； quite the contrary； as soon as you came in； I saw how you
could help me； to begin with； I am weak in spelling； and secondly； I
am sometimes utterly adrift in German； so that I make it up as I go
along for the most part。 The only comfort is； that it's bound to be
a change for the better。 Though who can tell； maybe it's sometimes for
the worse。 Will you take it？〃
Raskolnikov took the German sheets in silence； took the three
roubles and without a word went out。 Razumihin gazed after him in
astonishment。 But when Raskolnikov was in the next street； he turned
back； mounted the stairs to Razumihin's again and laying on the
table the German article and the three roubles； went out again；
still without uttering a word。
〃Are you raving； or what？〃 Razumihin shouted； roused to fury at
last。 〃What farce is this？ You'll drive me crazy too。。。 what did you
come to see me for； damn you？〃
〃I don't want。。。 translation；〃 muttered Raskolnikov from the stairs。
〃Then what the devil do you want？〃 shouted Razumihin from above。
Raskolnikov continued descending the staircase in silence。
〃Hey； there！ Where are you living？〃
No answer。
〃Well； confound you then！〃
But Raskolnikov was already stepping into the street。 On the
Nikolaevsky Br