Crime and Punishment (Oxford World's Classics) by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Author:Fyodor Dostoevsky [Dostoevsky, Fyodor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780191019753
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Published: 2017-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Part Four

Chapter I

‘Could this be my dream still going on?’ wondered Raskolnikov again, peering warily and suspiciously at his unexpected guest.

‘Svidrigailov? What rubbish! Impossible!’ he eventually said aloud in bewilderment.

His guest seemed not in the least surprised at this exclamation.

‘I’ve looked in on you for two reasons. First of all, I wanted to get to know you personally, because I’ve been hearing a lot of very curious and complimentary things about you, for quite a while; and secondly, I’m hoping you may not refuse to help me in a particular enterprise that directly affects the interests of your good sister Avdotya Romanovna. At the moment, because of some prejudice, she might not even permit me to come anywhere near her in person, without an introduction from you; but now, with your help, I reckon that…’

‘You’re out in your reckoning,’ Raskolnikov interrupted him.

‘I believe they only arrived yesterday, if you don’t mind my asking?’

Raskolnikov did not reply.

‘It was yesterday—I know it was. I myself only arrived the day before. Well, Rodion Romanovich, sir, this is what I’d like to say to you about all that. I don’t in the least feel called upon to justify myself, but let me just ask—what was there in all that business that was so particularly criminal on my part, speaking without prejudice and with an open mind?’

Raskolnikov continued to look at him without speaking.

‘Was it the fact that in my own home I persecuted a defenceless young girl, “insulting her with my vile proposals”—is that it? (I’m running ahead of you!) But you just have to accept that I’m a human being too, et nihil humanum…* in short, that I too am capable of being attracted and falling in love (which is of course something that happens without our willing it)—and then everything explains itself in the most natural way. This is the whole question: am I a monster, or a victim myself? So, how am I a victim? Well, when I invited the object of my affections to run away with me to America or Switzerland, I may perhaps have been filled with the most honourable sentiments at the time, and actually hoped to achieve happiness for us both! After all, reason is passion’s slave; in fact I was going to ruin myself even worse than her—you must see that!’

‘That’s not the point at all,’ interrupted Raskolnikov in disgust. ‘The simple fact is that you’re a revolting person, whether you’re right or wrong, and therefore people don’t wish to know you, and want nothing to do with you; so be off with you!’

Svidrigailov suddenly burst out laughing.

‘Well, you’re… there’s just no getting round you!’ he said, with the most sincere-sounding laugh. ‘I was planning to be a bit crafty, but it was no good—you’ve gone straight to the very point!’

‘You’re still trying to be crafty, right this minute.’

‘And so what? So what?’ repeated Svidrigailov, laughing heartily. ‘That’s just what’s called la bonne guerre,* a most legitimate ruse!… Even so, you’ve got the better of

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