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too not this very minute, I mean, but now, generally. Well, well, I wont, I wont, dont scowl! I am not such a bear, you know, as you think. Raskolnikov looked gloomily at him. You are not a bear, perhaps, at all, he said. I fancy indeed that you are a man of very good breeding, or at least know how on occasion to behave like one. I am not particularly interested in anyones opinion, Svidrigailov answered, dryly and even with a shade of haughtiness, and therefore why not be vulgar at times when vulgarity is such a convenient cloak for our climate and especially if one has a natural propensity that way, he added, laughing again. But Ive heard you have many friends here. You are, as they say, not without connections. What can you want with me, then, unless youve some special object? Thats true that I have friends here, Svidrigailov admitted, not replying to the chief point. Ive met some already. Ive been lounging about for the last three days, and Ive seen them, or theyve seen me. Thats a matter of course. I am well dressed and reckoned not a poor man; the emancipation of the serfs hasnt affected me; my property consists chiefly of forests and water meadows. The revenue has not fallen off; but I am not going to see them, I was sick of them long ago. Ive been here three days and have called on no one. What a town it is! How has it come into existence among us, tell me that? A town of officials and students of all sorts. Yes, theres a great deal I didnt notice when I was here eight years ago, kicking up my heels. My only hope now is in anatomy, by Jove, it is! Anatomy? But as for these clubs, Dussauts, parades, or progress, indeed, maybe well, all that can go on without me, he went on, again without noticing the question. Besides, who wants to be a card-sharper? Why, have you been a card-sharper then? How could I help being? There was a regular set of us, men of the best society, eight years ago; we had a fine time. And all men of breeding, you know, poets, men of property. And indeed as a rule in our Russian society the best manners are found among those whove been thrashed, have you noticed that? Ive deteriorated in the country. But I did get into prison for debt, through a low Greek who came from Nezhin. Then Marfa Petrovna turned up; she bargained with him and bought me off for thirty thousand silver pieces (I owed seventy thousand). We were united in lawful wedlock and she bore me off into the country like a treasure. You know she was five years older than I. She was very fond of me. For seven years I never left the country. And, take note, that all my life she held a document over me, the IOU for thirty thousand roubles, so if I were to elect to be restive about anything I should be trapped at once! And she would have done it! Women find nothing incompatible in that. If it hadnt been for that, would you have given her the slip? I dont know what to say. It was scarcely the document restrained me. I didnt want to go anywhere else. Marfa Petrovna herself invited me to go abroad, seeing I was bored, but Ive been abroad before, and always felt sick there. For no reason, but the sunrise, the bay of Naples, the seayou look at them and it makes you sad. Whats most revolting is that one is really sad! No, its better at home. Here at least one blames others for everything and excuses oneself. I should have gone perhaps on an expedition to the North Pole, because jai le vin mauvais and hate drinking, and theres nothing left but wine. I have tried it. But, I say, Ive been told Berg is going up in a great balloon next Sunday from the Yusupov Garden and will take up passengers at a fee. Is it true? Why, would you go up? |
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