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other fifteen hundred I sewed into a little bag. Thats how it was, gentlemen. Thats where I got that money yesterday This is almost miraculous, murmured Nikolay Parfenovitch. Allow me to inquire, observed the prosecutor at last, have you informed any one whatever of this circumstance before, I mean that you had fifteen hundred left about you a month ago? I told no one. Thats strange. Do you mean absolutely no one? Absolutely no one. No one and nobody. What was your reason for this reticence? What was your motive for making such a secret of it? To be more precise: You have told us at last your secret, in your words, so disgraceful, though in realitythat is, of course, comparatively speakingthis action, that is, the appropriation of three thousand roubles belonging to some one else, and, of course, only for a time is, in my view at least, only an act of the greatest recklessness and not so disgraceful, when one takes into consideration your character. Even admitting that it was an action in the highest degree discreditable, still, discreditable is not disgraceful Many people have already guessed, during this last month, about the three thousand of Katerina Ivanovnas, that you have spent, and I had heard the legend myself, apart from your confession. Mihail Makarovitch, for instance, had heard it, too, so that indeed, it was scarcely a legend, but the gossip of the whole town. There are indications, too, if I am not mistaken, that you confessed this yourself to some one, I mean that the money was Katerina Ivanovnas, and so, its extremely surprising to me that hitherto, that is, up to the present moment, you have made such an extraordinary secret of the fifteen hundred you say you put by, apparently connecting a feeling of positive horror with that secret. Its not easy to believe that it could cost you such distress to confess such a secret. You cried out, just now, that Siberia would be better than confessing it The prosecutor ceased speaking. He was provoked. He did not conceal his vexation, which was almost anger, and gave vent to all his accumulated spleen, without choosing words, disconnectedly and incoherently. Its not the fifteen hundred thats the disgrace, but that I put it apart from the rest of the three thousand, said Mitya firmly. Why, smiled the prosecutor irritably. What is there disgraceful, to your thinking, in your having set aside half of the three thousand you had discreditably, if you prefer, disgracefully, appropriated? Your taking the three thousand is more important than what you did with it. And by the way, why did you do thatwhy did you set apart that half, for what purpose, for what object did you do it? Can you explain that to us? Oh, gentlemen, the purpose is the whole point! cried Mitya. I put it aside because I was vile, that is, because I was calculating, and to be calculating in such a case is vile and that vileness has been going on a whole month. Its incomprehensible. I wonder at you. But Ill make it clearer. Perhaps it really is incomprehensible. You see, attend to what I say. I appropriate three thousand entrusted to my honour, I spend it on a spree, say I spend it all, and next morning I go to her and say, Katya, Ive done wrong, Ive squandered your three thousand, well, is that right? No, its not rightits dishonest and cowardly, Im a beast, with no more self-control than a beast, thats so, isnt it? But still Im not a thief? Not a downright thief, youll admit! I squandered it, but I didnt steal it. Now a second, rather more favourable alternative: follow me carefully, or I may get confused againmy heads going roundand so, for the second alternative: I spend here only fifteen |
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