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It was nearly an hour later when they heard footsteps in the
corridor and another knock at the door。 Both women waited this time
completely relying on Razumihin's promise； he actually had succeeded
in bringing Zossimov。 Zossimov had agreed at once to desert the
drinking party to go to Raskolnikov's； but he came reluctantly and
with the greatest suspicion to see the ladies； mistrusting Razumihin
in his exhilarated condition。 But his vanity was at once reassured and
flattered； he saw that they were really expecting him as an oracle。 He
stayed just ten minutes and succeeded in completely convincing and
comforting Pulcheria Alexandrovna。 He spoke with marked sympathy；
but with the reserve and extreme seriousness of a young doctor at an
important consultation。 He did not utter a word on any other subject
and did not display the slightest desire to enter into more personal
relations with the two ladies。 Remarking at his first entrance the
dazzling beauty of Avdotya Romanovna； he endeavoured not to notice her
at all during his visit and addressed himself solely to Pulcheria
Alexandrovna。 All this gave him extraordinary inward satisfaction。
He declared that he thought the invalid at this moment going on very
satisfactorily。 According to his observations the patient's illness
was due partly to his unfortunate material surroundings during the
last few months； but it had partly also a moral origin； 〃was so to
speak the product of several material and moral influences； anxieties；
apprehensions； troubles； certain ideas。。。 and so on。〃 Noticing
stealthily that Avdotya Romanovna was following his words with close
attention； Zossimov allowed himself to enlarge on this theme。 On
Pulcheria Alexandrovna's anxiously and timidly inquiring as to 〃some
suspicion of insanity；〃 he replied with a composed and candid smile
that his words had been exaggerated； that certainly the patient had
some fixed idea； something approaching a monomania… he； Zossimov；
was now particularly studying this interesting branch of medicine… but
that it must be recollected that until to…day the patient had been
in delirium and。。。 and that no doubt the presence of his family
would have a favourable effect on his recovery and distract his
mind； 〃if only all fresh shocks can be avoided；〃 he added
significantly。 Then he got up； took leave with an impressive and
affable bow； while blessings； warm gratitude； and entreaties were
showered upon him； and Avdotya Romanovna spontaneously offered her
hand to him。 He went out exceedingly pleased with his visit and
still more so with himself。
〃We'll talk to…morrow； go to bed at once！〃 Razumihin said in
conclusion； following Zossimov out。 〃I'll be with you to…morrow
morning as early as possible with my report。〃
〃That's a fetching little girl； Avdotya Romanovna；〃 remarked
Zossimov； almost licking his lips as they both came out into the
street。
〃Fetching？ You said fetching？〃 roared Razumihin and he flew at
Zossimov and seized him by the throat。 〃If you ever dare。。。 Do you
understand？ Do you understand？〃 he shouted； shaking him by the
collar and squeezing him against the wall。 〃Do you hear？〃
〃Let me go； you drunken devil；〃 said Zossimov； struggling and when
he had let him go； he stared at him and went off into a sudden guffaw。
Razumihin stood facing him in gloomy and earnest reflection。
〃Of course； I am an ass；〃 he observed； sombre as a storm cloud； 〃but
still。。。 you are another。〃
〃No； brother； not at all such another。 I am not dreaming of any
folly。〃
They walked along in silence and only when they were close to
Raskolnikov's lodgings； Razumihin broke the silence in considerable
anxiety。
〃Listen；〃 he said； 〃you're a first…rate fellow； but among your other
failings； you're a loose fish； that； I know； and a dirty one； too。 You
are a feeble； nervous wretch； and a mass of whims； you're getting
fat and lazy and can't deny yourself anything… and I call that dirty
because it leads on straight into the dirt。 You've let yourself get so
slack that I don't know how it is you are still a good； even a devoted
doctor。 You… a doctor… sleep on a feather bed and get up at night to
your patients！ In another three or four years you won't get up for
your patients。。。 But hang it all； that's not the point！。。。 You are
going to spend to…night in the landlady's flat here。 （Hard work I've
had to persuade her！） And I'll be in the kitchen。 So here's a chance
for you to get to know her better。。。。 It's not as you think！ There's
not a trace of anything of the sort； brother。。。！〃
〃But I don't think！〃
〃Here you have modesty； brother； silence； bashfulness； a savage
virtue。。。 and yet she's sighing and melting like wax； simply
melting！ Save me from her； by all that's unholy！ She's most
prepossessing。。。 I'll repay you； I'll do anything。。。。〃
Zossimov laughed more violently than ever。
〃Well； you are smitten！ But what am I to do with her？〃
〃It won't be much trouble； I assure you。 Talk any rot you like to
her； as long as you sit by her and talk。 You're a doctor； too； try
curing her of something。 I swear you won't regret it。 She has a piano；
and you know； I strum a little。 I have a song there； a genuine Russian
one： 'I shed hot tears。' She likes the genuine article… and well； it
all began with that song； Now you're a regular performer； a maitre；
a Rubinstein。。。。 I assure you； you won't regret it！〃
〃But have you made her some promise？ Something signed？ A promise
of marriage； perhaps？〃
〃Nothing； nothing； absolutely nothing of the kind！ Besides she is
not that sort at all。。。。 Tchebarov tried that。。。。〃
〃Well； then； drop her！〃
〃But I can't drop her like that！〃
〃Why can't you？〃
〃Well； I can't； that's all about it！ There's an element of
attraction here； brother。〃
〃Then why have you fascinated her？〃
〃I haven't fascinated her； perhaps； I was fascinated myself in my
folly。 But she won't care a straw whether it's you or I； so long as
somebody sits beside her； sighing。。。。 I can't explain the position；
brother。。。 look here； you are good at mathematics； and working at it
now。。。 begin teaching her the integral calculus； upon my soul； I'm not
joking。 I'm in earnest； it'll be just the same to her。 She will gaze
at you and sigh for a whole year together。 I talked to her once for
two days at a time about the Prussian House of Lords （for one must
talk of something）… she just sighed and perspired！ And you mustn't
talk of love… she's bashful to hysterics… but just let her see you
can't tear yourself away… that's enough。 It's fearfully comfortable；
you're quite at home； you can read； sit； lie about； write。 You may
even venture on a kiss； if you're careful。〃
〃But what do I want with her？〃
〃Ach； I can't make you understand！ You see； you are made for each
other！ I have often been reminded of you！。。。 You'll come to it in
the end！ So does it matter whether it's sooner or later？ There's the
featherbed element here； brother；… ach！ and not only that！ There's
an attraction here… here you have the end of the world； an
anchorage； a quiet haven； the navel of the earth； the three fishes
that are the foundation of the world； the essence of pancakes； of
savoury fish…pies； of the evening samovar； of soft sighs and warm
shawls； and hot stoves to sleep on… as snug as though you were dead；
and yet you're alive… the advantag