按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
their right to crime in my article （you remember it began with the
legal question）。 There's no need for such anxiety； however； the masses
will scarcely ever admit this right； they punish them or hang them
（more or less）； and in doing so fulfil quite justly their conservative
vocation。 But the same masses set these criminals on a pedestal in the
next generation and worship them （more or less）。 The first category is
always the man of the present； the second the man of the future。 The
first preserve the world and people it； the second move the world
and lead it to its goal。 Each class has an equal right to exist。 In
fact； all have equal rights with me… and vive la guerre eternelle…
till the New Jerusalem； of course！〃
〃Then you believe in the New Jerusalem； do you？〃
〃I do；〃 Raskolnikov answered firmly； as he said these words and
during the whole preceding tirade he kept his eyes on one spot on
the carpet。
〃And。。。 and do you believe in God？ Excuse my curiosity。〃
〃I do；〃 repeated Raskolnikov； raising his eyes to Porfiry。
〃And。。。 do you believe in Lazarus' rising from the dead？〃
〃I。。。 I do。 Why do you ask all this？〃
〃You believe it literally？〃
〃Literally。〃
〃You don't say so。。。。 I asked from curiosity。 Excuse me。 But let
us go back to the question； they are not always executed。 Some； on the
contrary。。。〃
〃Triumph in their lifetime？ Oh； yes； some attain their ends in
this life； and then。。。〃
〃They begin executing other people？〃
〃If it's necessary； indeed； for the most part they do。 Your remark
is very witty。〃
〃Thank you。 But tell me this： how do you distinguish those
extraordinary people from the ordinary ones？ Are there signs at
their birth？ I feel there ought to be more exactitude； more external
definition。 Excuse the natural anxiety of a practical law…abiding
citizen； but couldn't they adopt a special uniform； for instance；
couldn't they wear something； be branded in some way？ For you know
if confusion arises and a member of one category imagines that he
belongs to the other； begins to 'eliminate obstacles；' as you so
happily expressed it； then。。。〃
〃Oh； that very often happens！ That remark is wittier than the
other。〃
〃Thank you。〃
〃No reason to； but take note that the mistake can only arise in
the first category； that is among the ordinary people （as I perhaps
unfortunately called them）。 In spite of their predisposition to
obedience very many of them； through a playfulness of nature；
sometimes vouchsafed even to the cow； like to imagine themselves
advanced people； 'destroyers；' and to push themselves into the 'new
movement；' and this quite sincerely。 Meanwhile the really new people
are very often unobserved by them； or even despised as reactionaries
of grovelling tendencies。 But I don't think there is any
considerable danger here； and you really need not be uneasy for they
never go very far。 Of course； they might have a thrashing sometimes
for letting their fancy run away with them and to teach them their
place； but no more； in fact； even this isn't necessary as they
castigate themselves； for they are very conscientious： some perform
this service for one another and others chastise themselves with their
own hands。。。。 They will impose various public acts of penitence upon
themselves with a beautiful and edifying effect； in fact you've
nothing to be uneasy about。。。。 It's a law of nature。〃
〃Well； you have certainly set my mind more at rest on that score；
but there's another thing worries me。 Tell me； please； are there
many people who have the right to kill others； these extraordinary
people？ I am ready to bow down to them； of course； but you must
admit it's alarming if there are a great many of them； eh？〃
〃Oh； you needn't worry about that either；〃 Raskolnikov went on in
the same tone。 〃People with new ideas； people with the faintest
capacity for saying something new； are extremely few in number；
extraordinarily so in fact。 One thing only is clear； that the
appearance of all these grades and sub…divisions of men must follow
with unfailing regularity some law of nature。 That law； of course；
is unknown at present； but I am convinced that it exists； and one
day may become known。 The vast mass of mankind is mere material； and
only exists in order by some great effort； by some mysterious process；
by means of some crossing of races and stocks； to bring into the world
at last perhaps one man out of a thousand with a spark of
independence。 One in ten thousand perhaps… I speak roughly；
approximately… is born with some independence； and with still
greater independence one in a hundred thousand。 The man of genius is
one of millions； and the great geniuses； the crown of humanity； appear
on earth perhaps one in many thousand millions。 In fact I have not
peeped into the retort in which all this takes place。 But there
certainly is and must be a definite law； it cannot be a matter of
chance。〃
〃Why； are you both joking？〃 Razumihin cried at last。 〃There you sit；
making fun of one another。 Are you serious； Rodya？〃
Raskolnikov raised his pale and almost mournful face and made no
reply。 And the unconcealed； persistent； nervous； and discourteous
sarcasm of Porfiry seemed strange to Razumihin beside that quiet and
mournful face。
〃Well； brother； if you are really serious。。。 You are right； of
course； in saying that it's not new； that it's like what we've read
and heard a thousand times already； but what is really original in all
this； and is exclusively your own； to my horror； is that you
sanction bloodshed in the name of conscience； and； excuse my saying
so； with such fanaticism。。。。 That； I take it； is the point of your
article。 But that sanction of bloodshed by conscience is to my mind。。。
more terrible than the official； legal sanction of bloodshed。。。。〃
〃You are quite right； it is more terrible；〃 Porfiry agreed。
〃Yes； you must have exaggerated！ There is some mistake； I shall read
it。 You can't think that！ I shall read it。〃
〃All that is not in the article； there's only a hint of it；〃 said
Raskolnikov。
〃Yes； yes。〃 Porfiry couldn't sit still。 〃Your attitude to crime is
pretty clear to me now； but。。。 excuse me for my impertinence （I am
really ashamed to be worrying you like this）； you see； you've
removed my anxiety as to the two grades' getting mixed； but。。。 there
are various practical possibilities that make me uneasy！ What if
some man or youth imagines that he is a Lycurgus or Mahomet… a
future one of course… and suppose he begins to remove all
obstacles。。。。 He has some great enterprise before him and needs
money for it。。。 and tries to get it。。。 do you see？〃
Zametov gave a sudden guffaw in his corner。 Raskolnikov did not even
raise his eyes to him。
〃I must admit；〃 he went on calmly； 〃that such cases certainly must
arise。 The vain and foolish are particularly apt to fall into that
snare； young people especially。〃
〃Yes； you see。 Well then？〃
〃What then？〃 Raskolnikov smiled in reply； 〃that's not my fault。 So
it is and so it always will be。 He said just now （he nodded at
Razumihin） that I sanction bloodsh