登陆注册
19593600000263

第263章

He told me he'd arrange it; he's found out about everything.But of that later.He's simply set on it.It's all a matter of money: he'll pay ten thousand for escape and give me twenty thousand for America.

And he says we can arrange a magnificent escape for ten thousand.""And he told you on no account to tell me?" Alyosha asked again.

"To tell no one, and especially not you; on no account to tell you.He is afraid, no doubt, that you'll stand before me as my conscience.Don't tell him I told you.Don't tell him, for anything.""You are right," Alyosha pronounced; "it's impossible to decide anything before the trial is over.After the trial you'll decide of yourself.Then you'll find that new man in yourself and he will decide.""A new man, or a Bernard who'll decide a la Bernard, for I believe I'm a contemptible Bernard myself," said Mitya, with a bitter grin.

"But, brother, have you no hope then of being acquitted?"Mitya shrugged his shoulders nervously and shook his head.

"Alyosha, darling, it's time you were going," he said, with a sudden haste."There's the superintendent shouting in the yard.

He'll be here directly.We are late; it's irregular.Embrace me quickly.Kiss me! Sign me with the cross, darling, for the cross Ihave to bear to-morrow."

They embraced and kissed.

"Ivan," said Mitya suddenly, "suggests my escaping; but, of course, he believes I did it."A mournful smile came on to his lips.

"Have you asked him whether he believes it?" asked Alyosha.

"No, I haven't.I wanted to, but I couldn't.I hadn't the courage.

But I saw it from his eyes.Well, good-bye!"Once more they kissed hurriedly, and Alyosha was just going out, when Mitya suddenly called him back.

"Stand facing me! That's right!" And again he seized Alyosha, putting both hands on his shoulders.His face became suddenly quite pale, so that it was dreadfully apparent, even through the gathering darkness.His lips twitched, his eyes fastened upon Alyosha.

"Alyosha, tell me the whole truth, as you would before God.Do you believe I did it? Do you, do you in yourself, believe it? The whole truth, don't lie!" he cried desperately.

Everything seemed heaving before Alyosha, and he felt something like a stab at his heart.

"Hush! What do you mean?" he faltered helplessly.

"The whole truth, the whole, don't lie!" repeated Mitya.

"I've never for one instant believed that you were the murderer!" broke in a shaking voice from Alyosha's breast, and he raised his right hand in the air, as though calling God to witness his words.

Mitya's whole face was lighted up with bliss.

"Thank you!" he articulated slowly, as though letting a sigh escape him after fainting."Now you have given me new life.Would you believe it, till this moment I've been afraid to ask you, you, even you.Well, go! You've given me strength for to-morrow.God bless you! Come, go along! Love Ivan!" was Mitya's last word.

Alyosha went out in tears.Such distrustfulness in Mitya, such lack of confidence even to him, to Alyosha- all this suddenly opened before Alyosha an unsuspected depth of hopeless grief and despair in the soul of his unhappy brother.Intense, infinite compassion overwhelmed him instantly.There was a poignant ache in his torn heart."Love Ivan"- he suddenly recalled Mitya's words.And he was going to Ivan.He badly wanted to see Ivan all day.He was as much worried about Ivan as about Mitya, and more than ever now.

Chapter 5

Not You, Not You!

ON the way to Ivan he had to pass the house where Katerina Ivanovna was living.There was light in the windows.He suddenly stopped and resolved to go in.He had not seen Katerina Ivanovna for more than a week.But now it struck him that Ivan might be with her, especially on the eve of the terrible day.Ringing, and mounting the staircase, which was dimly lighted by a Chinese lantern, he saw a man coming down, and as they met, he recognised him as his brother.So he was just coming from Katerina Ivanovna.

"Ah, it's only you," said Ivan dryly."Well, good-bye! You are going to her?""Yes."

"I don't advise you to; she's upset and you'll upset her more."A door was instantly flung open above, and a voice cried suddenly:

"No, no! Alexey Fyodorovitch, have you come from him?""Yes, I have been with him."

"Has he sent me any message? Come up, Alyosha, and you, Ivan Fyodorovitch, you must come back, you must.Do you hear?"There was such a peremptory note in Katya's voice that Ivan, after a moment's hesitation, made up his mind to go back with Alyosha.

"She was listening," he murmured angrily to himself, but Alyosha heard it.

"Excuse my keeping my greatcoat on," said Ivan, going into the drawing-room."I won't sit down.I won't stay more than a minute.""Sit down, Alexey Fyodorovitch," said Katerina Ivanovna, though she remained standing.She had changed very little during this time, but there was an ominous gleam in her dark eyes.Alyosha remembered afterwards that she had struck him as particularly handsome at that moment.

"What did he ask you to tell me?"

"Only one thing," said Alyosha, looking her straight in the face, "that you would spare yourself and say nothing at the trial of what" (he was a little confused) "...passed between you...at the time of your first acquaintance...in that town.""Ah! that I bowed down to the ground for that money!" She broke into a bitter laugh."Why, is he afraid for me or for himself? He asks me to spare- whom? Him or myself? Tell me, Alexey Fyodorovitch!"Alyosha watched her intently, trying to understand her.

"Both yourself and him," he answered softly.

"I am glad to hear it," she snapped out maliciously, and she suddenly blushed.

"You don't know me yet, Alexey Fyodorovitch," she said menacingly.

同类推荐
  • 孔易阐真

    孔易阐真

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上洞玄灵宝福日妙经

    太上洞玄灵宝福日妙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 根本说一切有部戒经

    根本说一切有部戒经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 太清五十八愿文

    太清五十八愿文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 白云守端禅师广录

    白云守端禅师广录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 千亿萌宝极品辣妈

    千亿萌宝极品辣妈

    时隔六年,她强势回国,找儿子却找到了他家门口。她是未婚怀孕被扫地出门的顾家千金,他是隐忍不发傲娇自恋的君家大少;因此彼此需要,她成了他的私人秘书;他却成了她儿子的专属爹地。可是明明说好的河水不犯井水,君大少请问你没事对我玩什么壁咚?关键时候超级萌宝来相助:“爹地,想娶妈咪请拿千亿身家来换。”某腹黑宝贝躲在房间眼冒金光,开始数钱:哼,现在君家我最有钱,看以后谁还敢欺负妈咪……【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 最具影响力的文坛巨匠(下)

    最具影响力的文坛巨匠(下)

    文学是一种社会意识形态,与社会、政治以及哲学、宗教和道德等社会科学具有密切的关系,是在一定的社会经济基础上形成和发展起来的,因此,它能深刻反映一个国家或一个民族特定时期的社会生活面貌。文学的功能是以形象来反映社会生活,是用具体的、生动感人的细节来反映客观世界的。优秀的文学作品能使人产生如临其境、如见其人、如闻其声的感觉,并从思想感情上受到感染、教育和陶冶。文学是语言的艺术,是以语言为工具来塑造艺术形象的,虽然其具有形象的间接性,但它能多方面立体性地展示社会生活,甚至表现社会生活的发展过程,展示人与人之间的错综复杂的社会关系和人物的内心精神世界。
  • 新星崛起

    新星崛起

    九星锁魔天阵需集九颗星球所有生灵之力方可起阵,威力亦是无穷,且从未有过失手的记录,但这一次却是被意外破阵,九星之上所有生灵无一存活。各方大能不知出于何种目的,居然重启了这九颗毫无生灵存在的星球,同时施展神通大力改造,又移居了数百亿的人类及其它生灵于九星之上,使之生机傲然。其中来自烈阳系差点全部绝灭的近十亿人类,幸运被选中成为其中一星的生命主体,但拥有现代思维的他们能够适应这个星球的生活吗?他们将迎接什么样的挑战?又将开创什么样的历史呢?这颗星球会给他们带来什么,又或者他们能给这颗星球带来什么呢?一切的一切都是未知的,一个崭新的重启星球即将起航!
  • 可爱小笨蛋快到碗里来

    可爱小笨蛋快到碗里来

    西,本文文是由小说阅读网然后再弄到腾讯的,为的就是更多人可以看啦。
  • 宠妖女:风花雪夜

    宠妖女:风花雪夜

    狂风习习,雪花飘扬,那凄凉的夜中曼珠沙华花瓣上雪与血进行了世间最完美的交融...
  • 淡忘8夏

    淡忘8夏

    我们的秘密隐藏在8月之夏中,可是当我们再次在8月的夏天相见时,说好的淡忘去哪里了呢……本文为现代言情,不喜勿入
  • 灵界风云录

    灵界风云录

    穿越千年的轮回,只为今生的赎罪。阴曹的大神钟馗,迎来了千年一次的轮回劫,而他的转世,将换来无数妖魔鬼怪的蠢蠢欲动。他们都想将之除之而后快。为此,神界为其找了一个替死鬼。而这个替死鬼,他的命运会是怎样的呢?他的身份又是什么呢?
  • 灭妖录

    灭妖录

    因为一场诡异的事故,遗落在偏僻村庄的孤儿,被认为是不祥之人。揭开身世之谜的过程,也将不断碰撞隐藏在这个世界的各种力量……
  • 战天焚魂诀

    战天焚魂诀

    新人新手,唐机红辰豆向诸位书友承诺,绝不太监,绝不烂尾!天地有五行战气,人间有不灭战魂。他不是炎帝,也不做武神,他是二货,他叫灿哥。这是一个战气世界,苏小灿从地球穿越至此,一再打破苏家修炼纪录,十岁那年成为苏家历史上最年轻的战者。然后他沦落了!!!但是在命运面前绝不屈服的他,用他的灿烂征服了狗屎命运,用他的灿烂赢得了众多朋友,用他的灿烂率领战魂大陆从弱肉强食走向了自由和平。他叫灿哥,他不只是一个传说!!!!!
  • 易道仙途

    易道仙途

    一个离家出走的毛头小子,一段积极向上的修行冒险,一段荡气回肠的爱情友情故事。且看主角如何一步一步在奇伟瑰怪的修行世界踏上仙途!