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Smerdyakov He did in fact find his father still at table. Though there was a dining-room in the house, the table was laid as usual in the drawing-room, which was the largest room, and furnished with old-fashioned ostentation. The furniture was white and very old, upholstered in old, red, silky material. In the spaces between the windows there were mirrors in elaborate white and gilt frames, of old-fashioned carving. On the walls, covered with white paper, which was torn in many places, there hung two large portraitsone of some prince who had been governor of the district thirty years before, and the other of some bishop, also long since dead. In the corner opposite the door there were several ikons, before which a lamp was lighted at nightfall not so much for devotional purposes as to light the room. Fyodor Pavlovitch used to go to bed very late, at three or four oclock in the morning, and would wander about the room at night or sit in an armchair, thinking. This had become a habit with him. He often slept quite alone in the house, sending his servants to the lodge; but usually Smerdyakov remained on a bench in the hall. When Alyosha came in, dinner was over, but coffee and preserves had been served. Fyodor Pavlovitch liked sweet things with brandy after dinner. Ivan was also at table, sipping coffee. The servants, Grigory and Smerdyakov, were standing by. Both the gentlemen and the servants seemed in singularly good spirits. Fyodor Pavlovitch was roaring with laughter. Before he entered the room, Alyosha heard the shrill laugh he knew so well, and could tell from the sound of it that his father had only reached the good-humoured stage, and was far from being completely drunk. Here he is! Here he is! yelled Fyodor Pavlovitch, highly delighted at seeing Alyosha. Join us. Sit down. Coffee is a lenten dish, but its hot and good. I dont offer you brandy, youre keeping the fast. But would you like some? No; Id better give you some of our famous liqueur. Smerdyakov, go to the cupboard, the second shelf on the right. Here are the keys. Look sharp! Alyosha began refusing the liqueur. Never mind. If you wont have it, we will, said Fyodor Pavlovitch, beaming. But stayhave you dined? Yes, answered Alyosha, who had in truth only eaten a piece of bread and drunk a glass of kvass in the Father Superiors kitchen. Though I shall be pleased to have some hot coffee. Bravo, my darling! Hell have some coffee. Does it want warming? No, its boiling. Its capital coffee: Smerdyakovs making. My Smerdyakovs an artist at coffee and at fish patties, and at fish soup, too. You must come one day and have some fish soup. Let me know beforehand. But, stay; didnt I tell you this morning to come home with your mattress and pillow and all? Have you brought your mattress? He, he, he! No, I havent, said Alyosha, smiling, too. Ah, but you were frightened, you were frightened this morning, werent you? There, my darling, I couldnt do anything to vex you. Do you know, Ivan, I cant resist the way he looks one straight in the face and laughs? It makes me laugh all over. Im so fond of him. Alyosha, let me give you my blessinga fathers blessing. Alyosha rose, but Fyodor Pavlovitch had already changed his mind. No, no, he said, Ill just make the sign of the cross over you, for now. Sit still. Now weve a treat for you, in your own line, too. Itll make you laugh. Balaams ass has begun talking to us hereand how he talks! How he talks! Balaams ass, it appeared, was the valet, Smerdyakov. He was a young man of about four and twenty, remarkably unsociable and taciturn. Not that he was shy or bashful. On the contrary, he was conceited and seemed to despise everybody. But we must pause to say a few words about him now. He was brought up by Grigory and Marfa, but the boy grew up with no sense of gratitude, as Grigory expressed it; he was an unfriendly boy, and |
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