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You see you are in a better humour now, said Alyosha smiling. Um! I love you even without the brandy, but with scoundrels I am a scoundrel. Ivan is not going to Tchermashnyawhy is that? He wants to spy how much I give Grushenka if she comes. They are all scoundrels! But I dont recognise Ivan, I dont know him at all. Where does he come from? He is not one of us in soul. As though Id leave him anything! I shant leave a will at all, you may as well know. And Ill crush Mitya like a beetle. I squash black beetles at night with my slipper; they squelch when you tread on them. And your Mitya will squelch too. Your Mitya, for you love him. Yes, you love him and I am not afraid of your loving him. But if Ivan loved him I should be afraid for myself at his loving him. But Ivan loves nobody. Ivan is not one of us. People like Ivan are not our sort, my boy. They are like a cloud of dust. When the wind blows, the dust will be gone I had a silly idea in my head when I told you to come to-day; I wanted to find out from you about Mitya. If I were to hand him over a thousand or maybe two now, would the beggarly wretch agree to take himself off altogether for five years or, better still, thirty-five, and without Grushenka, and give her up once for all, eh? IIll ask him, muttered Alyosha. If you would give him three thousand, perhaps he Thats nonsense! You neednt ask him now, no need! Ive changed my mind. It was a nonsensical idea of mine. I wont give him anything, not a penny, I want my money myself, cried the old man, waving his hand. Ill crush him like a beetle without it. Dont say anything to him or else he will begin hoping. Theres nothing for you to do here, you neednt stay. Is that betrothed of his, Katerina Ivanovna, whom he has kept so carefully hidden from me all this time, going to marry him or not? You went to see her yesterday, I believe? Nothing will induce her to abandon him. There you see how dearly these fine young ladies love a rake and a scoundrel. They are poor creatures I tell you, those pale young ladies, very different from Ah, if I had his youth and the looks I had then (for I was better-looking than he at eight and twenty) Id have been a conquering hero just as he is. He is a low cad! But he shant have Grushenka, anyway, he shant! Ill crush him! His anger had returned with the last words. You can go. Theres nothing for you to do here to-day, he snapped harshly. Alyosha went up to say good-bye to him, and kissed him on the shoulder. Whats that for? the old man was a little surprised. We shall see each other again, or do you think we shant? Not at all, I didnt mean anything. Nor did I, I did not mean anything, said the old man, looking at him. Listen, listen, he shouted after him, make haste and come again and Ill have a fish soup for you, a fine one, not like to-day. Be sure to come! Come to-morrow, do you hear, to-morrow! And as soon as Alyosha had gone out of the door, he went to the cupboard again and poured out another half-glass. I wont have more! he muttered, clearing his throat, and again he locked the cupboard and put the key in his pocket. Then he went into his bedroom, lay down on the bed, exhausted, and in one minute he was asleep. |
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