第166章

第166章allranupandcrowdedaround.raskolnikovandlebeziatnikovwerethefirstatherside,theofficialtoohastenedup,andbehindhimthepolicemanwhomuttered,“bother!”withagestureofimpatience,feelingthatthejobwasgoingtobeatroublesomeone.

“passon!passon!”hesaidtothecrowdthatpressedforward.

“she’sdying,”someoneshouted.

“she’sgoneoutofhermind,”saidanother.

“lordhavemercyuponus,”saidawoman,crossingherself.“havetheycaughtthelittlegirlandtheboy?they’rebeingbroughtback,theelderone’sgotthem.…ah,thenaughtyimps!”

whentheyexaminedkaterinaivanovnacarefully,theysawthatshehadnotcutherselfagainstastone,assoniathought,butthatthebloodthatstainedthepavementredwasfromherchest.

“i’veseenthatbefore,”mutteredtheofficialtoraskolnikovandlebeziatnikov;“that’sconsumption;thebloodflowsandchokesthepatient.isawthesamethingwitharelativeofmyownnotlongago…nearlyapintofblood,allinaminute.…what’stobedonethough?sheisdying.”

“thisway,thisway,tomyroom!”soniaimplored.“ilivehere!…see,thathouse,thesecondfromhere.…cometome,makehaste,”sheturnedfromonetotheother.“sendforthedoctor!oh,dear!”

thankstotheofficial’sefforts,thisplanwasadopted,thepolicemanevenhelpingtocarrykaterinaivanovna.shewascarriedtosonia’sroom,almostunconscious,andlaidonthebed.thebloodwasstillflowing,butsheseemedtobecomingtoherself.raskolnikov,lebeziatnikov,andtheofficialaccompaniedsoniaintotheroomandwerefollowedbythepoliceman,whofirstdrovebackthecrowdwhichfollowedtotheverydoor.polenkacameinholdingkolyaandlida,whoweretremblingandweeping.severalpersonscameintoofromthekapernaumovs’room;thelandlord,alameone-eyedmanofstrangeappearancewithwhiskersandhairthatstooduplikeabrush,hiswife,awomanwithaneverlastinglyscaredexpression,andseveralopen-mouthedchildrenwithwonder-struckfaces.amongthese,svidrigailovsuddenlymadehisappearance.raskolnikovlookedathimwithsurprise,notunderstandingwherehehadcomefromandnothavingnoticedhiminthecrowd.adoctorandpriestworespokenof.theofficialwhisperedtoraskolnikovthathethoughtitwastoolatenowforthedoctor,butheorderedhimtobesentfor.kapernaumovranhimself.

meanwhilekaterinaivanovnahadregainedherbreath.thebleedingceasedforatime.shelookedwithsickbutintentandpenetratingeyesatsonia,whostoodpaleandtrembling,wipingthesweatfromherbrowwithahandkerchief.atlastsheaskedtoberaised.theysatheruponthebed,supportingheronbothsides.

“wherearethechildren?”shesaidinafaintvoice.“you’vebroughtthem,polenka?ohthesillies!whydidyourunaway.…och!”

oncemoreherparchedlipswerecoveredwithblood.shemovedhereyes,lookingabouther.

“sothat’showyoulive,sonia!neveroncehaveibeeninyourroom.”

shelookedatherwithafaceofsuffering.

“wehavebeenyourruin,sonia.polenka,lida,kolya,comehere!well,heretheyare,sonia,takethemall!ihandthemovertoyou,i’vehadenough!theballisover.”(cough!)“laymedown,letmedieinpeace.”

theylaidherbackonthepillow.

“what,thepriest?idon’twanthim.youhaven’tgotaroubletospare.ihavenosins.godmustforgivemewithoutthat.heknowshowihavesuffered.…andifhewon’tforgiveme,idon’tcare!”

shesankmoreandmoreintouneasydelirium.attimessheshuddered,turnedhereyesfromsidetoside,recognisedeveryoneforaminute,butatoncesankintodeliriumagain.herbreathingwashoarseanddifficult,therewasasortofrattleinherthroat.

“isaidtohim,yourexcellency,”sheejaculated,gaspingaftereachword.“thatamalialudwigovna,ah!lida,kolya,handsonyourhips,makehaste!glissez,glissez!pasdebasque!tapwithyourheels,beagracefulchild!

“duhastdiamantenundperlen

“whatnext?that’sthethingtosing.

“duhastdieschonstenaugen

madchen,waswillstdumehr?