ome difficulty in breathing. "But supposing that all this is pure
fancy?--a kind of mirage? Suppose I had misunderstood? Let me try and
keep up my nasty part, and not commit myself, like the fool, by blind
anger! Ought I to give them credit for intentions they have not? Their
words are, in themselves, not very extraordinary ones--so much must be
allowed; but a double meaning may lurk beneath them. Why did
Porphyrius, in speaking of the old woman, simply say 'At her place?'
Why did Zametoff observe that I had spoken very sensibly? Why their
peculiar manner?--yes, it is this manner of theirs. How is it possible
that all this cannot have struck Razoumikhin? The booby never notices
anything! But I seem to be feverish again! Did Porphyrius give me a
kind of wink just now, or was I deceived in some way? The idea is
absurd! Why should he wink at me? Perhaps they intend to upset my
nervous organization, and, by so doing, drive me to extremes! Either
the whole thing is a phantasmagoria, or--they know!"

These thoughts flashed through his mind with the rapidity of
lightning. Porphyrius Petrovitch came back a moment afterwards. He
seemed in a very good temper. "When I left your place yesterday, old
fellow, I was really not well," he commenced, addressing Razoumikhin
with a cheeriness which was only just becoming apparent, "but that is
all gone now."

"Did you find the evening a pleasant one? I left you in the thick of
the fun; who came off best?"

"Nobody, of course. They caviled to their heart's content over their
old arguments."

"Fancy, Rodia, the discussion last evening turned on the question:
'Does crime exist? Yes, or No.' And the nonsense they talked on the
subject!"

"What is there extraordinary in the query? It is the social question
without the charm of novelty," answered Raskolnikoff abruptly.

"Talking of crime," said Porphyrius Petrovitch, speaking to
Raskolnikoff, "I remember a production of yours which greatly
interested me. I am speaking about your article _on crime_. I don't
very well remember the title. I was delighted in reading it two months
ago in the _Periodical Word."_

"But how do you know the article was mine? I only signed it with an
initial."

"I discovered it lately, quite by chance. The chief editor is a friend
of mine; it was he who let out the secret of your authorship. The
article has greatly interested me."

"I was analyzing, if I remember rightly, the psychological condition
of a crim