llect, they owe me something. Let us
look at the letter, Ostrodumov."

Ostrodumov remained motionless for a time, then he looked around, stood
up, bent down, turned up one of the legs of his trousers, and carefully
pulled a piece of blue paper out of his high boot, blew at it for some
reason or another, and handed it to Nejdanov. The latter took the piece
of paper, unfolded it, read it carefully, and passed it on to Mashurina.
She stood up, also read it, and handed it back to Nejdanov, although
Paklin had extended his hand for it. Nejdanov shrugged his shoulders and
gave the secret letter to Paklin. The latter scanned the paper in his
turn, pressed his lips together significantly, and laid it solemnly on
the table. Ostrodumov took it, lit a large match, which exhaled a strong
odour of sulphur, lifted the paper high above his head, as if showing it
to all present, set fire to it, and, regardless of his fingers, put
the ashes into the stove. No one moved or pronounced a word during this
proceeding; all had their eyes fixed on the floor. Ostrodumov looked
concentrated and business-like, Nejdanov furious, Paklin intense, and
Mashurina as if she were present at holy mass.

About two minutes went by in this way, everyone feeling uncomfortable.
Paklin was the first to break the silence.

"Well?" he began. "Is my sacrifice to be received on the altar of the
fatherland? Am I permitted to bring, if not the whole at any rate,
twenty-five or thirty roubles for the common cause?"

Nejdanov flared up. He seemed to be boiling over with annoyance, which
was not lessened by the solemn burning of the letter--he was only
waiting for an opportunity to burst out.

"I tell you that I don't want it, don't want, don't want it! I'll not
allow it and I'll not take it! I can get the money. I can get it at
once. I am not in need of anyone's help!

"My dear Alexai," Paklin remarked, "I see that you are not a democrat in
spite of your being a revolutionist!"

"Why not say straight out that I'm an aristocrat?"

"So you are up to a certain point."

Nejdanov gave a forced laugh.

"I see you are hinting at the fact of my being illegitimate. You can
save yourself the trouble, my dear boy. I am not likely to forget it."

Paklin threw up his arms in despair.

"Aliosha! What is the matter with you? How can you twist my words so? I
hardly know you today."

Nejdanov shrugged his shoulders.

"Basanov's arrest has upset you, but he was so carel