第85章

"I quite understand that, sir," the gentleman snapped out at once to assure him that he knew who he was already."I am Captain Snegiryov, sir, but I am still desirous to know precisely what has led you- ""Oh, I've come for nothing special.I wanted to have a word with you- if only you allow me.""In that case, here is a chair, sir; kindly be seated.That's what they used to say in the old comedies, 'kindly be seated,'" and with a rapid gesture he seized an empty chair (it was a rough wooden chair, not upholstered) and set it for him almost in the middle of the room; then, taking another similar chair for himself, he sat down facing Alyosha, so close to him that their knees almost touched.

"Nikolay Ilyitch Snegiryov, sir, formerly a captain in the Russian infantry, put to shame for his vices, but still a captain.Though Imight not be one now for the way I talk; for the last half of my life I've learnt to say 'sir.' It's a word you use when you've come down in the world.""That's very true," smiled Alyosha."But is it used involuntarily or on purpose?""As God's above, it's involuntary, and I usen't to use it! Ididn't use the word 'sir' all my life, but as soon as I sank into low water I began to say 'sir.' It's the work of a higher power.I see you are interested in contemporary questions, but how can I have excited your curiosity, living as I do in surroundings impossible for the exercise of hospitality?""I've come- about that business."

"About what business?" the captain interrupted impatiently.

"About your meeting with my brother Dmitri Fyodorovitch,"Alyosha blurted out awkwardly.

"What meeting, sir? You don't mean that meeting? About my 'wisp of tow,' then?" He moved closer so that his knees positively knocked against Alyosha.His lips were strangely compressed like a thread.

"What wisp of tow?" muttered Alyosha.

"He is come to complain of me, father!" cried a voice familiar to Alyosha- the voice of the schoolboy- from behind the curtain."Ibit his finger just now." The curtain was pulled, and Alyosha saw his assailant lying on a little bed made up on the bench and the chair in the corner under the ikons.The boy lay covered by his coat and an old wadded quilt.He was evidently unwell, and, judging by his glittering eyes, he was in a fever.He looked at Alyosha without fear, as though he felt he was at home and could not be touched.

"What! Did he bite your finger?" The captain jumped up from his chair."Was it your finger he bit?""Yes.He was throwing stones with other schoolboys.There were six of them against him alone.I went up to him, and he threw a stone at me and then another at my head.I asked him what I had done to him.

And then he rushed at me and bit my finger badly, I don't know why.""I'll thrash him, sir, at once- this minute!" The captain jumped up from his seat.

"But I am not complaining at all, I am simply telling you....Idon't want him to be thrashed.Besides, he seems to be ill.""And do you suppose I'd thrash him? That I'd take my Ilusha and thrash him before you for your satisfaction? Would you like it done at once, sir?" said the captain, suddenly turning to Alyosha, as though he were going to attack him."I am sorry about your finger, sir; but instead of thrashing Ilusha, would you like me to chop off my four fingers with this knife here before your eyes to satisfy your just wrath? I should think four fingers would be enough to satisfy your thirst for vengeance.You won't ask for the fifth one too?" He stopped short with a catch in his throat.Every feature in his face was twitching and working; he looked extremely defiant.He was in a sort of frenzy.

"I think I understand it all now," said Alyosha gently and sorrowfully, still keeping his seat."So your boy is a good boy, he loves his father, and he attacked me as the brother of your assailant....Now I understand it," he repeated thoughtfully."But my brother Dmitri Fyodorovitch regrets his action, I know that, and if only it is possible for him to come to you, or better still, to meet you in that same place, he will ask your forgiveness before everyone- if you wish it.""After pulling out my beard, you mean, he will ask my forgiveness?

And he thinks that will be a satisfactory finish, doesn't he?""Oh, no! On the contrary, he will do anything you like and in any way you like.""So if I were to ask his highness to go down on his knees before me in that very tavern- 'The Metropolis' it's called- or in the marketplace, he would do it?""Yes, he would even go down on his knees.""You've pierced me to the heart, sir.Touched me to tears and pierced me to the heart! I am only too sensible of your brother's generosity.Allow me to introduce my family, my two daughters and my son- my litter.If I die, who will care for them, and while I live who but they will care for a wretch like me? That's a great thing the Lord has ordained for every man of my sort, sir.For there must be someone able to love even a man like me.""Ah, that's perfectly true!" exclaimed Alyosha.

"Oh, do leave off playing the fool! Some idiot comes in, and you put us to shame!" cried the girl by the window, suddenly turning to her father with a disdainful and contemptuous air.

"Wait a little, Varvara!" cried her father, speaking peremptorily but looking at them quite approvingly."That's her character," he said, addressing Alyosha again.

"And in all nature there was naught That could find favour in his eyes-or rather in the feminine- that could find favour in her eyes-.But now let me present you to my wife, Arina Petrovna.She is crippled, she is forty-three; she can move, but very little.She is of humble origin.Arina Petrovna, compose your countenance.This is Alexey Fyodorovitch Karamazov.Get up, Alexey Fyodorovitch." He took him by the hand and with unexpected force pulled him up."You must stand up to be introduced to a lady.It's not the Karamazov, mamma, who...

h'm...etcetera, but his brother, radiant with modest virtues.Come, Arina Petrovna, come, mamma, first your hand to be kissed."And he kissed his wife's hand respectfully and even tenderly.