Page 798 of 1294

"You are certainly quite right about it," Porfiry began gaily,

looking with extraordinary simplicity at Raskolnikov (which

startled him and instantly put him on his guard); "certainly

quite right in laughing so wittily at our legal forms, he-he!

Some of these elaborate psychological methods are exceedingly

ridiculous and perhaps useless, if one adheres too closely to the

forms. Yes... I am talking of forms again. Well, if I recognise,

or more strictly speaking, if I suspect someone or other to be a

criminal in any case entrusted to me... you're reading for the

law, of course, Rodion Romanovitch?"

"Yes, I was..."