Page 857 of 1294

"I should never have expected that beggarly fool would have spent

on this feast all the money she got from that other fool,

Raskolnikov. I was surprised just now as I came through at the

preparations there, the wines! Several people are invited. It's

beyond everything!" continued Pyotr Petrovitch, who seemed to

have some object in pursuing the conversation. "What? You say I

am asked too? When was that? I don't remember. But I shan't go.

Why should I? I only said a word to her in passing yesterday of

the possibility of her obtaining a year's salary as a destitute

widow of a government clerk. I suppose she has invited me on that

account, hasn't she? He-he-he!"

"I don't intend to go either," said Lebeziatnikov.

"I should think not, after giving her a thrashing! You might well

hesitate, he-he!"

"Who thrashed? Whom?" cried Lebeziatnikov, flustered and

blushing.