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"If it hadn't been for that, would you have given her the slip?"

"I don't know what to say. It was scarcely the document

restrained me. I didn't want to go anywhere else. Marfa Petrovna

herself invited me to go abroad, seeing I was bored, but I've

been abroad before, and always felt sick there. For no reason,

but the sunrise, the bay of Naples, the sea--you look at them and

it makes you sad. What's most revolting is that one is really

sad! No, it's better at home. Here at least one blames others for

everything and excuses oneself. I should have gone perhaps on an

expedition to the North Pole, because _j'ai le vin mauvais_ and

hate drinking, and there's nothing left but wine. I have tried

it. But, I say, I've been told Berg is going up in a great

balloon next Sunday from the Yusupov Garden and will take up

passengers at a fee. Is it true?"

"Why, would you go up?"

"I... No, oh, no," muttered Svidrigailov really seeming to be

deep in thought.