पृष्ठ 803 / 1294

A modern cultivated man would prefer prison to living with such

strangers as our peasants. He-he! But that's all nonsense, and on

the surface. It's not merely that he has nowhere to run to, he is

psychologically unable to escape me, he-he! What an expression!

Through a law of nature he can't escape me if he had anywhere to

go. Have you seen a butterfly round a candle? That's how he will

keep circling and circling round me. Freedom will lose its

attractions. He'll begin to brood, he'll weave a tangle round

himself, he'll worry himself to death! What's more, he will

provide me with a mathematical proof--if I only give him long

enough interval.... And he'll keep circling round me, getting

nearer and nearer and then--flop! He'll fly straight into my

mouth and I'll swallow him, and that will be very amusing,

he-he-he! You don't believe me?"

Raskolnikov made no reply; he sat pale and motionless, still

gazing with the same intensity into Porfiry's face.