Pagina 454 di 1294

"But I did ask her to remember 'Thy servant Rodion' in her

prayers," the idea struck him. "Well, that was... in case of

emergency," he added and laughed himself at his boyish sally. He

was in the best of spirits.

He easily found Razumihin; the new lodger was already known at

Potchinkov's and the porter at once showed him the way. Half-way

upstairs he could hear the noise and animated conversation of a

big gathering of people. The door was wide open on the stairs; he

could hear exclamations and discussion. Razumihin's room was

fairly large; the company consisted of fifteen people.

Raskolnikov stopped in the entry, where two of the landlady's

servants were busy behind a screen with two samovars, bottles,

plates and dishes of pie and savouries, brought up from the

landlady's kitchen. Raskolnikov sent in for Razumihin. He ran out

delighted. At the first glance it was apparent that he had had a

great deal to drink and, though no amount of liquor made

Razumihin quite drunk, this time he was perceptibly affected by

it.