Pagina 453 van 1294

"I am very weak at this moment, but... I believe my illness is

all over. I knew it would be over when I went out. By the way,

Potchinkov's house is only a few steps away. I certainly must go

to Razumihin even if it were not close by... let him win his bet!

Let us give him some satisfaction, too--no matter! Strength,

strength is what one wants, you can get nothing without it, and

strength must be won by strength--that's what they don't know,"

he added proudly and self-confidently and he walked with flagging

footsteps from the bridge. Pride and self-confidence grew

continually stronger in him; he was becoming a different man

every moment. What was it had happened to work this revolution in

him? He did not know himself; like a man catching at a straw, he

suddenly felt that he, too, 'could live, that there was still

life for him, that his life had not died with the old woman.'

Perhaps he was in too great a hurry with his conclusions, but he

did not think of that.