Pagina 516 van 1294

"So this is your opinion of Pyotr Petrovitch?" Pulcheria

Alexandrovna could not resist asking.

"I can have no other opinion of your daughter's future husband,"

Razumihin answered firmly and with warmth, "and I don't say it

simply from vulgar politeness, but because... simply because

Avdotya Romanovna has of her own free will deigned to accept this

man. If I spoke so rudely of him last night, it was because I was

disgustingly drunk and... mad besides; yes, mad, crazy, I lost my

head completely... and this morning I am ashamed of it."

He crimsoned and ceased speaking. Avdotya Romanovna flushed, but

did not break the silence. She had not uttered a word from the

moment they began to speak of Luzhin.

Without her support Pulcheria Alexandrovna obviously did not know

what to do. At last, faltering and continually glancing at her

daughter, she confessed that she was exceedingly worried by one

circumstance.