Pagina 448 van 1294

He walked down slowly and deliberately, feverish but not

conscious of it, entirely absorbed in a new overwhelming

sensation of life and strength that surged up suddenly within

him. This sensation might be compared to that of a man condemned

to death who has suddenly been pardoned. Halfway down the

staircase he was overtaken by the priest on his way home;

Raskolnikov let him pass, exchanging a silent greeting with him.

He was just descending the last steps when he heard rapid

footsteps behind him. Someone overtook him; it was Polenka. She

was running after him, calling "Wait! wait!"

He turned round. She was at the bottom of the staircase and

stopped short a step above him. A dim light came in from the

yard. Raskolnikov could distinguish the child's thin but pretty

little face, looking at him with a bright childish smile. She had

run after him with a message which she was evidently glad to

give.