Pagina 562 van 1294

"Mother," he said, firmly and insistently, "this is Sofya

Semyonovna Marmeladov, the daughter of that unfortunate Mr.

Marmeladov, who was run over yesterday before my eyes, and of

whom I was just telling you."

Pulcheria Alexandrovna glanced at Sonia, and slightly screwed up

her eyes. In spite of her embarrassment before Rodya's urgent and

challenging look, she could not deny herself that satisfaction.

Dounia gazed gravely and intently into the poor girl's face, and

scrutinised her with perplexity. Sonia, hearing herself

introduced, tried to raise her eyes again, but was more

embarrassed than ever.

"I wanted to ask you," said Raskolnikov, hastily, "how things

were arranged yesterday. You were not worried by the police, for

instance?"

"No, that was all right... it was too evident, the cause of

death... they did not worry us... only the lodgers are angry."

"Why?"