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"Marfa Petrovna is pleased to visit me," he said, twisting his

mouth into a strange smile.

"How do you mean 'she is pleased to visit you'?"

"She has been three times. I saw her first on the very day of the

funeral, an hour after she was buried. It was the day before I

left to come here. The second time was the day before yesterday,

at daybreak, on the journey at the station of Malaya Vishera, and

the third time was two hours ago in the room where I am staying.

I was alone."

"Were you awake?"

"Quite awake. I was wide awake every time. She comes, speaks to

me for a minute and goes out at the door--always at the door. I

can almost hear her."

"What made me think that something of the sort must be happening

to you?" Raskolnikov said suddenly.

At the same moment he was surprised at having said it. He was

much excited.

"What! Did you think so?" Svidrigailov asked in astonishment.

"Did you really? Didn't I say that there was something in common

between us, eh?"