Pagina 767 de 1294

"Long ago.... When I was at school. Read!"

"And haven't you heard it in church?"

"I... haven't been. Do you often go?"

"N-no," whispered Sonia.

Raskolnikov smiled.

"I understand.... And you won't go to your father's funeral

to-morrow?"

"Yes, I shall. I was at church last week, too... I had a requiem

service."

"For whom?"

"For Lizaveta. She was killed with an axe."

His nerves were more and more strained. His head began to go

round.

"Were you friends with Lizaveta?"

"Yes.... She was good... she used to come... not often... she

couldn't.... We used to read together and... talk. She will see

God."

The last phrase sounded strange in his ears. And here was

something new again: the mysterious meetings with Lizaveta and

both of them--religious maniacs.

"I shall be a religious maniac myself soon! It's infectious!"

"Read!" he cried irritably and insistently.

Sonia still hesitated. Her heart was throbbing. She hardly dared

to read to him. He looked almost with exasperation at the

"unhappy lunatic."