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"What does he mean? Is he in earnest?" Raskolnikov wondered.

"No, the document didn't restrain me," Svidrigailov went on,

meditatively. "It was my own doing, not leaving the country, and

nearly a year ago Marfa Petrovna gave me back the document on my

name-day and made me a present of a considerable sum of money,

too. She had a fortune, you know. 'You see how I trust you,

Arkady Ivanovitch'--that was actually her expression. You don't

believe she used it? But do you know I managed the estate quite

decently, they know me in the neighbourhood. I ordered books,

too. Marfa Petrovna at first approved, but afterwards she was

afraid of my over-studying."

"You seem to be missing Marfa Petrovna very much?"

"Missing her? Perhaps. Really, perhaps I am. And, by the way, do

you believe in ghosts?"

"What ghosts?"

"Why, ordinary ghosts."

"Do you believe in them?"

"Perhaps not, pour vous plaire.... I wouldn't say no exactly."

"Do you see them, then?"

Svidrigailov looked at him rather oddly.