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"I understand it all! You are lying and mocking so that I may

betray myself to you..."

"Why, you could not betray yourself any further, my dear Rodion

Romanovitch. You are in a passion. Don't shout, I shall call the

clerks."

"You are lying! Call the clerks! You knew I was ill and tried to

work me into a frenzy to make me betray myself, that was your

object! Produce your facts! I understand it all. You've no

evidence, you have only wretched rubbishly suspicions like

Zametov's! You knew my character, you wanted to drive me to fury

and then to knock me down with priests and deputies.... Are you

waiting for them? eh! What are you waiting for? Where are they?

Produce them?"

"Why deputies, my good man? What things people will imagine! And

to do so would not be acting in form as you say, you don't know

the business, my dear fellow.... And there's no escaping form, as

you see," Porfiry muttered, listening at the door through which a

noise could be heard.