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"I perceive, Avdotya Romanovna, that you seem disposed to

undertake his defence all of a sudden," Luzhin observed, twisting

his lips into an ambiguous smile, "there's no doubt that he is an

astute man, and insinuating where ladies are concerned, of which

Marfa Petrovna, who has died so strangely, is a terrible

instance. My only desire has been to be of service to you and

your mother with my advice, in view of the renewed efforts which

may certainly be anticipated from him. For my part it's my firm

conviction, that he will end in a debtor's prison again. Marfa

Petrovna had not the slightest intention of settling anything

substantial on him, having regard for his children's interests,

and, if she left him anything, it would only be the merest

sufficiency, something insignificant and ephemeral, which would

not last a year for a man of his habits."

"Pyotr Petrovitch, I beg you," said Dounia, "say no more of Mr.

Svidrigailov. It makes me miserable."