PART 4 // chapter 2-3

[모나리자]

"당신이 이것에 대한 좋은 증거가 있다고 말할 때 진실을 말하고 있습니까?" 두니아가 엄하고 단호하게 물었다. "나는 마르파 페트로브나가 비밀리에 말한 것을 반복할 뿐입니다. 법적 관점에서 사건이 명확하지 않다는 것을 지적해야겠습니다. 여기에는 레슬리치라는 외국인 여성이 살았고, 지금도 살고 있다고 믿습니다. 그녀는 이자를 받고 소액을 빌려주고 다른 의뢰를 했고, 스비드리가일로프는 이 여성과 오랫동안 친밀하고 신비로운 관계를 유지했습니다.

그녀는 그녀와 함께 사는 친척, 내 생각에는 조카딸이 있었는데, 그녀는 15세, 아니 14세 이하인 청각 장애인 소녀였습니다. 레슬리치는 이 소녀를 미워했고, 그녀의 모든 빵 껍질을 아꼈습니다. 그녀는 그녀를 무자비하게 때렸습니다. 어느 날 그 소녀는 다락방에 매달려 있는 채 발견되었습니다. 심문에서 판결은 자살이었습니다. 통상적인 절차가 끝나고 나서 그 사건은 종결되었지만, 나중에 그 아이가... 스비드리가일로프에게 잔인하게 폭행을 당했다는 정보가 전해졌습니다.

사실, 이것이 명확하게 확립되지는 않았지만, 그 정보는 믿을 수 없는 말을 한 또 다른 방탕한 독일 여성이 전한 것이었습니다. 마르파 페트로브나의 돈과 노력 덕분에 실제로 경찰에 진술을 하지 않았고, 소문으로만 퍼졌습니다. 하지만 그 이야기는 매우 중요한 것입니다. 아브도티아 로마노브나, 당신이 그들과 함께 있을 때, 농노제가 폐지되기 전인 6년 전에 학대를 받아 죽은 하인 필립의 이야기를 들었을 것입니다."

"반대로, 그 필립은 스스로 목을 매달았다고 들었습니다." "맞습니다. 하지만 그를 자살로 몰고 간 것은, 아니, 오히려 그를 자살로 몰고 간 것은 스비드리가일로프 씨에 대한 체계적인 박해와 가혹함이었습니다." "모르겠습니다." 두니아가 건조하게 대답했습니다. "필립이 일종의 건강 불안증 환자, 일종의 가정 철학자라는 이상한 이야기를 들었을 뿐이에요. 하인들은 '그는 자신을 어리석게 읽는다'고 말하곤 했고, 스비드리가일로프 씨가 그를 조롱했기 때문에 목을 매달았다고 하더군요.

제가 거기에 있었을 때 그는 하인들에게 잘 대해줬고, 하인들은 사실 그를 좋아했지만, 필립의 죽음에 대해 그를 비난한 건 분명합니다." "아브도티아 로마노브나, 당신이 갑자기 그를 변호할 의향이 있는 것 같군요." 루진이 입술을 모호한 미소로 틀며 말했다. "의심할 여지 없이 그는 통찰력 있는 사람이고, 여성에 관해서는 암시를 합니다. 이상하게 죽은 마르파 페트로브나는 끔찍한 사례입니다.

제가 바라는 것은 당신과 당신 어머니에게 제 조언으로 도움이 되고 싶었을 뿐입니다. 그가 확실히 기대할 수 있는 새로운 노력을 감안할 때 말입니다. 저는 그가 다시 채무자 감옥에 갈 것이라고 확신합니다. 마르파 페트로브나는 그의 자녀들의 이익을 고려하여 그에게 실질적인 것을 줄 생각이 전혀 없었고, 그녀가 그에게 무언가를 남겨두었다 하더라도 그것은 그의 습관을 가진 사람에게는 1년도 버티지 못할 만큼의, 하찮고 덧없는 것에 불과할 것입니다."

"표트르 페트로비치, 부탁합니다." 두니아가 말했다. "스비드리가일로프 씨에 대해 더 이상 말하지 마세요. 저를 비참하게 만듭니다." "그는 방금 저를 보러 왔습니다." 라스콜니코프가 처음으로 침묵을 깨며 말했다. 모두가 감탄사를 내뱉었고, 모두 그를 돌아보았다. 심지어 표트르 페트로비치조차도 흥분했다.

"한 시간 반 전에 제가 잠들었을 때 들어와서 깨우고 자기소개를 했습니다." 라스콜니코프가 말을 이었다. "그는 꽤 쾌활하고 편안해 보였고, 우리가 친구가 되기를 바라고 있습니다.

그런데, 그는 특히 당신과의 인터뷰를 간절히 원하고 있어요, 두니아. 그는 제게 도와달라고 부탁했어요. 그는 당신에게 제안할 게 있어서, 제게도 말했어요. 그는 마르파 페트로브나가 죽기 일주일 전에 유언장에 3천 루블을 남겼다고도 말했어요, 두니아. 그리고 당신은 아주 빨리 돈을 받을 수 있을 거라고도 말했어요." "신께 감사합니다!" 풀케리아 알렉산드로브나가 십자가를 그으며 소리쳤다. "그녀의 영혼을 위해 기도해, 두니아!" "사실이에요!" 루진이 말을 끊었다. "말해 보세요, 또 뭐가 더 필요할까요?" 두니아가 라스콜니코프에게 재촉했다. "그러더니 그는 자신이 부자가 아니고 모든 재산을 지금은 이모와 함께 있는 자식들에게 물려주었다고 했고, 그러고 나서는 저와 멀지 않은 곳에 머물고 있다고 했는데, 어디인지는 모르겠어요. 저는 묻지 않았거든요..." "하지만 뭐라고요, 그는 두니아에게 무슨 제안을 하려는 걸까요?"

풀케리아 알렉산드로브나가 겁에 질려 소리쳤다. "그가 말했어요?" "네." "무슨 말이었어요?" "나중에 말해줄게." 라스콜니코프는 말을 멈추고 차에 주의를 돌렸다. 표트르 페트로비치는 시계를 보았다. "나는 업무 약속이 있어서 방해가 되지 않을 거야." 그는 약간 짜증이 난 듯한 어조로 덧붙이고 일어나기 시작했다. "가지 마, 표트르 페트로비치." 두니아가 말했다. "너는 저녁을 보내려고 했잖아. 게다가 어머니께 변명하고 싶다고 스스로 썼잖아."

"맞아요, 아브도티아 로마노브나." 표트르 페트로비치는 인상적으로 대답하며 다시 앉았지만 여전히 모자를 움켜쥐고 있었다. "나는 정말 중요한 문제에 대해 당신과 당신의 존경하는 어머니께 변명하고 싶었어요. 하지만 당신의 동생은 공개적으로 말할 수 없으니까

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5538p

“Are you speaking the truth when you say that you have good evidence of this?” Dounia asked sternly and emphatically. “I only repeat what I was told in secret by Marfa Petrovna. I must observe that from the legal point of view the case was far from clear. There was, and I believe still is, living here a woman called Resslich, a foreigner, who lent small sums of money at interest, and did other commissions, and with this woman Svidrigaïlov had for a long while close and mysterious relations.

She had a relation, a niece I believe, living with her, a deaf and dumb girl of fifteen, or perhaps not more than fourteen. Resslich hated this girl, and grudged her every crust; she used to beat her mercilessly. One day the girl was found hanging in the garret. At the inquest the verdict was suicide. After the usual proceedings the matter ended, but, later on, information was given that the child had been... cruelly outraged by Svidrigaïlov.

It is true, this was not clearly established, the information was given by another German woman of loose character whose word could not be trusted; no statement was actually made to the police, thanks to Marfa Petrovna’s money and exertions; it did not get beyond gossip. And yet the story is a very significant one. You heard, no doubt, Avdotya Romanovna, when you were with them the story of the servant Philip who died of ill treatment he received six years ago, before the abolition of serfdom.”

“I heard, on the contrary, that this Philip hanged himself.” “Quite so, but what drove him, or rather perhaps disposed him, to suicide was the systematic persecution and severity of Mr. Svidrigaïlov.” “I don’t know that,” answered Dounia, dryly. “I only heard a queer story that Philip was a sort of hypochondriac, a sort of domestic philosopher, the servants used to say, ‘he read himself silly,’ and that he hanged himself partly on account of Mr. Svidrigaïlov’s mockery of him and not his blows.

When I was there he behaved well to the servants, and they were actually fond of him, though they certainly did blame him for Philip’s death.” “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. Svidrigaïlov. It makes me miserable.” “He has just been to see me,” said Raskolnikov, breaking his silence for the first time. There were exclamations from all, and they all turned to him. Even Pyotr Petrovitch was roused.

“An hour and a half ago, he came in when I was asleep, waked me, and introduced himself,” Raskolnikov continued. “He was fairly cheerful and at ease, and quite hopes that we shall become friends.

He is particularly anxious, by the way, Dounia, for an interview with you, at which he asked me to assist. He has a proposition to make to you, and he told me about it. He told me, too, that a week before her death Marfa Petrovna left you three thousand roubles in her will, Dounia, and that you can receive the money very shortly.” “Thank God!” cried Pulcheria Alexandrovna, crossing herself. “Pray for her soul, Dounia!” “It’s a fact!” broke from Luzhin. “Tell us, what more?” Dounia urged Raskolnikov. “Then he said that he wasn’t rich and all the estate was left to his children who are now with an aunt, then that he was staying somewhere not far from me, but where, I don’t know, I didn’t ask....” “But what, what does he want to propose to Dounia?”

cried Pulcheria Alexandrovna in a fright. “Did he tell you?” “Yes.” “What was it?” “I’ll tell you afterwards.” Raskolnikov ceased speaking and turned his attention to his tea. Pyotr Petrovitch looked at his watch. “I am compelled to keep a business engagement, and so I shall not be in your way,” he added with an air of some pique and he began getting up. “Don’t go, Pyotr Petrovitch,” said Dounia, “you intended to spend the evening. Besides, you wrote yourself that you wanted to have an explanation with mother.”

“Precisely so, Avdotya Romanovna,” Pyotr Petrovitch answered impressively, sitting down again, but still holding his hat. “I certainly desired an explanation with you and your honoured mother upon a very important point indeed. But as your brother cannot speak openly in my presence of some proposals of Mr. Svidrigaïlov, I, too, do not desire and am not able to speak openly... in the presence of others... of certain matters of the greatest gravity. Moreover, my most weighty and urgent request has been disregarded....” Assuming an aggrieved air, Luzhin relapsed into dignified silence.

“Your request that my brother should not be present at our meeting was disregarded solely at my insistance,” said Dounia. “You wrote that you had been insulted by my brother; I think that this must be explained at once, and you must be reconciled. And if Rodya really has insulted you, then he should and will apologise.” Pyotr Petrovitch took a stronger line.

“There are insults, Avdotya Romanovna, which no goodwill can make us forget. There is a line in everything which it is dangerous to overstep; and when it has been overstepped, there is no return.” “That wasn’t what I was speaking of exactly, Pyotr Petrovitch,” Dounia interrupted with some impatience. “Please understand that our whole future depends now on whether all this is explained and set right as soon

as possible. I tell you frankly at the start that I cannot look at it in any other light, and if you have the least regard for me, all this business must be ended to-day, however hard that may be. I repeat that if my brother is to blame he will ask your forgiveness.”