"In that case, Rodion Romanovitch, I shall be obliged to try and see her myself and worry her by doing so."
"And if I do tell her, will you not try to see her?"
"I don't know really what to say.
I should like very much to see her once more."
"Don't hope for it."
"I'm sorry.
But you don't know me.
Perhaps we may become better friends."
"You think we may become friends?"
"And why not?" Svidrigailov said, smiling. He stood up and took his hat. "I didn't quite intend to disturb you and I came here without reckoning on it... though I was very much struck by your face this morning."
"Where did you see me this morning?" Raskolnikov asked uneasily.
"I saw you by chance....
I kept fancying there is something about you like me....
But don't be uneasy. I am not intrusive; I used to get on all right with card-sharpers, and I never bored Prince Svirbey, a great personage who is a distant relation of mine, and I could write about Raphael's _Madonna_ in Madam Prilukov's album, and I never left Marfa Petrovna's side for seven years, and I used to stay the night at Viazemsky's house in the Hay Market in the old days, and I may go up in a balloon with Berg, perhaps."
"Oh, all right.
Are you starting soon on your travels, may I ask?"
"What travels?"
"Why, on that 'journey'; you spoke of it yourself."
"A journey?
Oh, yes.
I did speak of a journey.
Well, that's a wide subject.... if only you knew what you are asking," he added, and gave a sudden, loud, short laugh.
"Perhaps I'll get married instead of the journey.
They're making a match for me."
"Here?"
"Yes."
"How have you had time for that?"
"But I am very anxious to see Avdotya Romanovna once.
I earnestly beg it.
Well, good-bye for the present. Oh, yes.
I have forgotten something.
Tell your sister, Rodion Romanovitch, that Marfa Petrovna remembered her in her will and left her three thousand roubles.
That's absolutely certain.
Marfa Petrovna arranged it a week before her death, and it was done in my presence.
Avdotya Romanovna will be able to receive the money in two or three weeks."
"Are you telling the truth?"
"Yes, tell her.
Well, your servant.
I am staying very near you."
As he went out, Svidrigailov ran up against Razumihin in the doorway.
CHAPTER II
It was nearly eight o'clock. The two young men hurried to Bakaleyev's, to arrive before Luzhin.
"Why, who was that?" asked Razumihin, as soon as they were in the street.
"It was Svidrigailov, that landowner in whose house my sister was insulted when she was their governess.
Through his persecuting her with his attentions, she was turned out by his wife, Marfa Petrovna.
This Marfa Petrovna begged Dounia's forgiveness afterwards, and she's just died suddenly.
It was of her we were talking this morning.
I don't know why I'm afraid of that man.
He came here at once after his wife's funeral.
He is very strange, and is determined on doing something....