I have friends... capable people....
If you like, I'll take a passport for you... for your mother.... What do you want with Razumihin?
I love you too....
I love you beyond everything....
Let me kiss the hem of your dress, let me, let me....
The very rustle of it is too much for me.
Tell me, 'do that,' and I'll do it.
I'll do everything.
I will do the impossible.
What you believe, I will believe.
I'll do anything--anything!
Don't, don't look at me like that.
Do you know that you are killing me?..."
He was almost beginning to rave....
Something seemed suddenly to go to his head.
Dounia jumped up and rushed to the door.
"Open it! Open it!" she called, shaking the door.
"Open it!
Is there no one there?"
Svidrigailov got up and came to himself.
His still trembling lips slowly broke into an angry mocking smile.
"There is no one at home," he said quietly and emphatically. "The landlady has gone out, and it's waste of time to shout like that. You are only exciting yourself uselessly."
"Where is the key?
Open the door at once, at once, base man!"
"I have lost the key and cannot find it."
"This is an outrage," cried Dounia, turning pale as death. She rushed to the furthest corner, where she made haste to barricade herself with a little table.
She did not scream, but she fixed her eyes on her tormentor and watched every movement he made.
Svidrigailov remained standing at the other end of the room facing her.
He was positively composed, at least in appearance, but his face was pale as before.
The mocking smile did not leave his face.
"You spoke of outrage just now, Avdotya Romanovna.
In that case you may be sure I've taken measures.
Sofya Semyonovna is not at home. The Kapernaumovs are far away--there are five locked rooms between.
I am at least twice as strong as you are and I have nothing to fear, besides. For you could not complain afterwards. You surely would not be willing actually to betray your brother?
Besides, no one would believe you. How should a girl have come alone to visit a solitary man in his lodgings?
So that even if you do sacrifice your brother, you could prove nothing. It is very difficult to prove an assault, Avdotya Romanovna."
"Scoundrel!" whispered Dounia indignantly.
"As you like, but observe I was only speaking by way of a general proposition.
It's my personal conviction that you are perfectly right--violence is hateful.
I only spoke to show you that you need have no remorse even if... you were willing to save your brother of your own accord, as I suggest to you.
You would be simply submitting to circumstances, to violence, in fact, if we must use that word.
Think about it. Your brother's and your mother's fate are in your hands.
I will be your slave... all my life... I will wait here."
Svidrigailov sat down on the sofa about eight steps from Dounia.
She had not the slightest doubt now of his unbending determination.
Besides, she knew him.
Suddenly she pulled out of her pocket a revolver, cocked it and laid it in her hand on the table.
Svidrigailov jumped up.
"Aha!
So that's it, is it?" he cried, surprised but smiling maliciously. "Well, that completely alters the aspect of affairs.