"Oh, but she did not finish cutting it."
"That makes no difference. She began cutting it."
"What did you think of what he said about children?
Splendid, wasn't it?"
"Splended!"
"And about mysticism, too!"
"Oh, drop mysticism, do!" cried someone else; "think of Ippolit and his fate from this day forth.
His wife will scratch his eyes out to-morrow for Mitya's sake."
"Is she here?"
"What an idea!
If she'd been here she'd have scratched them out in court.
She is at home with toothache.
He he he!"
"He he he!"
In a third group:
"I dare say they will acquit Mitenka, after all."
"I should not be surprised if he turns the Metropolis upside down to-morrow. He will be drinking for ten days!"
"Oh, the devil!"
"The devil's bound to have a hand in it. Where should he be if not here?"
"Well, gentlemen, I admit it was eloquent.
But still it's not the thing to break your father's head with a pestle!
Or what are we coming to?"
"The chariot! Do you remember the chariot?"
"Yes; he turned a cart into a chariot!"
"And to-morrow he will turn a chariot into a cart, just to suit his purpose."
"What cunning chaps there are nowadays!
Is there any justice to be had in Russia?"
But the bell rang.
The jury deliberated for exactly an hour, neither more nor less.
A profound silence reigned in the court as soon as the public had taken their seats.
I remember how the jurymen walked into the court.
At last!
I won't repeat the questions in order, and, indeed, I have forgotten them.
I remember only the answer to the President's first and chief question: "Did the prisoner commit the murder for the sake of robbery and with premeditation?" (I don't remember the exact words.) There was a complete hush.
The foreman of the jury, the youngest of the clerks, pronounced, in a clear, loud voice, amidst the deathlike stillness of the court:
"Yes, guilty!"
And the same answer was repeated to every question: "Yes, guilty!" and without the slightest extenuating comment.
This no one had expected; almost everyone had reckoned upon a recommendation to mercy, at least.
The death-like silence in the court was not broken- all seemed petrified: those who desired his conviction as well as those who had been eager for his acquittal.
But that was only for the first instant, and it was followed by a fearful hubbub.
Many of the men in the audience were pleased.
Some were rubbing their hands with no attempt to conceal their joy.
Those who disagreed with the verdict seemed crushed, shrugged their shoulders, whispered, but still seemed unable to realise this.
But how shall I describe the state the ladies were in?
I thought they would create a riot.
At first they could scarcely believe their ears.
Then suddenly the whole court rang with exclamations:
"What's the meaning of it?
What next?"
They leapt up from their places.