"In miracles?"
"In a miracle of Divine Providence.
God knows my heart. He sees my despair.
He sees the whole picture.
Surely He won't let something awful happen.
Alyosha, I believe in miracles. Go!"
"I am going.
Tell me, will you wait for me here?"
"Yes. I know it will take some time. You can't go at him point blank.
He's drunk now.
I'll wait three hours- four, five, six, seven. Only remember you must go to Katerina Ivanovna to-day, if it has to be at midnight, with the money or without the money, and say,
'He sends his compliments to you.'
I want you to say that verse to her:
'He sends his compliments to you.'"
"Mitya!
And what if Grushenka comes to-day- if not to-day, or the next day?"
"Grushenka?
I shall see her. I shall rush out and prevent it."
"And if- ?"
"If there's an if, it will be murder.
I couldn't endure it."
"Who will be murdered?"
"The old man.
I shan't kill her."
"Brother, what are you saying?"
"Oh, I don't know.... I don't know. Perhaps I shan't kill, and perhaps I shall.
I'm afraid that he will suddenly become so loathsome to me with his face at that moment.
I hate his ugly throat, his nose, his eyes, his shameless snigger.
I feel a physical repulsion.
That's what I'm afraid of.
That's what may be too much for me."
"I'll go, Mitya.
I believe that God will order things for the best, that nothing awful may happen."
"And I will sit and wait for the miracle.
And if it doesn't come to pass- "
Alyosha went thoughtfully towards his father's house.
Chapter 6.
Smerdyakov
HE did in fact find his father still at table.
Though there was a dining-room in the house, the table was laid as usual in the drawing room, which was the largest room, and furnished with old-fashioned ostentation.
The furniture was white and very old, upholstered in old, red, silky material.
In the spaces between the windows there were mirrors in elaborate white and gilt frames, of old-fashioned carving.
On the walls, covered with white paper, which was torn in many places, there hung two large portraits- one of some prince who had been governor of the district thirty years before, and the other of some bishop, also long since dead.
In the corner opposite the door there were several ikons, before which a lamp was lighted at nightfall... not so much for devotional purposes as to light the room.
Fyodor Pavlovitch used to go to bed very late, at three or four o'clock in the morning,and would wander about the room at night or sit in an armchair, thinking.
This had become a habit with him.
He often slept quite alone in the house, sending his servants to the lodge; but usually Smerdyakov remained, sleeping on a bench in the hall.
When Alyosha came in, dinner was over, but coffee and preserves had been served.
Fyodor Pavlovitch liked sweet things with brandy after dinner.
Ivan was also at table, sipping coffee.