Chapter 2

           “Ahthesecigarettes!”PorfiryPetrovitchejaculatedatlast,havinglightedone.“Theyarepernicious,positivelypernicious,andyetIcan’tgivethemup!Icough,Ibegintohaveticklinginmythroatandadifficultyinbreathing.YouknowIamacoward,IwentlatelytoDr.B——n;healwaysgivesatleasthalfanhourtoeachpatient.Hepositivelylaughedlookingatme;hesoundedme:‘Tobacco’sbadforyou,’hesaid,‘yourlungsareaffected.’ButhowamItogiveitup?Whatistheretotakeitsplace?Idon’tdrink,that’sthemischief,he-he-he,thatIdon’t.Everythingisrelative,RodionRomanovitch,everythingisrelative!”

           “Why,he’splayinghisprofessionaltricksagain,”Raskolnikovthoughtwithdisgust.Allthecircumstancesoftheirlastinterviewsuddenlycamebacktohim,andhefeltarushofthefeelingthathadcomeuponhimthen.

           “Icametoseeyouthedaybeforeyesterday,intheevening;youdidn’tknow?”PorfiryPetrovitchwenton,lookingroundtheroom.“Icameintothisveryroom.Iwaspassingby,justasIdidto-day,andIthoughtI’dreturnyourcall.Iwalkedinasyourdoorwaswideopen,Ilookedround,waitedandwentoutwithoutleavingmynamewithyourservant.Don’tyoulockyourdoor?”

           Raskolnikov’sfacegrewmoreandmoregloomy.Porfiryseemedtoguesshisstateofmind.

           “I’vecometohaveitoutwithyou,RodionRomanovitch,mydearfellow!Ioweyouanexplanationandmustgiveittoyou,”hecontinuedwithaslightsmile,justpattingRaskolnikov’sknee.