"Ivan doesn't talk to me of Mitya's case," he said slowly."He's said very little to me these last two months.And whenever I go to see him, he seems vexed at my coming, so I've not been to him for the last three weeks.H'm!...if he was there a week ago...there certainly has been a change in Mitya this week.""There has been a change," Grushenka assented quickly."They have a secret, they have a secret! Mitya told me himself there was a secret, and such a secret that Mitya can't rest.Before then, he was cheerful- and, indeed, he is cheerful now- but when he shakes his head like that, you know, and strides about the room and keeps pulling at the hair on his right temple with his right hand, I know there is something on his mind worrying him....I know! He was cheerful before, though, indeed, he is cheerful to-day.""But you said he was worried."
"Yes, he is worried and yet cheerful.He keeps on being irritable for a minute and then cheerful and then irritable again.And you know, Alyosha, I am constantly wondering at him- with this awful thing hanging over him, he sometimes laughs at such trifles as though he were a baby himself.""And did he really tell you not to tell me about Ivan? Did he say, 'Don't tell him'?""Yes, he told me, 'Don't tell him.' It's you that Mitya's most afraid of.Because it's a secret: he said himself it was a secret.
Alyosha, darling, go to him and find out what their secret is and come and tell me," Grushenka besought him with sudden eagerness."Set my mind at rest that I may know the worst that's in store for me.
That's why I sent for you."
"You think it's something to do with you? If it were, he wouldn't have told you there was a secret.""I don't know.Perhaps he wants to tell me, but doesn't dare to.
He warns me.There is a secret, he tells me, but he won't tell me what it is.""What do you think yourself?"
"What do I think? It's the end for me, that's what I think.They all three have been plotting my end, for Katerina's in it.It's all Katerina, it all comes from her.She is this and that, and that means that I am not.He tells me that beforehand- warns me.He is planning to throw me over, that's the whole secret.They've planned it together, the three of them- Mitya, Katerina, and Ivan Fyodorovitch.
Alyosha, I've been wanting to ask you a long time.A week ago he suddenly told me that Ivan was in love with Katerina, because he often goes to see her.Did he tell me the truth or not? Tell me, on your conscience, tell me the worst.""I won't tell you a lie.Ivan is not in love with Katerina Ivanovna, I think.""Oh, that's what I thought! He is lying to me, shameless deceiver, that's what it is! And he was jealous of me just now, so as to put the blame on me afterwards.He is stupid, he can't disguise what he is doing; he is so open, you know....But I'll give it to him, I'll give it to him! 'You believe I did it,' he said.He said that to me, to me.He reproached me with that! God forgive him! You wait, I'll make it hot for Katerina at the trial! I'll just say a word then...
I'll tell everything then!" And again she cried bitterly.
"This I can tell you for certain, Grushenka," Alyosha said, getting up."First, that he loves you, loves you more than anyone in the world, and you only, believe me.I know.I do know.The second thing is that I don't want to worm his secret out of him, but if he'll tell me of himself to-day, I shall tell him straight out that I have promised to tell you.Then I'll come to you to-day and tell you.
Only...I fancy...Katerina Ivanovna has nothing to do with it, and that the secret is about something else.That's certain.It isn't likely it's about Katerina Ivanovna, it seems to me.Good-bye for now."Alyosha shook hands with her.Grushenka was still crying.He saw that she put little faith in his consolation, but she was better for having had her sorrow out, for having spoken of it.He was sorry to leave her in such a state of mind, but he was in haste.He had a great many things to do still.
Chapter 2
The Injured FootTHE first of these things was at the house of Madame Hohlakov, and he hurried there to get it over as quickly as possible and not be too late for Mitya.Madame Hohlakov had been slightly ailing for the last three weeks: her foot had for some reason swollen up, and though she was not in bed, she lay all day half-reclining on the couch in her boudoir, in a fascinating but decorous deshabille.Alyosha had once noted with innocent amusement that, in spite of her illness, Madame Hohlakov had begun to be rather dressy- topknots, ribbons, loose wrappers had made their appearance, and he had an inkling of the reason, though he dismissed such ideas from his mind as frivolous.During the last two months the young official, Perhotin, had become a regular visitor at the house.
Alyosha had not called for four days and he was in haste to go straight to Lise, as it was with her he had to speak, for Lise had sent a maid to him the previous day specially asking him to come to her "about something very important," a request which, for certain reasons, had interest for Alyosha.But while the maid went to take his name in to Lise, Madame Hohlakov heard of his arrival from someone, and immediately sent to beg him to come to her "just for one minute." Alyosha reflected that it was better to accede to the mamma's request, or else she would be sending down to Lise's room every minute that he was there.Madame Hohlakov was lying on a couch.She was particularly smartly dressed and was evidently in a state of extreme nervous excitement.She greeted Alyosha with cries of rapture.
"It's ages, ages, perfect ages since I've seen you! It's a whole week- only think of it! Ah, but you were here only four days ago, on Wednesday.You have come to see Lise.I'm sure you meant to slip into her room on tiptoe, without my hearing you.My dear, dear Alexey Fyodorovitch, if you only knew how worried I am about her!