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on her account he made that scene in the cell just now, simply because MiĆ¼sov called her an ā€˜abandoned creature.ā€™ Heā€™s worse than a tomcat in love. At first she was only employed by him in connection with his taverns and in some other shady business, but now he has suddenly realized all she is and has gone wild about her. He keeps pestering her with his offers, not honorable ones, of course. And theyā€™ll come into collision, the precious father and son, on that path! But Grushenka favors neither of them, sheā€™s still playing with them, and teasing them both, considering which she can get most out of. For though she could filch a lot of money from the papa he wouldnā€™t marry her, and maybe heā€™ll turn stingy in the end, and keep his purse shut. Thatā€™s where Mityaā€™s value comes in; he has no money, but heā€™s ready to marry her. Yes, ready to marry her! to abandon his betrothed, a rare beauty, Katerina Ivanovna, whoā€™s rich, and the daughter of a colonel, and to marry Grushenka, who has been the mistress of a dissolute old merchant, Samsonov, a coarse, uneducated, provincial mayor. Some murderous conflict may well come to pass from all this, and thatā€™s what your brother Ivan is waiting for. It would suit him down to the ground. Heā€™ll carry off Katerina Ivanovna, for whom he is languishing, and pocket her dowry of sixty thousand. Thatā€™s very alluring to start with, for a man of no consequence and a beggar. And, take note, he wonā€™t be wronging Mitya, but doing him the greatest service. For I know as a fact that Mitya only last week, when he was with some gypsy girls drunk in a tavern, cried out aloud that he was unworthy of his betrothed, Katya, but that his brother Ivan, he was the man who deserved her. And Katerina Ivanovna will not in the end refuse such a fascinating man as Ivan. Sheā€™s hesitating between the two of them already. And how has that Ivan won you all, so that you all worship him? He is laughing at you, and enjoying himself at your expense.ā€

ā€œHow do you know? How can you speak so confidently?ā€ Alyosha asked sharply, frowning.

ā€œWhy do you ask, and are frightened at my answer? It shows that you know Iā€™m speaking the truth.ā€

ā€œYou donā€™t like Ivan. Ivan wouldnā€™t be tempted by money.ā€

ā€œReally? And the beauty of Katerina Ivanovna? Itā€™s not only the money, though a fortune of sixty thousand is an attraction.ā€

ā€œIvan is above that. He wouldnā€™t make up to anyone for thousands. It is not money, itā€™s not comfort Ivan is seeking. Perhaps itā€™s suffering he is seeking.ā€

ā€œWhat wild dream now? Oh, youā ā€”aristocrats!ā€

ā€œAh, Misha, he has a stormy spirit. His mind is in bondage. He is haunted by a great, unsolved doubt. He is one of those who donā€™t want millions, but an answer to their questions.ā€

ā€œThatā€™s plagiarism, Alyosha. Youā€™re quoting your elderā€™s phrases. Ah, Ivan has set you a problem!ā€ cried Rakitin, with undisguised malice. His face changed, and his lips twitched. ā€œAnd the problemā€™s a stupid one. It is no good guessing it. Rack your brainsā ā€”youā€™ll understand it. His article is absurd and ridiculous. And did you hear his stupid theory just now: if thereā€™s no immortality of the soul, then thereā€™s no virtue, and everything is lawful. (And by the way, do you remember how your brother Mitya cried out: ā€˜I will remember!ā€™) An attractive theory for scoundrels!ā ā€”(Iā€™m being abusive, thatā€™s stupid.) Not for scoundrels, but for pedantic poseurs, ā€˜haunted by profound, unsolved doubts.ā€™ Heā€™s showing off, and what it all comes to is, ā€˜on the one hand we cannot but admitā€™ and ā€˜on the other it must be confessed!ā€™ His whole theory is a fraud! Humanity will find in itself the power to live for virtue even without believing in immortality. It will find it in love for freedom, for equality, for fraternity.ā€

Rakitin could hardly restrain himself in his heat, but, suddenly, as though remembering something, he stopped short.

ā€œWell, thatā€™s enough,ā€ he said, with a still more crooked smile. ā€œWhy are you laughing? Do you think Iā€™m a vulgar fool?ā€

ā€œNo, I never dreamed of thinking you a vulgar fool. You are clever butā ā€Šā ā€¦ never mind, I was silly to smile. I understand your getting hot about it, Misha. I guess from your warmth that you are not indifferent to Katerina Ivanovna yourself; Iā€™ve suspected that for a long time, brother, thatā€™s why you donā€™t like my brother Ivan. Are you jealous of him?ā€

ā€œAnd jealous of her money, too? Wonā€™t you add that?ā€

ā€œIā€™ll say nothing about money. I am not going to insult you.ā€

ā€œI believe it, since you say so, but confound you, and your brother Ivan with you. Donā€™t you understand that one might very well dislike him, apart from Katerina Ivanovna. And why the devil should I like him? He condescends to abuse me, you know. Why havenā€™t I a right to abuse him?ā€

ā€œI never heard of his saying anything about you, good or bad. He doesnā€™t speak of you at all.ā€

ā€œBut I heard that the day before yesterday at Katerina Ivanovnaā€™s he was abusing me for all he was worthā ā€”you see what an interest he takes in your humble servant. And which is the jealous one after that, brother, I canā€™t say. He was so good as to express the opinion that, if I donā€™t go in for the career of an archimandrite in the immediate future and donā€™t become a monk, I shall be sure to go to Petersburg and get on to some solid magazine as a reviewer, that I shall write for the next ten years, and in the end become the owner of the magazine, and bring it out on the liberal and atheistic side, with a socialistic tinge, with a tiny gloss of socialism, but keeping a sharp look out all the time, that is, keeping in with both sides and hoodwinking the fools. According to your

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