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- 72 CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
he began softly and cautiously ascending the stairs, listening
every minute. But the stairs, too, were quite deserted; all the
doors were shut; he met no one. One flat indeed on the first
floor was wide open and painters were at work in it, but they
did not glance at him. He stood still, thought a minute and went
on. "Of course it would be better if they had not been here,
but . . . it's two storeys above them."
And here was the fourth storey, here was the door, here was
the flat opposite, the empty one. The flat underneath the old
woman's was apparently empty also; the visiting card nailed
on the door had been torn off — they had gone away! . . . He
was out of breath. For one instant the thought floated through
his mind "Shall I go back?" But he made no answer and began
listening at the old woman's door, a dead silence. Then he lis-
tened again on the staircase, listened long and intently . . . then
looked about him for the last time, pulled himself together,
drew himself up, and once more tried the axe in the noose. "Am
I very pale?" he wondered. "Am I not evidently agitated? She is
mistrustful. . . . Had I better wait a little longer . . . till my
heart leaves off thumping?"
But his heart did not leave off. On the contrary, as though to
spite him, it throbbed more and more violently. He could stand
it no longer, he slowly put out his hand to the bell and rang.
Half a minute later he rang again, more loudly.
No answer. To go on ringing was useless and out of place.
The old woman was, of course, at home, but she was suspicious
and alone. He had some knowledge of her habits . . . and once
more he put his ear to the door. Either his senses were peculiarly
keen (which it is difficult to suppose) , or the sound was really
very distinct. Anyway, he suddenly heard something like the
cautious touch of a hand on the lock and the rustle of a skirt
at the very door. Some one was standing stealthily close to the
lock and just as he was doing on the outside was secretly listening
within, and seemed to have her ear to the door. . . . He moved
a little on purpose and muttered something aloud that he might
not have the appearance of hiding, then rang a third time, but
quietly, soberly and without impatience. Recalling it after-
wards, that moment stood out in his -mind vividly, distinctly,
for ever; he could not make out how he had had such cunning,
for his mind was as it were clouded at moments and he was
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