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- CRIME AND PUNISHMENT 337
"Yes, of Gogol."
"Yes, of Gogol. ... I shall look forward to meeting you."
"So shall I."
Raskolnikov walked straight home. He was so muddled and
bewildered that on getting home he sat for a quarter of an
hour on the sofa, trying to collect his thoughts. He did not at-
tempt to think about Nikolay; he was stupefied; he felt that
his confession was something inexplicable, amazing — something
beyond his understanding. But Nikolay's confession was an
actual fact. The consequences of this fact were clear to him at
once, its falsehood could not fail to be discovered, and then
they would be after him again. Till then, at least, he was free
and must do something for himself, for the danger was immi-
nent.
But how imminent? His position gradually became clear to
him. Remembering, sketchily, the main outlines of his recent
scene with Porfiry, he could not help shuddering again with
horror. Of course, he did not yet know all Porfiry's aims, he
could not see into all his calculations. But he had already partly
shown his hand, and no one knew better than Raskolnikov
how terrible Porfiry's "lead" had been for him. A little more
and he might have given himself away completely, circumstan-
tially. Knowing his nervous temperament and from the first
glance seeing through him, Porfiry, though playing a bold game,
was bound to win. There's no denying that Raskolnikov had
compromised himself seriously, but no facts had come to light
as yet; there was nothing positive. But was he taking a true
view of the position? Wasn't he mistaken? What had Porfiry
been trying to get at? Had he really some surprise prepared for
him? And what was it? Had he really been expecting something
or not? How would they have parted if it had not been for the
unexpected appearance of Nikolay?
Porfiry had shown almost all his cards — of course, he had
risked something in showing them — and if he had really had
anything up his sleeve (Raskolnikov reflected), he would have
shown that, too. What was that "surprise"? Was it a joke? Had
it meant anything? Could it have concealed anything like a
fact, a piece of positive evidence? His yesterday's visitor? What
had become of him? Where was he to-day? If Porfiry really had
any evidence, it must be connected with him. . .
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