” And what if I am wrong,” he cried suddenly after a moment’s thought. “What if
man is not really a scoundrel, man in general, I mean, the whole race of
mankind—then all the rest is prejudice, simply artificial terrors and there are
no barriers and it’s all as it should be. “
” Six weeks ago he had remembered the address; he had two articles that could be pawned: his father’s old silver watch and a little gold ring with three red
stones, a present from his sister at parting. He decided to take the ring. When
he found the old woman he had felt an insurmountable repulsion for her at the
first glance, though he knew nothing special about her. He got two roubles from
her and went into a miserable little tavern on his way home. He asked for tea,
sat down and sank into deep thought. A strange idea was pecking at his brain
like a chicken in the egg, and very, very much absorbed him “
