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Chapter 7

The Second Visit to

Smerdyakov

B

Y that time Smerdyakov had been discharged from the

hospital. Ivan knew his new lodging, the dilapidated lit-

tle wooden house, divided in two by a passage, on one side

of which lived Marya Kondratyevna and her mother, and

on the other, Smerdyakov. No one knew on what terms he

lived with them, whether as a friend or as a lodger. It was

supposed afterwards that he had come to stay with them as

Marya Kondratyevna’s betrothed, and was living there for a

time without paying for board or lodging. Both mother and

daughter had the greatest respect for him and looked upon

him as greatly superior to themselves.

Ivan knocked, and, on the door being opened, went

straight into the passage. By Marya Kondratyevna’s di-

rections he went straight to the better room on the left,

occupied by Smerdyakov. There was a tiled stove in the

room and it was extremely hot. The walls were gay with

blue paper, which was a good deal used however, and in the

cracks under it cockroaches swarmed in amazing numbers,