1 The Brothers Karamazov

Chapter 10

The Speech for the

Defence. An Argument

that Cuts Both Ways

A

LL was hushed as the first words of the famous orator

rang out. The eyes of the audience were fastened upon

him. He began very simply and directly, with an air of con-

viction, but not the slightest trace of conceit. He made no

attempt at eloquence, at pathos, or emotional phrases. He

was like a man speaking in a circle of intimate and sym-

pathetic friends. His voice was a fine one, sonorous and

sympathetic, and there was something genuine and sim-

ple in the very sound of it. But everyone realised at once

that the speaker might suddenly rise to genuine pathos and

‘pierce the heart with untold power.’ His language was per-

haps more irregular than Ippolit Kirillovitch’s, but he spoke

without long phrases, and indeed, with more precision. One

thing did not please the ladies: he kept bending forward, es-

pecially at the beginning of his speech, not exactly bowing,

but as though he were about to dart at his listeners, bending