1 The Brothers KaramazovThey leapt up from their places. They seemed to fancy that it
might be at once reconsidered and reversed. At that instant
Mitya suddenly stood up and cried in a heart-rending voice,
stretching his hands out before him:
‘I swear by God and the dreadful Day of Judgment I am
not guilty of my father’s blood! Katya, I forgive you! Broth-
ers, friends, have pity on the other woman!’
He could not go on, and broke into a terrible sobbing
wail that was heard all over the court in a strange, unnatu-
ral voice unlike his own. From the farthest corner at the
back of the gallery came a piercing shriek — it was Grush-
enka. She had succeeded in begging admittance to the court
again before the beginning of the lawyers’ speeches. Mitya
was taken away. The passing of the sentence was deferred
till next day. The whole court was in a hubbub but I did not
wait to hear. I only remember a few exclamations I heard on
the steps as I went out.
‘He’ll have a twenty years’ trip to the mines!’
‘Not less.’
‘Well, our peasants have stood firm.’
‘And have done for our Mitya.’