The Brothers Karamazov
Why, he told that creature what happened on that fatal, ac-
cursed day! ‘You brought your beauty for sale, dear young
lady.’ She knows it! Your brother’s a scoundrel, Alexey Fy-
odorovitch.’
Alyosha wanted to say something, but he couldn’t find a
word. His heart ached.
‘Go away, Alexey Fyodorovitch! It’s shameful, it’s awful
for me! To-morrow, I beg you on my knees, come to-mor-
row. Don’t condemm me. Forgive me. I don’t know what I
shall do with myself now!’
Alyosha walked out into the street reeling. He could have
wept as she did. Suddenly he was overtaken by the maid.
‘The young lady forgot to give you this letter from Ma-
dame Hohlakov; it’s been left with us since dinner-time.’
Alyosha took the little pink envelope mechanically and
put it, almost unconsciously, into his pocket.