Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com case anything happened?’ Ivan shouted suddenly, for some
unknown reason raising his voice.
‘From Tchermashnya, too... you could be sent for,’
Smerdyakov muttered, almost in a whisper, looking discon-
certed, but gazing intently into Ivan’s eyes.
‘Only Moscow is farther and Tchermashnya is nearer. Is
it to save my spending money on the fare, or to save my go-
ing so far out of my way, that you insist on Tchermashnya?’
‘Precisely so...’ muttered Smerdyakov, with a breaking
voice. He looked at Ivan with a revolting smile, and again
made ready to draw back. But to his astonishment Ivan
broke into a laugh, and went through the gate still laughing.
Anyone who had seen his face at that moment would have
known that he was not laughing from lightness of heart,
and he could not have explained himself what he was feel-
ing at that instant. He moved and walked as though in a
nervous frenzy.