Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com an experienced patient,’ said Mitya, with an effort to be po-
lite, ‘and I feel that if you are watching over my destiny in
this way, you will come to my help in my ruin, and so al-
low me, at least to explain to you the plan with which I have
ventured to come to you... and what I am hoping of you.... I
have come, madam-.’
‘Don’t explain it. It’s of secondary importance. But as for
help, you’re not the first I have helped, Dmitri Fyodorovitch.
You have most likely heard of my cousin, Madame Belm-
esov. Her husband was ruined, ‘had come to grief,’ as you
characteristically express it, Dmitri Fyodorovitch. I recom-
mended him to take to horse-breeding, and now he’s doing
well. Have you any idea of horse-breeding, Dmitri Fyodo-
rovitch?’
‘Not the faintest, madam; ah, madam, not the faintest!’
cried Mitya, in nervous impatience, positively starting from
his seat. ‘I simply implore you, madam, to listen to me. Only
give me two minutes of free speech that I may just explain
to you everything, the whole plan with which I have come.
Besides, I am short of time. I’m in a fearful hurry,’ Mitya
cried hysterically, feeling that she was just going to begin
talking again, and hoping to cut her short. ‘I have come in
despair... in the last gasp of despair, to beg you to lend me
the sum of three thousand, a loan, but on safe, most safe
security, madam, with the most trustworthy guarantees!
Only let me explain-.’
‘You must tell me all that afterwards, afterwards!’ Ma-
dame Hohlakov with a gesture demanded silence in her
turn, ‘and whatever you may tell me, I know it all before-