The Brothers Karamazovdame Hohlakov? I suppose you still regard that security as
of value?’
Mitya suddenly crimsoned.
‘Surely you don’t think me such an out and out scoundrel
as that? You can’t be speaking in earnest?’ he said, with in-
dignation, looking the prosecutor straight in the face, and
seeming unable to believe his ears.
‘I assure you I’m in earnest... Why do you imagine I’m
not serious?’ It was the prosecutor’s turn to be surprised.
‘Oh, how base that would have been! Gentlemen, do you
know, you are torturing me! Let me tell you everything, so
be it. I’ll confess all my infernal wickedness, but to put you
to shame, and you’ll be surprised yourselves at the depth
of ignominy to which a medley of human passions can
sink. You must know that I already had that plan myself,
that plan you spoke of, just now, prosecutor! Yes, gentlemen,
I, too, have had that thought in my mind all this current
month, so that I was on the point of deciding to go to Katya
— I was mean enough for that. But to go to her, to tell her of
my treachery, and for that very treachery, to carry it out, for
the expenses of that treachery, to beg for money from her,
Katya (to beg, do you hear, to beg), and go straight from her
to run away with the other, the rival, who hated and insult-
ed her — to think of it! You must be mad, prosecutor!’
‘Mad I am not, but I did speak in haste, without think-
ing... of that feminine jealousy... if there could be jealousy in
this case, as you assert... yes, perhaps there is something of
the kind,’ said the prosecutor, smiling.
‘But that would have been so infamous!’ Mitya brought