Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com ‘Did he never say before you... casually, or in a moment
of irritation,’ Nikolay Parfenovitch put in suddenly, ‘that he
intended to make an attempt on his father’s life?’
‘Ach, he did say so,’ sighed Grushenka.
‘Once or several times?’
‘He mentioned it several times, always in anger.’
‘And did you believe he would do it?’
‘No, I never believed it,’ she answered firmly. ‘I had faith
in his noble heart.’
‘Gentlemen, allow me,’ cried Mitya suddenly, ‘allow me
to say one word to Agrafena Alexandrovna, in your pres-
ence.’
‘You can speak,’ Nikolay Parfenovitch assented.
‘Agrafena Alexandrovna!’ Mitya got up from his chair,
‘have faith in God and in me. I am not guilty of my father’s
murder!’
Having uttered these words Mitya sat down again on his
chair. Grushenka stood up and crossed herself devoutly be-
fore the ikon.
‘Thanks be to Thee, O Lord,’ she said, in a voice thrilled
with emotion, and still standing, she turned to Nikolay
Parfenovitch and added:
‘As he has spoken now, believe it! I know him. He’ll say
anything as a joke or from obstinacy, but he’ll never deceive
you against his conscience. He’s telling the whole truth, you
may believe it.’
‘Thanks, Agrafena Alexandrovna, you’ve given me fresh
courage,’ Mitya responded in a quivering voice.
As to the money spent the previous day, she declared that