0 The Brothers Karamazovdown between the railway lines when the train was pass-
ing. Lucky fellow! Listen, your brother is being tried now for
murdering his father and everyone loves his having killed
his father.’
‘Loves his having killed his father?’
‘Yes, loves it; everyone loves it! Everybody says it’s so aw-
ful, but secretly they simply love it. I for one love it.’
‘There is some truth in what you say about everyone,’ said
Alyosha softly.
‘Oh, what ideas you have!’ Lise shrieked in delight. ‘And
you a monk, too! You wouldn’t believe how I respect you,
Alyosha, for never telling lies. Oh, I must tell you a funny
dream of mine. I sometimes dream of devils. It’s night; I am
in my room with a candle and suddenly there are devils all
over the place, in all the corners, under the table, and they
open the doors; there’s a crowd of them behind the doors
and they want to come and seize me. And they are just com-
ing, just seizing me. But I suddenly cross myself and they all
draw back, though they don’t go away altogether, they stand
at the doors and in the corners, waiting. And suddenly I
have a frightful longing to revile God aloud, and so I begin,
and then they come crowding back to me, delighted, and
seize me again and I cross myself again and they all draw
back. It’s awful fun, it takes one’s breath away.’
‘I’ve had the same dream, too,’ said Alyosha suddenly.
‘Really?’ cried Lise, surprised. ‘I say, Alyosha, don’t laugh,
that’s awfully important. Could two different people have
the same dream?’
‘It seems they can.’