11 The Brothers Karamazovdetail in so short a time.
‘Allow me to ask,’ began the counsel for the defence, with
the most affable and even respectful smile, ‘you are, of
course, the same Mr. Rakitin whose pamphlet, The Life of
the Deceased Elder, Father Zossima, published by the dioc-
esan authorities, full of profound and religious reflections
and preceded by an excellent and devout dedication to the
bishop, I have just read with such pleasure?’
‘I did not write it for publication... it was published af-
terwards,’ muttered Rakitin, for some reason fearfully
disconcerted and almost ashamed.
‘Oh, that’s excellent! A thinker like you can, and indeed
ought to, take the widest view of every social question.
Your most instructive pamphlet has been widely circulated
through the patronage of the bishop, and has been of ap-
preciable service.... But this is the chief thing I should like
to learn from you. You stated just now that you were very
intimately acquainted with Madame Svyetlov.’ (It must be
noted that Grushenka’s surname was Svyetlov. I heard it for
the first time that day, during the case.)
‘I cannot answer for all my acquaintances.... I am a young
man... and who can be responsible for everyone he meets?’
cried Rakitin, flushing all over.
‘I understand, I quite understand,’ cried Fetyukovitch; as
though he, too, were embarrassed and in haste to excuse
himself. ‘You, like any other, might well be interested in
an acquaintance with a young and beautiful woman who
would readily entertain the elite of the youth of the neigh-
bourhood, but... I only wanted to know... It has come to my