Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 11 knowledge, that Madame Svyetlov was particularly anx-
ious a couple of months ago to make the acquaintance of
the younger Karamazov, Alexey Fyodorovitch, and prom-
ised you twenty-five roubles, if you would bring him to her
in his monastic dress. And that actually took place on the
evening of the day on which the terrible crime, which is the
subject of the present investigation, was committed. You
brought Alexey Karamazov to Madame Svyetlov, and did
you receive the twenty-five roubles from Madame Svyetlov
as a reward, that’s what I wanted to hear from you?’
‘It was a joke.... I don’t, see of what interest that can be to
you.... I took it for a joke... meaning to give it back later..’
‘Then you did take — but you have not given it back yet...
or have you?’
‘That’s of no consequence,’ muttered Rakitin, ‘I refuse to
answer such questions.... Of course, I shall give it back.’
The President intervened, but Fetyukovitch declared he
had no more questions to ask of the witness. Mr. Rakitin
left the witness-box not absolutely without a stain upon his
character. The effect left by the lofty idealism of his speech
was somewhat marred, and Fetyukovitch’s expression, as
he watched him walk away, seemed to suggest to the public
‘this is a specimen of the lofty-minded persons who ac-
cuse him.’ I remember that this incident, too, did not pass
off without an outbreak from Mitya. Enraged by the tone
in which Rakitin had referred to Grushenka, he suddenly
shouted ‘Bernard!’ When, after Rakitin’s cross-examina-
tion, the President asked the prisoner if he had anything to
say, Mitya cried loudly: