1 The Brothers Karamazov

Chapter 2

For a Moment the Lie

Becomes Truth

H

E hurried to the hospital where Mitya was lying now.

The day after his fate was determined, Mitya had fallen

ill with nervous fever, and was sent to the prison division

of the town hospital. But at the request of several persons

(Alyosha, Madame Hohlakov, Lise, etc.), Doctor Varvinsky

had put Mitya not with other prisoners, but in a separate

little room, the one where Smerdyakov had been. It is true

that there was a sentinel at the other end of the corridor,

and there was a grating over the window, so that Varvinsky

could be at ease about the indulgence he had shown, which

was not quite legal, indeed; but he was a kind-hearted and

compassionate young man. He knew how hard it would be

for a man like Mitya to pass at once so suddenly into the so-

ciety of robbers and murderers, and that he must get used

to it by degrees. The visits of relations and friends were in-

formally sanctioned by the doctor and overseer, and even

by the police captain. But only Alyosha and Grushenka had

visited Mitya. Rakitin had tried to force his way in twice,