Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com
that you are in such need. No one will know of it, it can
give rise to no unjust slander. There are the two hundred
roubles, and I swear you must take them unless — unless all
men are to be enemies on earth! But there are brothers even
on earth.... You have a generous heart... you must see that,
you must,’ and Alyosha held out two new rainbow-coloured
hundred-rouble notes.
They were both standing at the time by the great stone
close to the fence, and there was no one near. The notes
seemed to produce a tremendous impression on the cap-
tain. He started, but at first only from astonishment. Such
an outcome of their conversation was the last thing he ex-
pected. Nothing could have been farther from his dreams
than help from anyone — and such a sum!
He took the notes, and for a minute he was almost un-
able to answer, quite a new expression came into his face.
‘That for me? So much money — two hundred roubles!
Good heavens! Why, I haven’t seen so much money for
the last four years! Mercy on us! And she says she is a sis-
ter.... And is that the truth?’ ‘I swear that all I told you is the
truth,’cried Alyosha.
The captain flushed red.
‘Listen, my dear, listen. If I take it, I shan’t be behaving
like a scoundrel? In your eyes, Alexey Fyodorovitch, I shan’t
be a scoundrel? No, Alexey Fyodorovitch, listen, listen,’ he
hurried, touching Alyosha with both his hands. ‘You are
persuading me to take it, saying that it’s a sister sends it, but
inwardly, in your heart won’t you feel contempt for me if I
take it, eh?’