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Chapter 7

The First and

Rightful Lover

W

ITH his long, rapid strides, Mitya walked straight up

to the table.

‘Gentlemen,’ he said in a loud voice, almost shouting, yet

stammering at every word, ‘I... I’m all right! Don’t be afraid!’

he exclaimed, ‘I — there’s nothing the matter,’ he turned

suddenly to Grushenka, who had shrunk back in her chair

towards Kalganov, and clasped his hand tightly. ‘I... I’m

coming, too. I’m here till morning. Gentlemen, may I stay

with you till morning? Only till morning, for the last time,

in this same room?’

So he finished, turning to the fat little man, with the pipe,

sitting on the sofa. The latter removed his pipe from his lips

with dignity and observed severely:

‘Panie,* we’re here in private. There are other rooms.’

* Pan and Panie mean Mr. in Polish. Pani means Mrs.,

Panovie, gentlemen.

‘Why, it’s you, Dmitri Fyodorovitch! What do you mean?’

answered Kalgonov suddenly. ‘Sit down with us. How are