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only person who put implicit faith in Ippolit Kirillovitch’s
extraordinary talents as a psychologist and orator and in
the justice of his grievance. He had heard of him in Peters-
burg. On the other hand, young Nikolay Parfenovitch was
the only person in the whole world whom our ‘unappreci-
ated’ prosecutor genuinely liked. On their way to Mokroe
they had time to come to an understanding about the pres-
ent case. And now as they sat at the table, the sharp-witted
junior caught and interpreted every indication on his senior
colleague’s face — half a word, a glance, or a wink.
‘Gentlemen, only let me tell my own story and don’t in-
terrupt me with trivial questions and I’ll tell you everything
in a moment,’ said Mitya excitedly.
‘Excellent! Thank you. But before we proceed to listen to
your communication, will you allow me to inquire as to an-
other little fact of great interest to us? I mean the ten roubles
you borrowed yesterday at about five o’clock on the security
of your pistols, from your friend, Pyotr Ilyitch Perhotin.’
‘I pledged them, gentlemen. I pledged them for ten rou-
bles. What more? That’s all about it. As soon as I got back to
town I pledged them.’
‘You got back to town? Then you had been out of town?’
‘Yes, I went a journey of forty versts into the country.
Didn’t you know?’
The prosecutor and Nikolay Parfenovitch exchanged
glances.
‘Well, how would it be if you began your story with a
systematic description of all you did yesterday, from the
morning onwards? Allow us, for instance, to inquire why