In the corridor they came upon Luzhin;

　　"Now let me tell you my story," he began, "I came to you, you wereasleep. Then we had dinner and then I went to Porfiry's, Zametov wasstill with him. I tried to begin, but it was no use. I couldn'tspeak in the right way. They don't seem to understand and can'tunderstand, but are not a bit ashamed. I drew Porfiry to the window,and began talking to him, but it was still no use. He looked awayand I looked away. At last I shook my fist in his ugly face, andtold him as a cousin I'd brain him. He merely looked at me, I cursedand came away. That was all. It was very stupid. To Zametov I didn'tsay a word. But, you see, I thought I'd made a mess of it, but as Iwent downstairs a brilliant idea struck me: why should we trouble?Of course if you were in any danger or anything, but why need youcare? You needn't care a hang for them. We shall have a laugh atthem afterwards, and if I were in your place I'd mystify them morethan ever. How ashamed they'll be afterwards! Hang them! We can thrashthem afterwards, but let's laugh at them now!"

　　"To be sure," answered Raskolnikov. "But what will you sayto-morrow?" he thought to himself. Strange to say, till that moment ithad never occurred to him to wonder what Razumihin would think when heknew. As he thought it, Raskolnikov looked at him. Razumihin's accountof his visit to Porfiry had very little interest for him, so muchhad come and gone since then.

　　In the corridor they came upon Luzhin; he had arrived punctuallyat eight, and was looking for the number, so that all three went intogether without greeting or looking at one another. The young menwalked in first, while Pyotr Petrovitch, for good manners, lingereda little in the passage, taking off his coat. Pulcheria Alexandrovnacame forward at once to greet him in the doorway, Dounia was welcomingher brother. Pyotr Petrovitch walked in and quite amiably, though withredoubled dignity, bowed to the ladies. He looked, however, asthough he were a little put out and could not yet recover himself.Pulcheria Alexandrovna, who seemed also a little embarrassed, hastenedto make them all sit down at the round table where a samovar wasboiling. Dounia and Luzhin were facing one another on opposite sidesof the table. Razumihin and Raskolnikov were facing PulcheriaAlexandrovna, Razumihin was next to Luzhin and Raskolnikov wasbeside his sister.

　　A moment's silence followed. Pyotr Petrovitch deliberately drewout a cambric handkerchief reeking of scent and blew his nose withan air of a benevolent man who felt himself slighted, and was firmlyresolved to insist on an explanation. In the passage the idea hadoccurred to him to keep on his overcoat and walk away, and so give thetwo ladies a sharp and emphatic lesson and make them feel thegravity of the position. But he could not bring himself to do this.Besides, he could not endure uncertainty and he wanted an explanation:if his request had been so openly disobeyed, there was somethingbehind it, and in that case it was better to find it out beforehand;it rested with him to punish them and there would always be time forthat.

　　"I trust you had a favourable journey," he inquired officially ofPulcheria Alexandrovna.

　　"Oh, very, Pyotr Petrovitch."

　　"I am gratified to hear it. And Avdotya Romanovna is not overfatigued either?"

　　"I am young and strong, I don't get tired, but it was a great strainfor mother," answered Dounia.