en the eyes?"

"Such a custom, I believe, is religiously observed in your profession,
is it not?"

"Then you are of opinion that when I spoke to you about quarters
provided by the State, I did so----" Saying which, Porphyrius
Petrovitch blinked, his face assumed for a moment an expression of
roguish gayety, the wrinkles on his brow became smoothed, his small
eyes grew smaller still, his features expanded, and, looking
Raskolnikoff straight in the face, he burst out into a prolonged fit
of nervous laughter, which shook him from head to foot. The young man,
on his part, laughed likewise, with more or less of an effort,
however, at sight of which Porphyrius's hilarity increased to such an
extent that his face grew nearly crimson. At this Raskolnikoff
experienced more or less aversion, which led him to forget all
caution; he ceased laughing, knitting his brows, and, whilst
Porphyrius gave way to his hilarity, which seemed a somewhat feigned
one, he fixed on him a look of hatred. In truth, they were both off
their guard. Porphyrius had, in fact, laughed at his visitor, who had
taken this in bad part; whereas the former seemed to care but little
about Raskolnikoff's displeasure. This circumstance gave the young man
much matter for thought. He fancied that his visit had in no kind of
way discomposed the magistrate; on the contrary, it was Raskolnikoff
who had been caught in a trap, a snare, an ambush of some kind or
other. The mine was, perhaps, already charged, and might burst at any
moment.

Anxious to get straight to the point, Raskolnikoff rose and took up
his cap. "Porphyrius Petrovitch," he cried, in a resolute tone of
voice, betraying more or less irritation, "yesterday you expressed the
desire to subject me to a judicial examination." (He laid special
stress on this last word.) "I have called at your bidding; if you have
questions to put, do so: if not, allow me to withdraw. I can't afford
to waste my time here, as I have other things to attend to. In a word,
I must go to the funeral of the official who has been run over, and of
whom you have heard speak," he added, regretting, however, the last
part of his sentence. Then, with increasing anger, he went on: "Let me
tell you that all this worries me! The thing is hanging over much too
long. It is that mainly that has made me ill. In one word,"--he
continued, his voice seeming more and more irritable, for he felt that
the remark about his illness was yet more out of