koff angrily. "I
once more repeat the question I have put you: If you think me guilty,
why not issue a warrant against me?"

"What a question! But I will answer you categorically. To begin with,
your arrest would not benefit me!"

"It would not benefit you? How can that be? From the moment of being
convinced, you ought to----"

"What is the use of my conviction, after all? For the time being, it
is only built on sand. And why should I have you placed _at rest?_ Of
course, I purpose having you arrested--I have called to give you a
hint to that effect--and yet I do not hesitate to tell you that I
shall gain nothing by it. Considering, therefore, the interest I feel
for you, I earnestly urge you to go and acknowledge your crime. I
called before to give the same advice. It is by far the wisest thing
you can do--for you as well as for myself, who will then wash my hands
of the affair. Now, am I candid enough?"

Raskolnikoff considered a moment. "Listen to me, Porphyrius
Petrovitch! To use your own statement, you have against me nothing but
psychological sentiments, and yet you aspire to mathematical evidence.
Who has told you that you are absolutely right?"

"Yes, Rodion Romanovitch, I am absolutely right. I hold a proof! And
this proof I came in possession of the other day: God has sent it me!"

"What is it?"

"I shall not tell you, Rodion Romanovitch. But I have no right to
procrastinate. I am going to have you arrested! Judge, therefore:
whatever you purpose doing is not of much importance to me just now;
all I say and have said has been solely done for your interest. The
best alternative is the one I suggest, you may depend on it, Rodion
Romanovitch! When I shall have had you arrested--at the expiration of
a month or two, or even three, if you like--you will remember my
words, and you will confess. You will be led to do so insensibly,
almost without being conscious of it. I am even of opinion that, after
careful consideration, you will make up your mind to make atonement.
You do not believe me at this moment, but wait and see. In truth,
Rodion Romanovitch, suffering is a grand thing. In the mouth of a
coarse man, who deprives himself of nothing, such a statement might
afford food for laughter. Never mind, however, but there lies a theory
in suffering. Mikolka is right. You won't escape, Rodion Romanovitch."

Raskolnikoff rose and took his cap. Porphyrius Petrovitch did the
same. "Are you going for a walk? The n