Maximum-assistance view: every word above everyday vocabulary is explained at every appearance; each name is introduced at its first appearance in the chapter.

CHAPTER I

On an exceptionally (beyond the common run) hot evening early in July a young man came out of the garret (a room at the top of a house, under the roof) in which he lodged (to take lodging; the Masons' meeting body) in S. Place and walked slowly, as though in hesitation (a pause of doubt), towards K. bridge.

He had successfully (with success) avoided meeting his landlady (the woman who lets lodgings) on the staircase (a flight of stairs). His garret (a room at the top of a house, under the roof) was under the roof of a high, five-storied (having five floors) house and was more like a cupboard (a shelved cabinet) than a room. The landlady (the woman who lets lodgings) who provided him with garret (a room at the top of a house, under the roof), dinners, and attendance (being present to serve), lived on the floor below, and every time he went out he was obliged (to compel; bind by duty) to pass her kitchen, the door of which invariably (without exception) stood open. And each time he passed, the young man had a sick, frightened (afraid) feeling, which made him scowl (to frown darkly) and feel ashamed (feeling shame). He was hopelessly (without hope) in debt to his landlady (the woman who lets lodgings), and was afraid of meeting her.

This was not because he was cowardly (showing cowardice) and abject (sunk low; miserable), quite the contrary (opposite); but for some time past he had been in an overstrained (stretched too tight) irritable (quick to anger) condition (condition: social rank — the old sense here), verging (the very edge) on hypochondria (sickly gloom about one's health). He had become so completely absorbed (to soak up; take in wholly) in himself, and isolated (isolated: set apart alone) from his fellows that he dreaded (deep fear) meeting, not only his landlady (the woman who lets lodgings), but anyone at all. He was crushed (to press to pieces) by poverty (being poor), but the anxieties (gnawing worry) of his position had of late ceased (to stop) to weigh (to find how heavy a thing is) upon him. He had given up attending to matters of practical (fit for use) importance; he had lost all desire to do so. Nothing that any landlady (the woman who lets lodgings) could do had a real terror (overwhelming fear) for him. But to be stopped on the stairs (a step of a flight), to be forced to listen to her trivial (of small importance), irrelevant (beside the point) gossip (idle talk of others), to pestering (to annoy again and again) demands for payment, threats and complaints (a voiced discontent), and to rack (a holding frame) his brains for excuses, to prevaricate (to speak so as to avoid the truth), to lie--no, rather than that, he would creep (to move low and slowly) down the stairs (a step of a flight) like a cat and slip (to slide by accident; a small error) out unseen (not seen).

This evening, however, on coming out into the street, he became acutely (sharply) aware of his fears.

“I want to attempt a thing like that and am frightened (afraid) by these trifles (a thing of no importance),” he thought, with an odd (strange; uneven) smile. “Hm... yes, all is in a man’s hands and he lets it all slip (to slide by accident; a small error) from cowardice (shameful fear), that’s an axiom (a self-evident rule). It would be interesting to know what it is men are most afraid of. Taking a new step, uttering (complete; to speak) a new word is what they fear most.... But I am talking too much. It’s because I chatter (quick idle talk) that I do nothing. Or perhaps it is that I chatter (quick idle talk) because I do nothing. I’ve learned to chatter (quick idle talk) this last month, lying for days together in my den (a beast's lair) thinking... of Jack the Giant-killer. Why am I going there now? Am I capable of that? Is that serious? It is not serious at all. It’s simply a fantasy to amuse (entertained; smiling) myself; a plaything (a toy)! Yes, maybe it is a plaything (a toy).”

The heat in the street was terrible: and the airlessness (the want of fresh air), the bustle (hurried stir and fuss) and the plaster (wall coating; a healing patch), scaffolding (the builder's raised platforms), bricks (baked building clay), and dust (fine dry earth) all about him, and that special Petersburg (St Petersburg, then the capital of Russia) stench (a foul smell), so familiar to all who are unable to get out of town in summer--all worked painfully (with pain) upon the young man’s already overwrought (strained too far) nerves (the body's feeling thread; courage). The insufferable (unbearable) stench (a foul smell) from the pot-houses (small low drinking places), which are particularly numerous in that part of the town, and the drunken (given to drink) men whom he met continually (over and over without stop), although it was a working day, completed the revolting (disgusting) misery (deep unhappiness) of the picture. An expression of the profoundest (deep) disgust (sick, strong dislike) gleamed (a soft flash of light) for a moment in the young man’s refined (made fine; polished) face. He was, by the way, exceptionally (beyond the common run) handsome (fine-looking), above the average in height, slim (gracefully thin), well-built (strongly built), with beautiful dark eyes and dark brown hair. Soon he sank (to go down) into deep thought, or more accurately (exactly) speaking into a complete blankness (empty whiteness; nothing to see) of mind; he walked along not observing (to watch; to remark) what was about him and not caring to observe (to watch; to remark) it. From time to time, he would mutter (to speak low in the throat) something, from the habit (a settled way of acting) of talking to himself, to which he had just confessed (to own up; to make confession). At these moments he would become conscious (aware) that his ideas were sometimes in a tangle (twisted together in a mass) and that he was very weak; for two days he had scarcely (hardly) tasted food.

He was so badly (in a bad way) dressed that even a man accustomed (to make used to) to shabbiness (the state of being worn and poor) would have been ashamed (feeling shame) to be seen in the street in such rags (a torn scrap of cloth). In that quarter of the town, however, scarcely (hardly) any shortcoming (shortcomings: faults) in dress would have created surprise. Owing (to be in debt for) to the proximity (nearness) of the Hay Market (the crowded market square at the heart of Raskolnikov's Petersburg), the number of establishments (a set-up institution) of bad character, the preponderance (outweighing greater share) of the trading and working class population crowded in these streets and alleys (a narrow lane) in the heart of Petersburg, types so various were to be seen in the streets that no figure, however queer (strange), would have caused surprise. But there was such accumulated (to pile up) bitterness (sharp resentful pain) and contempt (scorn for the worthless) in the young man’s heart, that, in spite (ill will) of all the fastidiousness (being hard to please) of youth, he minded his rags (a torn scrap of cloth) least of all in the street. It was a different matter when he met with acquaintances (a person one knows slightly) or with former fellow students, whom, indeed, he disliked (not to like) meeting at any time. And yet when a drunken (given to drink) man who, for some unknown reason, was being taken somewhere in a huge waggon (a four-wheeled cart) dragged (to pull heavily along) by a heavy dray (a low heavy cart) horse, suddenly shouted (a loud cry) at him as he drove past: “Hey there, German hatter (a maker of hats)” bawling (to shout loudly) at the top of his voice and pointing at him--the young man stopped suddenly and clutched (to grip hard) tremulously (with a shaking voice) at his hat. It was a tall round hat from Zimmerman (a Petersburg hat shop)’s, but completely worn out, rusty (covered with rust) with age, all torn (a drop of weeping; to rip) and bespattered (splashed with mud), brimless (with no edge round it) and bent (to curve; to bow) on one side in a most unseemly (not fitting; improper) fashion. Not shame, however, but quite another feeling akin (of the same kind) to terror (overwhelming fear) had overtaken (to catch up with) him.

“I knew it,” he muttered (to speak low in the throat) in confusion (mixed-up disorder), “I thought so! That’s the worst of all! Why, a stupid thing like this, the most trivial (of small importance) detail might spoil (to ruin; plundered goods) the whole plan. Yes, my hat is too noticeable (easily noticed).... It looks absurd (against all sense) and that makes it noticeable (easily noticed).... With my rags (a torn scrap of cloth) I ought (should) to wear a cap, any sort of old pancake (a thin fried cake), but not this grotesque (twisted and unnatural) thing. Nobody wears such a hat, it would be noticed a mile off, it would be remembered.... What matters is that people would remember it, and that would give them a clue (a guide to an answer). For this business one should be as little conspicuous (standing out to the eye) as possible.... Trifles (a thing of no importance), trifles (a thing of no importance) are what matter! Why, it’s just such trifles (a thing of no importance) that always ruin (destruction; broken remains) everything....”

He had not far to go; he knew indeed how many steps it was from the gate (a wall's door) of his lodging (to take lodging; the Masons' meeting body) house: exactly seven hundred and thirty (thirty). He had counted them once when he had been lost in dreams. At the time he had put no faith in those dreams and was only tantalising (to hold a wished for thing just out of reach) himself by their hideous (horribly ugly) but daring (bold) recklessness (wild disregard of danger). Now, a month later, he had begun to look upon them differently (in another way), and, in spite (ill will) of the monologues (a speech by one person) in which he jeered (to mock loudly) at his own impotence (powerlessness) and indecision (inability to decide), he had involuntarily (without willing it) come to regard (to look upon; respect) this “hideous (horribly ugly)” dream as an exploit (a bold deed; to use for gain) to be attempted, although he still did not realise (to come to understand; to make real) this himself. He was positively (with certainty) going now for a “rehearsal (a practice of a play before performance)” of his project, and at every step his excitement (stirred-up feeling) grew more and more violent (of raging force).

With a sinking (to go down) heart and a nervous (easily shaken) tremor (a fine trembling), he went up to a huge house which on one side looked on to the canal (a cut waterway), and on the other into the street. This house was let out in tiny tenements (a dwelling) and was inhabited (to live in) by working people of all kinds--tailors (a man who makes clothes), locksmiths (a maker and opener of locks), cooks, Germans of sorts, girls picking up a living as best they could, petty (small and trifling) clerks (a writing officer), etc. There was a continual (never stopping) coming and going through the two gates (a wall's door) and in the two courtyards (an enclosed yard) of the house. Three or four door-keepers (those who keep the door) were employed (to use; to give work) on the building. The young man was very glad to meet none of them, and at once slipped (to slide by accident; a small error) unnoticed (not noticed) through the door on the right, and up the staircase (a flight of stairs). It was a back staircase (a flight of stairs), dark and narrow (of little width), but he was familiar with it already, and knew his way, and he liked all these surroundings (lying around): in such darkness (absence of light) even the most inquisitive (prying; curious) eyes were not to be dreaded (deep fear).

“If I am so scared now, what would it be if it somehow came to pass that I were really going to do it?” he could not help asking himself as he reached the fourth storey (a floor of a building). There his progress was barred by some porters (a carrier; a doorkeeper) who were engaged in moving furniture (the fittings of a house) out of a flat. He knew that the flat had been occupied (to hold; to fill) by a German clerk (a writing officer) in the civil service, and his family. This German was moving out then, and so the fourth floor on this staircase (a flight of stairs) would be untenanted (untenanted: empty) except by the old woman. “That’s a good thing anyway,” he thought to himself, as he rang the bell of the old woman’s flat. The bell gave a faint (weak and dim; to fall senseless) tinkle (to ring lightly) as though it were made of tin (the soft white metal) and not of copper (a big metal pot for boiling; the metal). The little flats in such houses always have bells that ring like that. He had forgotten the note of that bell, and now its peculiar (peculiar: its own; particular — the old sense here) tinkle (to ring lightly) seemed to remind (to bring back to mind) him of something and to bring it clearly before him.... He started, his nerves (the body's feeling thread; courage) were terribly (dreadfully) overstrained (stretched too tight) by now. In a little while, the door was opened a tiny crack (a sharp break or noise): the old woman eyed her visitor (one who visits) with evident (plain to see) distrust (lack of trust) through the crack (a sharp break or noise), and nothing could be seen but her little eyes, glittering (to sparkle) in the darkness (absence of light). But, seeing a number of people on the landing (a coming to land; a stair platform), she grew bolder (more bold), and opened the door wide. The young man stepped into the dark entry, which was partitioned (a dividing wall; a dividing up) off from the tiny kitchen. The old woman stood facing him in silence (absence of sound) and looking inquiringly (with a questioning look) at him. She was a diminutive (a pet short form of a name), withered (to dry up and die) up old woman of sixty (sixty), with sharp (keen-edged) malignant (fiercely harmful) eyes and a sharp (keen-edged) little nose. Her colourless (without colour), somewhat grizzled (gray-streaked) hair was thickly (densely) smeared (to spread something wet or greasy) with oil, and she wore no kerchief (a cloth worn over the head) over it. Round her thin (of little thickness) long neck, which looked like a hen (the female fowl)’s leg, was knotted (a tied fastening; a tight cluster) some sort of flannel (soft woollen cloth) rag (a torn scrap of cloth), and, in spite (ill will) of the heat, there hung flapping (to swing loosely; a hanging piece) on her shoulders, a mangy (with the hair falling out; shabby) fur (an animal's soft coat) cape (a point of land reaching into the sea), yellow with age. The old woman coughed (to expel air harshly) and groaned (to give a deep pained cry) at every instant (a moment; immediate). The young man must have looked at her with a rather peculiar (peculiar: its own; particular — the old sense here) expression, for a gleam (a soft flash of light) of mistrust (lack of trust) came into her eyes again.

“Raskolnikov (the young former student this story follows), a student, I came here a month ago,” the young man made haste (hurry) to mutter (to speak low in the throat), with a half bow (to bend in respect; a ribbon knot), remembering that he ought (should) to be more polite (well-mannered).

“I remember, my good sir, I remember quite well your coming here,” the old woman said distinctly (clearly), still keeping her inquiring (to ask) eyes on his face.

“And here... I am again on the same errand (a short task one is sent on),” Raskolnikov continued, a little disconcerted (thrown off and made uneasy) and surprised at the old woman’s mistrust (lack of trust). “Perhaps she is always like that though, only I did not notice it the other time,” he thought with an uneasy (uncomfortable and anxious) feeling.

The old woman paused (a brief stop), as though hesitating (pausing in doubt); then stepped on one side, and pointing to the door of the room, she said, letting her visitor (one who visits) pass in front of her:

“Step in, my good sir.”

The little room into which the young man walked, with yellow paper on the walls, geraniums (a house plant with red or pink flowers) and muslin (fine thin cotton cloth) curtains (a hanging cloth screen) in the windows, was brightly (with bright light) lighted up at that moment by the setting sun.

“So the sun will shine (to give light) like this then too!” flashed (a sudden burst of light) as it were by chance through Raskolnikov’s mind, and with a rapid (fast) glance (a quick look) he scanned (to look over closely) everything in the room, trying as far as possible to notice and remember its arrangement (an ordered setting). But there was nothing special in the room. The furniture (the fittings of a house), all very old and of yellow wood, consisted (to be made of) of a sofa (a long padded seat) with a huge bent (to curve; to bow) wooden (made of wood) back, an oval (egg-shaped) table in front of the sofa (a long padded seat), a dressing-table (a lady's table for dressing) with a looking-glass (a mirror) fixed on it between the windows, chairs along the walls and two or three half-penny (half-penny paper: a cheap newspaper) prints in yellow frames, representing German damsels (a young lady) with birds in their hands--that was all. In the corner a light was burning before a small ikon (a holy picture of a saint, used in Russian worship). Everything was very clean; the floor and the furniture (the fittings of a house) were brightly (with bright light) polished (rubbed smooth and bright); everything shone (to give light).

“Lizaveta (the pawnbroker's younger sister)’s work,” thought the young man. There was not a speck (a tiny spot) of dust (fine dry earth) to be seen in the whole flat.

“It’s in the houses of spiteful (full of spite) old widows (a woman whose husband has died) that one finds such cleanliness (clean neatness),” Raskolnikov thought again, and he stole (to take by theft) a curious (eager to know; strange) glance (a quick look) at the cotton (the soft plant fiber) curtain (a hanging cloth screen) over the door leading into another tiny room, in which stood the old woman’s bed and chest of drawers (a sliding box in a table) and into which he had never looked before. These two rooms made up the whole flat.

“What do you want?” the old woman said severely (with hard strictness), coming into the room and, as before, standing in front of him so as to look him straight in the face.

“I’ve brought something to pawn (to pledge for a loan) here,” and he drew out of his pocket (the sewn-in pouch) an old-fashioned (of the old fashion) flat silver watch, on the back of which was engraved (to cut into metal or stone) a globe (a round ball; the earth); the chain was of steel.

“But the time is up for your last pledge (a solemn promise). The month was up the day before yesterday.”

“I will bring you the interest (interest: the spectacle that draws a crowd — the old sense here) for another month; wait a little.”

“But that’s for me to do as I please, my good sir, to wait or to sell your pledge (a solemn promise) at once.”

“How much will you give me for the watch, Alyona Ivanovna (the old pawnbroker, by her formal name)?”

“You come with such trifles (a thing of no importance), my good sir, it’s scarcely (hardly) worth anything. I gave you two roubles (the money of Russia) last time for your ring and one could buy it quite new at a jeweler (one who makes and sells jewels)’s for a rouble (the money of Russia) and a half.”

“Give me four roubles (the money of Russia) for it, I shall redeem (to buy back; to save) it, it was my father’s. I shall be getting some money soon.”

“A rouble (the money of Russia) and a half, and interest (interest: the spectacle that draws a crowd — the old sense here) in advance, if you like!”

“A rouble (the money of Russia) and a half!” cried the young man.

“Please yourself”--and the old woman handed him back the watch. The young man took it, and was so angry that he was on the point of going away; but checked himself at once, remembering that there was nowhere (in no place) else he could go, and that he had had another object also in coming.

“Hand it over,” he said roughly (without gentleness).

The old woman fumbled (to handle clumsily) in her pocket (the sewn-in pouch) for her keys, and disappeared (to vanish) behind the curtain (a hanging cloth screen) into the other room. The young man, left standing alone in the middle of the room, listened inquisitively (with lively curiosity), thinking. He could hear her unlocking (to open the lock of) the chest of drawers (a sliding box in a table).

“It must be the top drawer (a sliding box in a table),” he reflected (to throw back; to think over). “So she carries the keys in a pocket (the sewn-in pouch) on the right. All in one bunch on a steel ring.... And there’s one key there, three times as big as all the others, with deep notches (a nick cut in an edge); that can’t be the key of the chest of drawers (a sliding box in a table)... then there must be some other chest or strong-box (a locked box for valuables)... that’s worth knowing. Strong-boxes (strong cases for keeping money safe) always have keys like that... but how degrading (to drag low; strip of rank) it all is.”

The old woman came back.

“Here, sir: as we say ten copecks (a small Russian coin, a hundredth of a rouble) the rouble (the money of Russia) a month, so I must take fifteen (fifteen) copecks (a small Russian coin, a hundredth of a rouble) from a rouble (the money of Russia) and a half for the month in advance. But for the two roubles (the money of Russia) I lent (to give on loan) you before, you owe (to be in debt for) me now twenty copecks (a small Russian coin, a hundredth of a rouble) on the same reckoning (a counting up) in advance. That makes thirty-five (thirty-five) copecks (a small Russian coin, a hundredth of a rouble) altogether (wholly). So I must give you a rouble (the money of Russia) and fifteen (fifteen) copecks (a small Russian coin, a hundredth of a rouble) for the watch. Here it is.”

“What! only a rouble (the money of Russia) and fifteen (fifteen) copecks (a small Russian coin, a hundredth of a rouble) now!”

“Just so.”

The young man did not dispute (an argued quarrel) it and took the money. He looked at the old woman, and was in no hurry (to move with haste) to get away, as though there was still something he wanted to say or to do, but he did not himself quite know what.

“I may be bringing you something else in a day or two, Alyona Ivanovna--a valuable thing--silver--a cigarette-box (a box for holding cigarettes), as soon as I get it back from a friend...” he broke off in confusion (mixed-up disorder).

“Well, we will talk about it then, sir.”

“Good-bye--are you always at home alone, your sister is not here with you?” He asked her as casually (without special intent) as possible as he went out into the passage (passage: a sea-journey — the old sense here).

“What business is she of yours, my good sir?”

“Oh, nothing particular, I simply asked. You are too quick.... Good-day (a greeting on meeting or parting), Alyona Ivanovna.”

Raskolnikov went out in complete confusion (mixed-up disorder). This confusion (mixed-up disorder) became more and more intense (at high pitch). As he went down the stairs (a step of a flight), he even stopped short, two or three times, as though suddenly struck by some thought. When he was in the street he cried out, “Oh, God, how loathsome (disgusting) it all is! and can I, can I possibly.... No, it’s nonsense (senseless talk), it’s rubbish (worthless waste)!” he added resolutely (with firm determination). “And how could such an atrocious (terrible) thing come into my head? What filthy (foully dirty) things my heart is capable of. Yes, filthy (foully dirty) above all, disgusting (sickening), loathsome (disgusting), loathsome (disgusting)!--and for a whole month I’ve been....” But no words, no exclamations (a cry of surprise or feeling), could express his agitation (troubled excitement). The feeling of intense (at high pitch) repulsion (driving away; deep dislike), which had begun to oppress (weighed down) and torture (torment inflicted) his heart while he was on his way to the old woman, had by now reached such a pitch (to throw; the height of a note; tar) and had taken such a definite (clear and fixed) form that he did not know what to do with himself to escape from his wretchedness (misery). He walked along the pavement (a paved walk) like a drunken (given to drink) man, regardless (paying no heed) of the passers-by (those passing by), and jostling (pushed and shoved together) against them, and only came to his senses (the body's five ways of knowing; good judgment) when he was in the next street. Looking round, he noticed that he was standing close to a tavern (a drinking house) which was entered by steps leading from the pavement (a paved walk) to the basement (the foundation; the lowest storey). At that instant (a moment; immediate) two drunken (given to drink) men came out at the door, and abusing and supporting one another, they mounted (to climb on; a riding horse) the steps. Without stopping to think, Raskolnikov went down the steps at once. Till that moment he had never been into a tavern (a drinking house), but now he felt giddy (dizzy; light-headed) and was tormented (torturing pain) by a burning thirst (the need to drink). He longed for a drink of cold beer, and attributed (a quality belonging to) his sudden (without warning) weakness (want of strength) to the want of food. He sat down at a sticky (clinging like glue) little table in a dark and dirty corner; ordered some beer, and eagerly (with eager keenness) drank off the first glassful (glassfuls: as much as a glass holds). At once he felt easier; and his thoughts became clear.

“All that’s nonsense (senseless talk),” he said hopefully, “and there is nothing in it all to worry about! It’s simply physical derangement (madness). Just a glass of beer, a piece of dry bread--and in one moment the brain is stronger, the mind is clearer and the will is firm! Phew, how utterly (completely) petty (small and trifling) it all is!”

But in spite (ill will) of this scornful (full of scorn) reflection (a thrown-back image; thought), he was by now looking cheerful (full of cheer) as though he were suddenly set free from a terrible burden (a load): and he gazed (a long steady look) round in a friendly way at the people in the room. But even at that moment he had a dim (faint; not bright) foreboding (a dark feeling of what is coming) that this happier frame of mind was also not normal.

There were few people at the time in the tavern (a drinking house). Besides the two drunken (given to drink) men he had met on the steps, a group consisting (to be made of) of about five men and a girl with a concertina (a squeeze-box musical instrument) had gone out at the same time. Their departure (a going away) left the room quiet and rather empty. The persons still in the tavern (a drinking house) were a man who appeared to be an artisan (a skilled craftsman), drunk, but not extremely so, sitting before a pot (a deep vessel) of beer, and his companion (one who keeps company), a huge, stout (fat and solid; brave) man with a grey (the colour between black and white) beard (the chin's hair), in a short full-skirted (with wide skirts) coat (an outer garment). He was very drunk: and had dropped asleep (sleeping) on the bench (a long seat); every now and then, he began as though in his sleep, cracking (a sharp break or noise) his fingers, with his arms wide apart and the upper part of his body bounding (tied; leaping; a limit) about on the bench (a long seat), while he hummed (a low steady droning sound) some meaningless (without meaning) refrain (to hold back from), trying to recall (to call back to mind) some such lines as these:

“His wife a year he fondly (with love) loved His wife a--a year he--fondly (with love) loved.”

Or suddenly waking up again:

“Walking along the crowded row He met the one he used (use: habit; custom — the old sense here) to know.”

But no one shared his enjoyment (pleasure taken): his silent (making no sound) companion (one who keeps company) looked with positive hostility (enemy feeling) and mistrust (lack of trust) at all these manifestations (a showing forth). There was another man in the room who looked somewhat like a retired (withdrawn from service) government clerk (a writing officer). He was sitting apart, now and then sipping (a small drink) from his pot (a deep vessel) and looking round at the company. He, too, appeared to be in some agitation (troubled excitement).