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know already! You are pure, but you’ve been down into
the depths.... I’ve been watching you a long time. You’re a
Karamazov yourself; you’re a thorough Karamazov — no
doubt birth and selection have something to answer for.
You’re a sensualist from your father, a crazy saint from your
mother. Why do you tremble? Is it true, then? Do you know,
Grushenka has been begging me to bring you along. ‘I’ll
pull off his cassock,’ she says. You can’t think how she keeps
begging me to bring you. I wondered why she took such an
interest in you. Do you know, she’s an extraordinary wom-
an, too!’
‘Thank her and say I’m not coming,’ said Alyosha, with a
strained smile. ‘Finish what you were saying, Misha. I’ll tell
you. my idea after.’
‘There’s nothing to finish. It’s all clear. It’s the same old
tune, brother. If even you are a sensualist at heart, what
of your brother, Ivan? He’s a Karamazov, too. What is at
the root of all you Karamazovs is that you’re all sensual,
grasping and crazy! Your brother Ivan writes theological
articles in joke, for some idiotic, unknown motive of his
own, though he’s an atheist, and he admits it’s a fraud him-
self — that’s your brother Ivan. He’s trying to get Mitya’s
betrothed for himself, and I fancy he’ll succeed, too. And
what’s more, it’s with Mitya’s consent. For Mitya will sur-
render his betrothed to him to be rid of her, and escape to
Grushenka. And he’s ready to do that in spite of all his nobil-
ity and disinterestedness. Observe that. Those are the most
fatal people! Who the devil can make you out? He recognis-
es his vileness and goes on with it! Let me tell you, too, the

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