Page 330 - the-brothers-karamazov

very shabby dark cotton coat, patched and spotted. He wore
checked trousers of an extremely light colour, long out of
fashion, and of very thin material. They were so crumpled
and so short that he looked as though he had grown out of
them like a boy.
‘I am Alexey Karamazov,’ Alyosha began in reply.
‘I quite understand that, sir,’ the gentleman snapped out
at once to assure him that he knew who he was already. ‘I
am Captain Snegiryov, sir, but I am still desirous to know
precisely what has led you — ‘
‘Oh, I’ve come for nothing special. I wanted to have a
word with you — if only you allow me.’
‘In that case, here is a chair, sir; kindly be seated. That’s
what they used to say in the old comedies, ‘kindly be seat-
ed,’’ and with a rapid gesture he seized an empty chair (it
was a rough wooden chair, not upholstered) and set it for
him almost in the middle of the room; then, taking another
similar chair for himself, he sat down facing Alyosha, so
close to him that their knees almost touched.
‘Nikolay Ilyitch Snegiryov, sir, formerly a captain in the
Russian infantry, put to shame for his vices, but still a cap-
tain. Though I might not be one now for the way I talk; for
the last half of my life I’ve learnt to say ‘sir.’ It’s a word you
use when you’ve come down in the world.’
‘That’s very true,’ smiled Alyosha. ‘But is it used involun-
tarily or on purpose?’
‘As God’s above, it’s involuntary, and I usen’t to use it! I
didn’t use the word ‘sir’ all my life, but as soon as I sank into
low water I began to say ‘sir.’ It’s the work of a higher power.