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sitting down limply, ‘but I have come to you on a matter of
great importance.... On a matter of supreme importance for
me, that is, madam... for me alone... and I hasten — ‘
‘I know you’ve come on most important business. Dmitri
Fyodorovitch; it’s not a case of presentiment, no reactionary
harking back to the miraculous (have you heard about Fa-
ther Zossima?). This is a case of mathematics: you couldn’t
help coming, after all that has passed with Katerina Iva-
novna; you couldn’t, you couldn’t, that’s a mathematical
certainty.’
‘The realism of actual life, madam, that’s what it is. But
allow me to explain-.’
‘Realism indeed, Dmitri Fyodorovitch. I’m all for realism
now. I’ve seen too much of miracles. You’ve heard that Fa-
ther Zossima is dead?’
‘No, madam, it’s the first time I’ve heard of it.’ Mitya was
a little surprised. The image of Alyosha rose to his mind.
‘Last night, and only imagine-.’
‘Madam,’ said Mitya, ‘I can imagine nothing except that
I’m in a desperate position, and that if you don’t help me,
everything will come to grief, and I first of all. Excuse me
for the triviality of the expression, but I’m in a fever-.’
‘I know, I know that you’re in a fever. You could hardly
fail to be, and whatever you may say to me, I know before-
hand. I have long been thinking over your destiny, Dmitri
Fyodorovitch, I am watching over it and studying it.... Oh,
believe me, I’m an experienced doctor of the soul, Dmitri
Fyodorovitch.’
‘Madam, if you are an experienced doctor, I’m certainly

The Brothers Karamazov