Page 680 - the-brothers-karamazov
P. 680

‘This way, my economist, this way, don’t be angry.’ Mitya
       drew him into a room at the back of the shop. ‘They’ll give
       us a bottle here directly. We’ll taste it. Ech, Pyotr Ilyitch,
       come along with me, for you’re a nice fellow, the sort I like.’
          Mitya sat down on a wicker chair, before a little table,
       covered with a dirty dinner-napkin. Pyotr Ilyitch sat down
       opposite, and the champagne soon appeared, and oysters
       were  suggested  to  the  gentlemen.  ‘First-class  oysters,  the
       last lot in.’
         ‘Hang the oysters. I don’t eat them. And we don’t need
       anything,’ cried Pyotr Ilyitch, almost angrily.
         ‘There’s  no  time  for  oysters,’  said  Mitya.  ‘And  I’m  not
       hungry. Do you know, friend,’ he said suddenly, with feel-
       ing, ‘I never have liked all this disorder.’
         ‘Who does like it? Three dozen of champagne for peas-
       ants, upon my word, that’s enough to make anyone angry!’
         ‘That’s not what I mean. I’m talking of a higher order.
       There’s no order in me, no higher order. But... that’s all over.
       There’s no need to grieve about it. It’s too late, damn it! My
       whole life has been disorder, and one must set it in order. Is
       that a pun, eh?’
         ‘You’re raving, not making puns!
         ‘Glory be to God in Heaven,
          Glory be to God in me…
         ‘That verse came from my heart once, it’s not a verse, but
       a tear.... I made it myself... not while I was pulling the cap-
       tain’s beard, though..’
         ‘Why do you bring him in all of a sudden?’
         ‘Why do I bring him in? Foolery! All things come to an
   675   676   677   678   679   680   681   682   683   684   685