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the prosecutor (he was really the deputy prosecutor, but
we always called him the prosecutor), was rather a peculiar
man, of about five and thirty, inclined to be consumptive,
and married to a fat and childless woman. He was vain and
irritable, though he had a good intellect, and even a kind
heart. It seemed that all that was wrong with him was that
he had a better opinion of himself than his ability warrant-
ed. And that made him seem constantly uneasy. He had,
moreover, certain higher, even artistic, leanings, towards
psychology, for instance, a special study of the human heart,
a special knowledge of the criminal and his crime. He cher-
ished a grievance on this ground, considering that he had
been passed over in the service, and being firmly persuaded
that in higher spheres he had not been properly appreciated,
and had enemies. In gloomy moments he even threatened
to give up his post, and practise as a barrister in criminal
cases. The unexpected Karamazov case agitated him pro-
foundly: ‘It was a case that might well be talked about all
over Russia.’ But I am anticipating.
Nikolay Parfenovitch Nelyudov, the young investigating
lawyer, who had only come from Petersburg two months
before, was sitting in the next room with the young ladies.
People talked about it afterwards and wondered that all the
gentlemen should, as though intentionally, on the evening
of ‘the crime’ have been gathered together at the house of
the executive authority. Yet it was perfectly simple and hap-
pened quite naturally.
Ippolit Kirillovitch’s wife had had toothache for the last
two days, and he was obliged to go out to escape from her

0 The Brothers Karamazov