Page 860 - the-brothers-karamazov

listened attentively, and only shrugged his shoulders.
‘Well, gentlemen, I don’t blame you. I’m ready.... I under-
stand that there’s nothing else for you to do.’
Nikolay Parfenovitch informed him gently that he would
be escorted at once by the rural police officer, Mavriky Ma-
vrikyevitch, who happened to be on the spot....
‘Stay,’ Mitya interrupted, suddenly, and impelled by un-
controllable feeling he pronounced, addressing all in the
room:
‘Gentlemen, we’re all cruel, we’re all monsters, we all
make men weep, and mothers, and babes at the breast, but
of all, let it be settled here, now, of all I am the lowest reptile!
I’ve sworn to amend, and every day I’ve done the same filthy
things. I understand now that such men as I need a blow,
a blow of destiny to catch them as with a noose, and bind
them by a force from without. Never, never should I have
risen of myself! But the thunderbolt has fallen. I accept the
torture of accusation, and my public shame; I want to suffer
and by suffering I shall be purified. Perhaps I shall be puri-
fied, gentlemen? But listen, for the last time, I am not guilty
of my father’s blood. I accept my punishment, not because
I killed him, but because I meant to kill him, and perhaps I
really might have killed him. Still I mean to fight it out with
you. I warn you of that. I’ll fight it out with you to the end,
and then God will decide. Good-bye, gentlemen, don’t be
vexed with me for having shouted at you during the exami-
nation. Oh, I was still such a fool then.... In another minute
I shall be a prisoner, but now, for the last time, as a free man,
Dmitri Karamazov offers you his hand. Saying good-bye to