The Adolescent

“If you yourself can’t find how to act in this case, what advice can I give you?”

“But I can’t turn it over to Prince Sokolsky either; I’ll kill all Versilov’s hopes and, besides that, come out as a traitor before him . . . On the other hand, by giving it to Versilov, I’ll reduce innocent people to poverty, and still put Versilov in an impossible position: either to renounce the inheritance or to become a thief.”

“You greatly exaggerate the significance of the matter.”

“Tell me one thing. Does this document have a decisive, definitive character?”

“No, it doesn’t. I’m not much of a jurist. The lawyer for the opposing side would, of course, know how to put this document to use and derive all possible benefit from it; but Alexei Nikanorovich found positively that this letter, if presented, would have no great legal significance, so that Versilov’s case could be won anyway. This document sooner represents, so to speak, a matter of conscience . . .”

“But that’s the most important thing of all,” I interrupted, “that’s precisely why Versilov will be in an impossible position.”

“He can destroy the document, however, and then, on the contrary, he’ll deliver himself from any danger.”

“Do you have special grounds for supposing that of him, Kraft? That’s what I want to know, it’s for that that I’m here!”

“I think anyone in his place would do the same.”

“And you yourself would do the same?”

“I’m not getting an inheritance, and therefore don’t know about myself.”

“Well, all right,” I said, putting the letter in my pocket. “The matter’s finished for now. Listen, Kraft. Marya Ivanovna, who, I assure you, has revealed a lot to me, told me that you and you alone could tell the truth about what happened in Ems a year and a half ago between Versilov and the Akhmakovs. I’ve been waiting for you like a sun that would light up everything for me. You don’t know my position, Kraft. I beseech you to tell me the whole truth. I precisely want to know what kind of man he is, and now—now I need it more than ever!”

“I’m surprised that Marya Ivanovna didn’t tell you everything herself; she could have heard all about it from the late Andronikov and, naturally, has heard and knows maybe more than I do.”

“Andronikov himself was unclear about the matter, that’s precisely what Marya Ivanovna says. It seems nobody can clear it up. The devil would break a leg here! I know, though, that you were in Ems yourself then . . .”

“I didn’t witness all of it, but what I know I’ll willingly tell you, if you like—only will that satisfy you?”

II

I WON’T QUOTE his story word for word, but will give only the brief essence of it.