Relief and Farewell — Crime and Punishment

The chapter opens inside Luzhin's head, not the family's joy. He never dreamed two poor, defenceless women could escape his control. Money and vanity had made him feel heroic for lifting Dunya; her rupture lands like thunder. He still plans to smooth it all tomorrow and crush the milksop brother, but dreads Svidrigailov more.

At Bakaleyev's the mood flips. Dunya says she is more to blame than anyone for being tempted by his money. Pulcheria Alexandrovna cries God has delivered us; soon they laugh, though Dunya still whitens at the memory. Rodya tells them Svidrigailov's offer: ten thousand roubles to break the Luzhin match and see Dunya once. He refused to carry the message, calls the talk muddled, and notes her frightened sense of a terrible plan. The three thousand from Marfa Petrovna's will feels like heaven after they had only three roubles this morning.

Razumihin floods the room with a publishing partnership: borrow from his uncle, translate, five or six sure books, a furnished flat in the same house. Dunya's eyes shine; even Rodya approves, then goes cold. He says it may be the last time they see each other and asks them to leave me alone: forget him, let him be alone, or he will begin to hate them. Dunya calls him a wicked, heartless egoist. He walks out; she whispers reproach at the door.

In the corridor Razumihin catches him. Rodya says be with them tomorrow and always, then: Once for all, never ask me about anything. Something awful passes between them in the lamplight. Do you understand now? he asks, face twitching, and sends Razumihin back. From that evening Razumihin becomes son and brother to the women while Rodya vanishes into his secret, still withholding Svidrigailov's ghost stories and the full weight of the axe.