Witness examinations at Mokroe narrow on one question: did Mitya spend three thousand or fifteen hundred, a month ago and again yesterday? The narrator says every voice turns against him. Trifon Borissovitch, severe and unshaken, swears the first spree was at least three thousand and that Mitya declared three thousand on arrival; peasants, Andrey on the road asking heaven or hell, and Kalganov hear the sixth-thousand boast that delights the lawyers: three and three made six. The Poles testify Mitya offered three thousand to buy off Mussyalovitch, seven hundred down and the rest in town, shattering the theory that only eight hundred remained; when Mitya claims he meant Tchermashnya rights, not cash, the prosecutor smiles at the subterfuge. Maximov babbles of twenty thousand in rainbow notes.
Grushenka enters pale and composed, confirms the money talk, admits Mitya once spoke of killing his father in anger, yet says she never believed it and had faith in his noble heart. Mitya begs one word, proclaims innocence before her; she crosses herself and tells the court to believe him now. She leaves with old Maximov while officials finish the protocol.
Mitya collapses asleep and dreams of a snowy village, burnt huts, and a babe weeping in a starving woman's arms; he asks why the babe is poor until pity floods him and Grushenka's voice promises she will not leave him. He wakes to sign, finds a pillow someone placed under his head, and says he has had a good dream, with joy strange on his face.
