Plans For Mitya's Escape — The Brothers Karamazov

Five days after the trial Alyosha visits Katya while Ivan lies feverish in the next room. She has nursed him despite scandal and tells Alyosha that Mitya must escape. Ivan left a sealed plan and money for the third stage to Siberia; Katya will show Alyosha the details tomorrow.

She confesses their quarrels: jealousy over Grushenka, pride when Ivan suspected she still loved Mitya, and the lie at court that Ivan persuaded her Dmitri was a murderer when she had persuaded Ivan. She cries that she is the cause of it all, alone to blame, and that she said the malicious thing on purpose to wound him.

Alyosha turns to Mitya, who has agreed to escape but fears Alyosha's moral scruples. He asks Katya to visit the prison: not forgiveness, only to stand at his door before exile. She shrinks from his eyes yet Alyosha repeats you ought to go until she weeps and promises to come, perhaps without entering, and begs him not to tell Mitya beforehand.