Work Text:
“So, you just arrived here in Petrograd, huh?”, asked Verchovenskij to Raskol’nikov.
Pëtr Verchovenskij, a famous nihilist agitator, had just fled the provincial town in whom he had created such chaos and tragedy, he basically destroyed it, has now returned to Petrograd looking for new “talents” which could have enabled and continued his “work”, and seemed to have found the perfect victim for his plans.
“Yes, and I’m here for study”, replied his young interlocutor.
“And what about what you’re seeing here around?”
“A lot of other penniless students, you know…”
“And you know why you are penniless?”
“Because we are young and have no job, or just have started our first odd jobs?”
“That’s what they have told you – But that’s all of another different story, you know…”
“Which is?...”
“There’s people here around which are taking advantage of you – Let’s take… You know about that Alëna Ivànovna?”
“No.”
“She’s pretty well-known here around, albeit I can understand a newcomer might not be acquainted with this kind of local picturesque characters – An old, greedy moneylender ripping off young people like you…”
“There’s plenty moneylenders which skims off a bit of money…”
“And how would you describe it?”
“An annoyance.”
Verchovenskij let off a wicked smile, than said:
“You might call it simply an annoyance, but think about it: it’s not just an annoyance; she’s a bloodsucker, a vampire, a plunderer of the people and a profiteer, who fatten herself while the other starve. Would you still call her just ‘an annoyance’? No, you need to act…”
“You mean, I must denounce her?”
“Young man, you underrate so much yourself… I see in you something exceptional. You might even be the next Napoleon, and you know what figures like him are made for: to dominate, to submit, to have the power. And if to take what you deserve you sometimes have to resort to some… unorthodox methods, you must do it, no?
“I’m not fully convinced, but…”
“Just wait ‘til you’ll lend her something, and you’ll understand me. And the need to do it…”
“I’ll think about your words. Now I must go and settle in my apartment, lessons will begin in a short time and I have to act accordingly. Good bye, Mr. Verchovenskij!”
“Good bye, young man, and think about my words…”
Raskol’nikov precipitously left the inn, leaving Verchovenskij with his thoughts:
“Well played, good old Pëtr…” – He said to himself – “Another young, easily manipulable mind turned into one of your useful idiots…”
He always have thought to have everything under control, and nothing unexpected could ever put a spoke in the wheel; but, unbeknownst to him, a poor, young girl was about to involuntarily mess with his plans, and he couldn’t stop her…