“Not their hatred alone.”
“What else?”
“Their laughter.” Tikhon half whispered these words, as if it were more than he had strength for.
Stavrogin blushed; his face expressed alarm.
“I foresaw it,” he said; “I must have appeared to you a very comic character after your reading of my ‘document.’[[68]] Don’t be uncomfortable. Don’t look disconcerted. I expected it.”
“The horror will be universal and, of course, more false than sincere. People fear only what directly threatens their personal interests. I am not talking of pure souls: they will be horrified in themselves and will blame themselves, but no notice will be taken of them—besides they will keep silent. But the laughter will be universal.”[[69]]
“I am surprised what a low opinion you have of people and how they disgust you.” Stavrogin spoke with some show of anger.
“Believe me, I judged rather by myself than by other people!” Tikhon exclaimed.
“Indeed? but is there also something in your soul that makes you amused at my misery?”
“Who knows, perhaps there is? oh, perhaps there is!”