“And are you going to speak?” he suddenly asked Pyotr Stepanovitch.
“No, I am going to listen to you.”
“Damn you, you really are giving me an idea!”
“What idea?” Pyotr Stepanovitch asked quickly.
“Perhaps I will speak there, but afterwards I will give you a hiding—and a sound one too, you know.”
“By the way, I told Karmazinov this morning that you said he ought to be thrashed, and not simply as a form but to hurt, as they flog peasants.”
“But I never said such a thing; ha ha!”
“No matter. Se non è vero …”
“Well, thanks. I am truly obliged.”
“And another thing. Do you know, Karmazinov says that the essence of our creed is the negation of honour, and that by the open advocacy of a right to be dishonourable a Russian can be won over more easily than by anything.”