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"It's a pity, brother, that you did not set to work in the right

way at first. You ought to have approached her differently. She

is, so to speak, a most unaccountable character. But we will talk

about her character later.... How could you let things come to

such a pass that she gave up sending you your dinner? And that I

O U? You must have been mad to sign an I O U. And that promise of

marriage when her daughter, Natalya Yegorovna, was alive?... I

know all about it! But I see that's a delicate matter and I am an

ass; forgive me. But, talking of foolishness, do you know

Praskovya Pavlovna is not nearly so foolish as you would think at

first sight?"

"No," mumbled Raskolnikov, looking away, but feeling that it was

better to keep up the conversation.