‘First you tell me that marriage is founded on love, and then when I express my doubts as to the existence of any love apart from the physical kind you try to prove its existence by the fact that marriages exist. But marriage nowadays is just a deception!’

‘No, sir, with respect,’ said the lawyer. ‘All I said was that marriages have existed and that they continue to exist.’

‘All right, so they exist. But why? They’ve existed and they continue to exist for the sort of people who see in marriage something that’s sacred, a sacrament that binds them in the eyes of God. Marriages exist for those people, but not for the likes of you and me. Our sort enter into a marriage without seeing in it anything except copulation, and it usually ends either in infidelity or violence. Infidelity is easier to put up with. The husband and wife simply pretend to everyone that they’re living in monogamy, when in actual fact they’re living in polygamy and polyandry. It’s not very pretty, but it’s feasible. But when, as is most often the case, the husband and wife accept the external obligation to live together all their lives and have, by the second month, come to loathe the sight of each other, want to get divorced and yet go on living together, it usually ends in that terrible hell that drives them to drink, makes them shoot themselves, kill and poison each other,’ he said, speaking faster and faster, not letting anyone else get a word in, and growing hotter and hotter under the collar. No one said anything. We all felt too embarrassed.

‘Yes, there’s no doubt that married life has its critical episodes,’ said the lawyer, endeavouring to bring to an end a conversation that had grown more heated than was seemly.

‘I can see you’ve recognized me,’ said the grey-haired man quietly, trying to appear unruffled.

‘No, I don’t think I have the pleasure…’

‘It’s not much of a pleasure. Pozdnyshev’s the name. I’m the fellow who had one of those critical episodes you were talking about. So critical was it, in fact, that I ended up murdering my wife,’ he said, making his noise again. ‘Oh, I say, I’m sorry. Er… I didn’t mean to embarrass you.’

‘Not at all, for heaven’s sake…’ said the lawyer, not quite sure himself what he meant by this ‘for heaven’s sake’.

But Pozdnyshev, who was not paying any attention to him, turned round sharply and went back to his seat. The lawyer and the lady whispered to one another. I was sitting beside Pozdnyshev and I kept quiet, not knowing what to say. It was too dark to read, so I closed my eyes and pretended I wanted to go to sleep. We continued in this silent fashion until the train reached the next station.

While the train was at a standstill, the lawyer and the lady moved along to another carriage as they had arranged to do earlier on with the guard. The salesclerk made himself comfortable on the empty seat and went to sleep. As for Pozdnyshev, he continued to smoke cigarettes and sip the tea he had made for himself at the previous station.

When I opened my eyes and looked at him, he suddenly turned to me with an air of resolve and exasperation: ‘I think perhaps you’re finding it unpleasant to sit next to me, since you know who I am? If that’s so, I’ll move.’

‘Oh, no, please don’t.’

‘Well, would you like some tea, then? It’s strong, mind.’ He poured me a glass of tea. ‘What they were saying… If’s all wrong, you know…’

‘What are you talking about?’ I asked.

‘Oh, the same thing – that love they keep going on about, and what it really is. You’re sure you’d not rather be getting some sleep?’

‘Quite sure.’

‘Well then, if you like, I’ll tell you how that love of theirs drove me to the point where I did what I did.’

‘By all means, if it’s not too painful for you.’

‘No, it’s keeping quiet about it that’s the painful part. Have some more. Or is it too strong for you?’

The tea was the colour of tar, but I swilled down a glass of it all the same. Just then the guard passed down the carriage. Pozdnyshev followed him angrily with his gaze and did not start speaking again until he was gone.

III

‘Very well, then, I’ll tell you… You’re absolutely sure you want me to?’

I repeated that I did, very much. He said nothing for a moment.