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." "An excellent saying! Golden words!" cried Stavrogin.

"He's hit the mark there! The right to dishonour--why, they'd all flock to us for that, not one would stay behind! And listen, Verhovensky, you are not one of the higher police, are you ?" "Anyone who has a question like that in his mind doesn't utter it." "I understand, but we are by ourselves." "No, so far I am not one of the higher police.

Enough, here we are.
Compose your features, Stavrogin; I always do mine when I go in.

A gloomy expression, that's all, nothing more is wanted; it's a very simple business.".