There was a tickling sensation in his throat, and he felt there was something foreign in his breast, as though some dust or ashes were strewn upon his heart, and it throbbed unevenly and with difficulty.

Wishing to explain to himself his act, he said slowly and thoughtfully, without looking at anyone: "I wanted to speak the truth.

Is this life ?" "Fool!" said Mayakin, contemptuously.

"What truth can you speak?
What do you understand ?" "My heart is wounded, that I understand! What justification have you all in the eyes of God?
To what purpose do you live?
Yes, I feel--I felt the truth!" "He is repenting!" said Reznikov, with a sarcastic smile.
"Let him!" replied Bobrov, with contempt.
Some one added: "It is evident, from his words, that he is out of his wits." "To speak the truth, that's not given to everyone!" said Yakov Tarasovich, sternly and instructively, lifting his hand upward.

"It is not the heart that grasps truth; it is the mind; do you understand that?
And as to your feeling, that's nonsense! A cow also feels when they twist her tail.