ImustaddthathespokeRussianreadily, buteveryphrasewasformedinGermanstyle, whichdidnot, however, troublehim, forithadalwaysbeenaweaknessofhistobelievethathespokeRussianperfectly, , , too, thatinconversation, throughabsent-mindednessheoftenforgotthemostordinarywords, whichsometimeswentoutofhishead, , though, whenhespokeGerman, andatsuchtimeshealwayswavedhishandbeforehisfaceasthoughtryingtocatchthelostword, ; theyknew, too, thathavingbeenallhislifeabachelorandareligiousmanofexemplaryconduct, .
TheMoscowdoctor, beingquestionedinhisturn, definitelyandemphaticallyrepeatedthatheconsideredtheprisoner' "aberration" and "mania," andarguedthat, fromallthefactscollected, theprisonerhadundoubtedlybeeninaconditionofaberrationforseveraldaysbeforehisarrest, and, ifthecrimehadbeencommittedbyhim, itmust, evenifhewereconsciousofit, havebeenalmostinvoluntary, ashehadnotthepowertocontrolthemorbidimpulsethatpossessedhim.
