" 'IsitThou? Thou?' butreceivingnoanswer, headdsatonce, 'Don'tanswer, , indeed? , then, artThoucometohinderus? ForThouhastcometohinderus, -morrow? IknownotwhoThouartandcarenottoknowwhetheritisThouoronlyasemblanceofHim, -daykissedThyfeet, ? Yes, maybeThouknowestit,' headdedwiththoughtfulpenetration, neverforamomenttakinghiseyesoffthePrisoner."
"Idon'tquiteunderstand, ?" Alyosha, whohadbeenlisteninginsilence, saidwithasmile."Isitsimplyawildfantasy, oramistakeonthepartoftheoldman—someimpossiblequiproquo?"
"Takeitasthelast," saidIvan, laughing, "ifyouaresocorruptedbymodernrealismandcan', ," hewenton, laughing, "theoldmanwasninety, , infact, besimplyhisravings, thedelusionofanoldmanofninety, over-excitedbytheautodafé ? Allthatmattersisthattheoldmanshouldspeakout, shouldspeakopenlyofwhathehasthoughtinsilenceforninetyyears."
"AndthePrisonertooissilent? DoesHelookathimandnotsayaword?"
