It seemed to him equally difficult this morning to tell all the truth to Missy.  He thought it would be offering an insult.  It was inevitable, as in all worldly affairs, that there should remain something unexpressed but understood.  One thing, however, he decided upon this morning—­that he would not go there, and would tell the truth when asked.  But in his relations toward Katiousha there was to be nothing unsaid.

“I will go to the jail—­will tell her, beg of her to forgive me.  And, if necessary—­yes, if necessary—­I will marry her,” he thought.

The idea that for the sake of moral satisfaction he would sacrifice everything and marry her this morning particularly affected him.

It was a long time since he had risen with so much energy in him.  When Agrippina Petrovna entered his room he declared to her with a determination which he himself did not expect, that he had no further need of the house, and that he would dispense with her services.  There was a tacit understanding that the large house was kept up for his contemplated marriage.  The closing up of the house consequently had some particular significance.  Agrippina Petrovna looked at him with surprise.

“I thank you very much, Agrippina Petrovna, for your solicitude in my behalf, but I do not now need such a large house, or any of the servants.  If you wish to help me, then be so kind as to pack away the things as you used to do in mamma’s lifetime.  Natasha will dispose of them when she arrives.”  Natasha was Nekhludoff’s sister.

Agrippina Petrovna shook her head.

“Dispose of them?  Why, they will be needed,” she said.

“No, they will not, Agrippina Petrovna—­they will positively not be needed,” said Nekhludoff, answering what she meant by shaking his head.  “Please tell Kornei that his salary will be paid for two months in advance, but that I do not need him.”

“You are wrong in doing this, Dmitri Ivanovich,” she said.  “You will need a house even if you go abroad.”

“You misunderstand me, Agrippina Petrovna.  I will not go abroad, and if I do go, it will be to an entirely different place.”

His face suddenly turned a purple color.

“Yes, it is necessary to tell her,” he thought.  “I must tell all to everybody.

“A very strange and important thing has happened to me.  Do you remember Katiousha, who lived with Aunt Maria Ivanovna?”

“Of course; I taught her to sew.”

“Well, then, she was tried in court yesterday, and I was one of the jury.”

“Ah, good Lord! what a pity!” said Agrippina Petrovna.  “What was she tried for?”

“Murder, and it was all caused by me.”

“How could you have caused it?  You are talking very strangely,” said Agrippina Petrovna, and fire sparkled in her old eyes.

She knew of the incident with Katiousha.

“Yes, it is my fault.  And this causes me to change my plans.”