Thedoorwasasbeforeopenedatinycrack，andagaintwosharpandsuspiciouseyesstaredathimoutofthedarkness。ThenRaskolnikovlosthisheadandnearlymadeagreatmistake。
Fearingtheoldwomanwouldbefrightenedbytheirbeingalone，andnothopingthatthesightofhimwoulddisarmhersuspicions，hetookholdofthedooranddrewittowardshimtopreventtheoldwomanfromattemptingtoshutitagain。Seeingthisshedidnotpullthedoorback，butshedidnotletgothehandlesothathealmostdraggedheroutwithitontothestairs。Seeingthatshewasstandinginthedoorwaynotallowinghimtopass，headvancedstraightuponher。Shesteppedbackinalarm，triedtosaysomething，butseemedunabletospeakandstaredwithopeneyesathim。
“Goodevening，AlyonaIvanovna，”hebegan，tryingtospeakeasily，buthisvoicewouldnotobeyhim，itbrokeandshook。“Ihavecome…Ihavebroughtsomething…butwe’dbettercomein…tothelight。…”
Andleavingher，hepassedstraightintotheroomuninvited。Theoldwomanranafterhim；hertonguewasunloosed。
“Goodheavens！Whatitis？Whoisit？Whatdoyouwant？”