“Sofya Semyonovna, may I come in?” they heard in a very familiar and polite voice.

Sonia rushed to the door in a fright. The flaxen head of Mr. Lebeziatnikov appeared at the door.

Lebeziatnikov looked perturbed.

“I’ve come to you, Sofya Semyonovna,” he began. “Excuse me⁠ ⁠… I thought I should find you,” he said, addressing Raskolnikov suddenly, “that is, I didn’t mean anything⁠ ⁠… of that sort⁠ ⁠… But I just thought⁠ ⁠… Katerina Ivanovna has gone out of her mind,” he blurted out suddenly, turning from Raskolnikov to Sonia.

Sonia screamed.