“No, a poor sort of gambler. A cardsharper⁠—not a gambler.”

“You have been a cardsharper then?”

“Yes, I’ve been a cardsharper too.”

“Didn’t you get thrashed sometimes?”

“It did happen. Why?”

“Why, you might have challenged them⁠ ⁠… altogether it must have been lively.”

“I won’t contradict you, and besides I am no hand at philosophy. I confess that I hastened here for the sake of the women.”

“As soon as you buried Marfa Petrovna?”

“Quite so,” Svidrigaïlov smiled with engaging candour. “What of it? You seem to find something wrong in my speaking like that about women?”