police captain and told him all about it. “And from him I’ve come straight to you,” said Alyosha, in conclusion, looking intently into Ivan’s face. He had not taken his eyes off him while he told his story, as though struck by something in his expression.
“Brother,” he cried suddenly, “you must be terribly ill. You look and don’t seem to understand what I tell you.”
“It’s a good thing you came,” said Ivan, as though brooding, and not hearing Alyosha’s exclamation. “I knew he had hanged himself.”
“From whom?”
“I don’t know. But I knew. Did I know? Yes, he told me. He told me so just now.”
Ivan stood in the middle of the room, and still spoke in the same brooding tone, looking at the ground.
“Who is he ?” asked Alyosha, involuntarily looking round.
“He’s slipped away.”