, , , hesketchedhisbrother'scharacterasthatofaman, violenttemperedperhapsandcarriedawaybyhispassions, butatthesametimehonorable, proudandgenerous, capableofself-sacrifice, , however, that, throughhispassionforGrushenkaandhisrivalrywithhisfather, , thoughherecognizedthatthethreethousandroubleshadbecomealmostanobsessionwithMitya; thathelookeduponthemaspartoftheinheritancehehadbeencheatedofbyhisfather, andthat, indifferentashewastomoneyasarule, "ladies," astheprosecutorexpressedit—thatis, ofGrushenkaandKatya—heansweredevasivelyandwasevenunwillingtoansweroneortwoquestionsaltogether.

"Didyourbrothertellyou, anyway, thatheintendedtokillyourfather?" askedtheprosecutor."Youcanrefusetoanswerifyouthinknecessary," headded.

"Hedidnottellmesodirectly," answeredAlyosha.

"Howso? Didheindirectly?"

"Hespoketomeonceofhishatredforourfatherandhisfearthatatanextrememoment...atamomentoffury, hemightperhapsmurderhim."

"Andyoubelievedhim?"

", asithasindeedsavedhim, foritwasnothekilledmyfather," Alyoshasaidfirmly, inaloudvoicethatwasheardthroughoutthecourt.

Theprosecutorstartedlikeawar-horseatthesoundofatrumpet.

"''sinnocenceandoftheguiltofanotherpersonagainstwhomyougaveevidenceatthepreliminaryinquiry?"

"Ionlyansweredthequestionsaskedmeatthepreliminaryinquiry," repliedAlyosha, slowlyandcalmly."ImadenoaccusationagainstSmerdyakovofmyself."

"Yetyougaveevidenceagainsthim?"

"IwasledtodosobymybrotherDmitri', andifhedidn'tcommitthemurder, then—"