Summary—Chapter 1: The Start of the Official Perkhotin’s
Career
After Dmitri leaves Perkhotin, the official is naturally
suspicious. He wonders how Dmitri got his hands on such a large
amount of money, when he had been so obviously broke just hours
before. Perkhotin snoops after Dmitri, learning about the brass
pestle from Grushenka’s maid. Then, rather than going to Fyodor
Pavlovich’s, he goes to Madame Khokhlakov’s house, where he learns
that Madame Khokhlakov refused to give Dmitri a loan. Perkhotin remembers
that Fyodor Pavlovich has kept 3,000 rubles
on hand in his attempt to seduce Grushenka, and he suddenly worries
that Dmitri has stolen the money from his father.
Summary—Chapter 2: The Alarm
Perkhotin goes to tell the police about his fear, but
he finds that the station is already a hubbub of activity. Grigory’s
wife has made another report to the police. Fyodor Pavlovich has
been murdered.
Summary—Chapter 3: The Soul’s Journey Through Torments.
The First Torment
Suspicion immediately falls on Dmitri, and he is quickly
arrested. Dmitri protests his innocence, but no one believes him.
Grushenka vows that she loves him despite his crime and even says
that she is to blame for having deliberately toyed with both Dmitri’s
and Fyodor Pavlovich’s affections.
Summary—Chapter 4: The Second Torment
Dmitri pleads innocent, but he cannot deny any of the
circumstantial evidence that confronts him. He hated his father
and knew about his father’s 3,000 rubles.
He also owed that same sum to Katerina, and took the brass pestle
from Grushenka’s. Finally, he traveled to his father’s just before
the old man was murdered. The only question Dmitri refuses to answer
is about the source of the cash he obtained shortly after leaving
his father’s estate.
Summary—Chapter 5: The Third Torment
The officers continue to question Dmitri and to explore
the evidence against him, trying to decide whether to charge him
formally or set him free. Convinced that the truth is his ally,
Dmitri seems to try to answer their questions honestly, but his
evasions about the money continue to make him appear suspicious.
Summary—Chapter 6: The Prosecutor Catches Mitya
The officers search Dmitri’s clothes and find
that they are stained with blood. After the officers take
his clothing as evidence, Dmitri becomes enraged with the prosecutors.
