Part 3: Chapter 5 Summary

After friendly introductions, Raskolnikov explains to Porfiry that some family heirlooms were with the old woman. He would like to identify the items and recover them when he has money, he says. Raskolnikov is careful with every word, and tries to play the role of poor, concerned student. Porfiry catches Raskolnikov totally off guard; he has been expecting Raskolnikov since he is the last of the victims' clients to come forward.

Porfiry's questions about his recent actions make Raskolnikov very nervous. He suspects they know everything, and are only toying with him before they arrest him. Tea comes and the conversation turns to the nature of crime itself. Porfiry remembers that he has recently read an article Raskolnikov recently published (oddly, Raskolnikov did not know of its publication). This paper claims great people, who have some extraordinary aim to achieve, do...