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42 The Gospel in Dostoyevskyam very fond of them…they imagine that they are serving thecause of religion because the devils show them their horns fromthe other world. They say that is a material proof, so to speak,of the existence of another world. The other world and materialproofs – what next! And if you come to that, does proving there’sa devil prove that there’s a God? I want to join an idealist society,I’ll lead the opposition in it, I’ll say I am a realist but not a materialist,he-he!”“Listen,” Ivan suddenly got up from the table. “I seem to bedelirious. I am delirious, in fact; talk any nonsense you like. Idon’t care! You won’t drive me into a fury, as you did last time.But I feel somehow ashamed…I want to pace about the room…sometimes I don’t see you and don’t even hear your voice as Idid last time, but I always guess what you are prating, for it is I, Imyself speaking, not you. Only I don’t know whether I was dreaminglast time or whether I really saw you. I’ll wet a towel and putit on my head and perhaps you’ll vanish into air.”Ivan went into the corner, took a towel, and did as he said,and with a wet towel on his head began walking up and downthe room.“I am so glad you treat me so familiarly,” the visitor began.“Fool,” laughed Ivan, “do you suppose I should stand on ceremonywith you? I am in good spirits now, though I’ve a pain inmy forehead – and in the top of my head – only please don’t talkphilosophy, as you did last time. If you can’t take yourself off, talkof something amusing. Talk gossip; you are a sponger, you oughtto talk gossip. What a nightmare to have! But I am not afraid ofyou. I’ll get the better of you. I won’t be taken to a madhouse!”“How charming, a sponger. Yes, I am in my natural shape. Forwhat am I on earth but a poor relation? By the way, I am listeningto you and am rather surprised to find you are actually beginning