‘And so, what you find ridiculous is just in the form, in the style?’ ‘And in the substance. The ugliness will kill it,’ Tikhon whispered, lowering his eyes. ‘What’s that? Ugliness? Where’s the ugliness?’ ‘Of the crime. There are crimes that are truly ugly. In crimes, of whatever kind, the more blood and horror there is, the more appealing they are, or, so to speak, picturesque. But there are shameful crimes, disgraceful ones that transcend any horror, so to speak, even too inelegant, actually…’
