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PART/SAN REVJEW
confirmed. Result: the structure of the novel is more like logic
than like drama....
"But what I want to emphasize is that your man from under·
ground is not the best or only philosopher. He philosophizes. I
grant, with serious categories. Not indeed, with a hammer, as
Nietzsche advised, but yet with a greening handkerchief and a
full garbage pail.- However, there are other instruments of
analysis. - Shameless he is shamed. Shrewd he is duped as well
as the naive and noble. And to believe in him is only a particu–
larly spiteful species of idolatry...."
As we walked Smertenko to the subway, I reflected that this
had been one of my most successful lectures. It even seemed to me
that my wife had enjoyed the discussion. And what was a real
triumph, I had been the first one to notice that it was getting late
and suggest that we go. Smertenko had seemed dissatisfied and
sulky, but had offered no rebuttal.
We stood on the corner of Fourteenth Street. Smertenko pre–
pared to detach himself. I looked down into the pit into which he
was to be dismissed, and thought of the grinding dark below.
"So you're off to Brooklyn," I said, "but you'll come back,
of course? We'll talk
~orne
more."
Smertenko hesitated, must have been unable to formulate any
farewell, turned, and was swallowed up by the subway entrance.
I was unprepared for such behavior. But my wife had a comment
ready.
"He must certainly have enjoyed your lecture."
We turned toward our own night. But we had hardly taken
a few steps when we heard Smertenko shouting: "I don't believe it!
There's no underground, no man underground! It's all nonsense!"
We looked back toward the subway -entrance in time to see
Smertenko's head and shoulders drawn once more below.
