"Me laughing! I don't want to wound my little brother who has been watching me with such expectation for three months.Alyosha, look straight at me! Of course, I am just such a little boy as you are, only not a novice.And what have Russian boys been doing up till now, some of them, I mean? In this stinking tavern, for instance, here, they meet and sit down in a corner.They've never met in their lives before and, when they go out of the tavern, they won't meet again for forty years.And what do they talk about in that momentary halt in the tavern? Of the eternal questions, of the existence of God and immortality.And those who do not believe in God talk of socialism or anarchism, of the transformation of all humanity on a new pattern, so that it all comes to the same, they're the same questions turned inside out.And masses, masses of the most original Russian boys do nothing but talk of the eternal questions! Isn't it so?""Yes, for real Russians the questions of God's existence and of immortality, or, as you say, the same questions turned inside out, come first and foremost, of course, and so they should," said Alyosha, still watching his brother with the same gentle and inquiring smile.
"Well, Alyosha, it's sometimes very unwise to be a Russian at all, but anything stupider than the way Russian boys spend their time one can hardly imagine.But there's one Russian boy called Alyosha I am awfully fond of.""How nicely you put that in!" Alyosha laughed suddenly.
"Well, tell me where to begin, give your orders.The existence of God, eh?""Begin where you like.You declared yesterday at father's that there was no God." Alyosha looked searchingly at his brother.
"I said that yesterday at dinner on purpose to tease you and I saw your eyes glow.But now I've no objection to discussing with you, and I say so very seriously.I want to be friends with you, Alyosha, for I have no friends and want to try it.Well, only fancy, perhaps I too accept God," laughed Ivan; "that's a surprise for you, isn't it?""Yes of course, if you are not joking now.""Joking? I was told at the elder's yesterday that I was joking.