“And you have again just looked down,” Stavrogin broke in with an irritating laugh, “because you were ashamed that I should believe in the devil; but I made out that I did not believe and cunningly put the question to you: does he or does he not really exist?” Tikhon gave a vague smile.[14] Footnote 14: After “smile” there is struck out: “And do you know, it does not suit you at all to cast your eyes down: it is unnatural, ridiculous, and affected.” “Well, know then that I am not at all ashamed, and to make up for my rudeness I will tell you, seriously and unblushingly: I do believe in the devil, I believe canonically, in a personal, not allegorical, devil, and I do not in the least want to extort an answer from any one; now that’s all.”[15] Footnote 15: After “all” there is struck out: “You must be awfully glad.” He gave a nervous, unnatural laugh. Tikhon looked at him with curiosity, with a rather timorous, yet gentle look. “You believe in God?” Nikolai Vsevolodovich suddenly burst out. “I do.” “It is said, if you believe and bid a mountain move, it will move ... though, pardon me this nonsense. Yet I am curious to know: could you move a mountain or not?” “If God will, I could,” Tikhon uttered quickly and calmly, again beginning to look down at the ground. “Well, it’s just the same as saying that God Himself could move it. But you, you, as a reward for your belief in God?” “Perhaps I could move it.” “‘Perhaps.’[16] Well, that is not bad, either. But you are still doubtful?” Footnote 16: After “perhaps” there is struck out: “That’s not bad. Why do you have doubts, then?”—“I believe imperfectly.” “Through the imperfection of my belief I have doubts.” “Why, do _you_ believe incompletely?” “Yes ... perhaps; I do believe and not perfectly,” Tikhon replied. “That is what I should not think, looking at you!”—he suddenly gave him a look of some surprise, a perfectly simple look which did not at all harmonize with the mocking tone of the preceding questions. “Well, at any rate you do believe that, even if it be with God’s help, you could move it, and that is something, after all. At least, you wish to believe. And you take the mountain literally. It is a good principle. I observed that the progressives among our Levites are greatly inclined towards Lutheranism. Anyhow it is better than the _très peu_ of the Archbishop, it is true, under the threat of the sword. You are, certainly, a Christian too.” Stavrogin spoke quickly, his words now serious, now mocking. “May I not be ashamed, Lord, of Thy Cross.” Tikhon almost whispered it, with a passionate whisper, and bowed his head still lower.[17] Footnote 17: After “his head still lower” there is struck out: “the corners of his lips suddenly began twitching, quickly and nervously.” “And can one believe in the devil, without believing in God?” Stavrogin laughed. “Oh, there are such people everywhere.” Tikhon raised his eyes and smiled.