Fyodor's Confession

I couldn't find any reference to this story but it comes
from a book of collected lectures given by Andre Gide
about Dostoevsky, whom he considered the finest of
European writers.
There are a few stories about the strained relationship
between Turgenev and Dostoevsky, and it was
precisely because he considered him his 'worst enemy' that when troubled by a terrible sin he chose
Ivan Turgenev to hear his confession. Such an attitude
sounds like one of his characters but according to
Gide it's also a particular trait among Russian Orthodox Christians, the act of confession holding a
fundamental importance in that faith.
Gide doesn't say specifically what was the act to which F.D , arriving without notice, confessed to his
'worst enemy' but parallels were hinted to the
details of Stavrogin's Confession. In short, something
monstrous. Dostoevsky evidently thought Turgenev
would embrace and forgive him but instead he was
met by an appalled silence.
" I cannot tell you how deeply I despise myself Mr.
Turgenev "he added, but still Turgenev was speechless. Seconds crawled past and F.D rose to his
feet ."BUT... I despise YOU even more!" he snapped
and left.
Silvio