Thegeneralblusheddreadfully；Coliablushedtoo；andPtitsinturnedhastilyaway。Ferdishenkowastheonlyonewholaughedasgailyasbefore。AstoGania，Ineednotsaythathewasmiserable；hestooddumbandwretchedandtooknonoticeofanybody。
\"Iassureyou，\"saidthegeneral，\"thatexactlythesamethinghappenedtomyself！\"
\"IrememberedtherewassomequarrelbetweenfatherandMissSmith，theBielokonski’sgoverness，\"saidColia。
\"Howverycurious，pointforpointthesameanecdote，andhappeningatdifferentendsofEurope！Eventhelightbluedressthesame，\"continuedthepitilessNastasia。\"Imustreallysendyouthepaper。\"
\"Youmustobserve，\"insistedthegeneral，\"thatmyexperiencewastwoyearsearlier。\"
\"Ah！that’sit，nodoubt！\"
NastasiaPhilipovnalaughedhysterically。
\"Father，willyouhearawordfrommeoutside！\"saidGania，hisvoiceshakingwithagitation，asheseizedhisfatherbytheshoulder。Hiseyesshonewithablazeofhatred。
Atthismomenttherewasaterrificbangatthefrontdoor，almostenoughtobreakitdown。Somemostunusualvisitormusthavearrived。Coliarantoopen。
X。
THEentrance-hallsuddenlybecamefullofnoiseandpeople。Tojudgefromthesoundswhichpenetratedtothedrawing-room，anumberofpeoplehadalreadycomein，andthestampedecontinued。
Severalvoicesweretalkingandshoutingatonce；othersweretalkingandshoutingonthestairsoutside；itwasevidentlyamostextraordinaryvisitthatwasabouttotakeplace。
Everyoneexchangedstartledglances。Ganiarushedouttowardsthedining-room，butanumberofmenhadalreadymadetheirwayin，andmethim。
\"Ah！hereheis，theJudas！\"criedavoicewhichtheprincerecognizedatonce。\"Howd’yedo，Gania，youoldblackguard？\"
\"Yes，that’stheman！\"saidanothervoice。
Therewasnoroomfordoubtintheprince’smind:oneofthevoiceswasRogojin’s，andtheotherLebedeff’s。
Ganiastoodatthedoorlikeablockandlookedoninsilence，puttingnoobstacleinthewayoftheirentrance，andtenoradozenmenmarchedinbehindParfenRogojin。Theywereadecidedlymixed-lookingcollection，andsomeofthemcameinintheirfursandcaps。Noneofthemwerequitedrunk，butallappearedtoDeconsiderablyexcited。
Theyseemedtoneedeachother’ssupport，morally，beforetheydaredcomein；notoneofthemwouldhaveenteredalonebutwiththeresteachonewasbraveenough。EvenRogojinenteredrathercautiouslyattheheadofhistroop；buthewasevidentlypreoccupied。Heappearedtobegloomyandmorose，andhadclearlycomewithsomeendinview。Alltherestweremerelychorus，broughtintosupportthechiefcharacter。BesidesLebedefftherewasthedandyZalesheff，whocameinwithouthiscoatandhat，twoorthreeothersfollowedhisexample；therestweremoreuncouth。Theyincludedacoupleofyoungmerchants，amaninagreat-coat，amedicalstudent，alittlePole，asmallfatmanwholaughedcontinuously，andanenormouslytallstoutonewhoapparentlyputgreatfaithinthestrengthofhisfists。Acoupleof\"ladies\"ofsomesortputtheirheadsinatthefrontdoor，butdidnotdarecomeanyfarther。Coliapromptlybangedthedoorintheirfacesandlockedit。
\"Hallo，Gania，youblackguard！Youdidn’texpectRogojin，eh？\"
saidthelatter，enteringthedrawing-room，andstoppingbeforeGania。
Butatthismomenthesaw，seatedbeforehim，NastasiaPhilipovna。Hehadnotdreamedofmeetingherhere，evidently，forherappearanceproducedamarvellouseffectuponhim。Hegrewpale，andhislipsbecameactuallyblue。
\"Isupposeitistrue，then！\"hemutteredtohimself，andhisfacetookonanexpressionofdespair。\"Sothat’stheendofit！
Nowyou，sir，willyouanswermeornot？\"hewentonsuddenly，gazingatGaniawithineffablemalice。\"Nowthen，you——\"
Hepanted，andcouldhardlyspeakforagitation。Headvancedintotheroommechanically；butperceivingNinaAlexandrovnaandVariahebecamemoreorlessembarrassed，inspiteofhisexcitement。
Hisfollowersenteredafterhim，andallpausedamomentatsightoftheladies。Ofcoursetheirmodestywasnotfatedtobelong-
lived，butforamomenttheywereabashed。Onceletthembegintoshout，however，andnothingonearthshoulddisconcertthem。
\"What，youheretoo，prince？\"saidRogojin，absently，butalittlesurprisedallthesame\"Stillinyourgaiters，eh？\"Hesighed，andforgottheprincenextmoment，andhiswildeyeswanderedovertoNastasiaagain，asthoughattractedinthatdirectionbysomemagneticforce。
Nastasialookedatthenewarrivalswithgreatcuriosity。Ganiarecollectedhimselfatlast。
\"Excuseme，sirs，\"hesaid，loudly，\"butwhatdoesallthismean？\"Heglaredattheadvancingcrowdgenerally，butaddressedhisremarksespeciallytotheircaptain，Rogojin。\"Youarenotinastable，gentlemen，thoughyoumaythinkit——mymotherandsisterarepresent。\"
\"Yes，Iseeyourmotherandsister，\"mutteredRogojin，throughhisteeth；andLebedeffseemedtofeelhimselfcalledupontosecondthestatement。
\"Atallevents，Imustrequestyoutostepintothesalon，\"saidGania，hisragerisingquiteoutofproportiontohiswords，\"andthenIshallinquire——\"
\"What，hedoesn’tknowme！\"saidRogojin，showinghisteethdisagreeably。\"Hedoesn’trecognizeRogojin！\"Hedidnotmoveaninch，however。
\"Ihavemetyousomewhere，Ibelieve，but——\"
\"Metmesomewhere，pfu！Why，it’sonlythreemonthssinceIlosttwohundredroublesofmyfather’smoneytoyou，atcards。Theoldfellowdiedbeforehefoundout。Ptitsinknowsallaboutit。
Why，I’veonlytopulloutathree-roublenoteandshowittoyou，andyou’dcrawlonyourhandsandkneestotheotherendofthetownforit；that’sthesortofmanyouare。Why，I’vecomenow，atthismoment，tobuyyouup！Oh，youneedn’tthinkthatbecauseIwearthesebootsIhavenomoney。Ihavelotsofmoney，mybeauty，——enoughtobuyupyouandallyourstogether。SoI
shall，ifIliketo！I’llbuyyouup！Iwill！\"heyelled，apparentlygrowingmoreandmoreintoxicatedandexcited。\"Oh，NastasiaPhilipovna！don’tturnmeout！Sayoneword，do！Areyougoingtomarrythisman，ornot？\"
Rogojinaskedhisquestionlikealostsoulappealingtosomedivinity，withtherecklessdaringofoneappointedtodie，whohasnothingtolose。
Heawaitedthereplyindeadlyanxiety。
NastasiaPhilipovnagazedathimwithahaughty，ironical。
expressionofface；butwhensheglancedatNinaAlexandrovnaandVaria，andfromthemtoGania，shechangedhertone，allofasudden。
\"Certainlynot；whatareyouthinkingof？Whatcouldhaveinducedyoutoasksuchaquestion？\"shereplied，quietlyandseriously，andeven，apparently，withsomeastonishment。
\"No？No？\"shoutedRogojin，almostoutofhismindwithjoy。\"Youarenotgoingto，afterall？Andtheytoldme——oh，NastasiaPhilipovna——theysaidyouhadpromisedtomarryhim，HIM！AsifyouCOULDdoit！——him——pooh！Idon’tmindsayingittoeveryone——
I’dbuyhimoffforahundredroubles，anydaypfu！Givehimathousand，orthreeifhelikes，poordevil’andhe’dcutandrunthedaybeforehiswedding，andleavehisbridetome！Wouldn’tyou，Gania，youblackguard？You’dtakethreethousand，wouldn’tyou？Here’sthemoney！Look，I’vecomeonpurposetopayyouoffandgetyourreceipt，formally。IsaidI’dbuyyouup，andsoI
will。\"
\"Getoutofthis，youdrunkenbeast！\"criedGania，whowasredandwhitebyturns。
Rogojin’stroop，whowereonlywaitingforanexcuse，setupahowlatthis。LebedeffsteppedforwardandwhisperedsomethinginParfen’sear。
\"You’reright，clerk，\"saidthelatter，\"you’reright，tipsyspirit——you’reright！——NastasiaPhilipovna，\"headded，lookingatherlikesomelunatic，harmlessgenerally，butsuddenlywounduptoapitchofaudacity，\"hereareeighteenthousandroubles，and——andyoushallhavemore。\"Herehethrewapacketofbank-
notestiedupinwhitepaper，onthetablebeforeher，notdaringtosayallhewishedtosay。
\"No-no-no！\"mutteredLebedeff，clutchingathisarm。Hewasclearlyaghastatthelargenessofthesum，andthoughtafarsmalleramountshouldhavebeentriedfirst。
\"No，youfool——youdon’tknowwhomyouaredealingwith——anditappearsIamafool，too！\"saidParfen，tremblingbeneaththeflashingglanceofNastasia。\"Oh，curseitall！WhatafoolI
wastolistentoyou！\"headded，withprofoundmelancholy。
NastasiaPhilipovna，observinghiswoe-begoneexpression，suddenlyburstoutlaughing。
\"Eighteenthousandroubles，forme？Why，youdeclareyourselfafoolatonce，\"shesaid，withimpudentfamiliarity，assherosefromthesofaandpreparedtogo。Ganiawatchedthewholescenewithasinkingoftheheart。
\"Fortythousand，then——fortythousandroublesinsteadofeighteen！
Ptitsinandanotherhavepromisedtofindmefortythousandroublesbyseveno’clocktonight。Fortythousandroubles——paiddownonthenail！\"
Thescenewasgrowingmoreandmoredisgraceful；butNastasiaPhilipovnacontinuedtolaughanddidnotgoaway。NinaAlexandrovnaandVariahadbothrisenfromtheirplacesandwerewaiting，insilenthorror，toseewhatwouldhappen。Varia’seyeswereallablazewithanger；butthescenehadadifferenteffectonNinaAlexandrovna。Shepaledandtrembled，andlookedmoreandmorelikefaintingeverymoment。
\"Verywellthen，aHUNDREDthousand！ahundredthousand！paidthisveryday。Ptitsin！finditforme。Agoodshareshallsticktoyourfingers——come！\"
\"Youaremad！\"saidPtitsin，comingupquicklyandseizinghimbythehand。\"You’redrunk——thepolicewillbesentforifyoudon’tlookout。Thinkwhereyouare。\"
\"Yes，he’sboastinglikeadrunkard，\"addedNastasia，asthoughwiththesoleintentionofgoadinghim。
\"IdoNOTboast！Youshallhaveahundredthousand，thisveryday。Ptitsin，getthemoney，yougayusurer！Takewhatyoulikeforit，butgetitbytheevening！I’llshowthatI’minearnest！\"criedRogojin，workinghimselfupintoafrenzyofexcitement。
\"Come，come；what’sallthis？\"criedGeneralIvolgin，suddenlyandangrily，comingcloseuptoRogojin。Theunexpectednessofthissallyonthepartofthehithertosilentoldmancausedsomelaughteramongtheintruders。
\"Halloa！what’sthisnow？\"laughedRogojin。\"Youcomealongwithme，oldfellow！Youshallhaveasmuchtodrinkasyoulike。\"
\"Oh，it’stoohorrible！\"criedpoorColia，sobbingwithshameandannoyance。
\"Surelytheremustbesomeoneamongallofyouherewhowillturnthisshamelesscreatureoutoftheroom？\"criedVaria，suddenly。
Shewasshakingandtremblingwithrage。
\"That’sme，Isuppose。I’mtheshamelesscreature！\"criedNastasiaPhilipovna，withamusedindifference。\"Dearme，andI
came——likeafool，asIam——toinvitethemovertomyhousefortheevening！Lookhowyoursistertreatsme，GavrilaArdalionovitch。\"
ForsomemomentsGaniastoodasifstunnedorstruckbylightning，afterhissister’sspeech。ButseeingthatNastasiaPhilipovnawasreallyabouttoleavetheroomthistime，hesprangatVariaandseizedherbythearmlikeamadman。
\"Whathaveyoudone？\"hehissed，glaringatherasthoughhewouldliketoannihilateheronthespot。Hewasquitebesidehimself，andcouldhardlyarticulatehiswordsforrage。
\"WhathaveIdone？Whereareyoudraggingmeto？\"
\"Doyouwishmetobegpardonofthiscreaturebecauseshehascomeheretoinsultourmotheranddisgracethewholehousehold，youlow，basewretch？\"criedVaria，lookingbackatherbrotherwithprouddefiance。
Afewmomentspassedastheystoodtherefacetoface，Ganiastillholdingherwristtightly。Variastruggledonce——twice——togetfree；thencouldrestrainherselfnolonger，andspatinhisface。
\"There’sagirlforyou！\"criedNastasiaPhilipovna。\"Mr。
Ptitsin，Icongratulateyouonyourchoice。\"
Ganialosthishead。ForgetfulofeverythingheaimedablowatVaria，whichwouldinevitablyhavelaidherlow，butsuddenlyanotherhandcaughthis。BetweenhimandVariastoodtheprince。
\"Enough——enough！\"saidthelatter，withinsistence，butallofatremblewithexcitement。
\"Areyougoingtocrossmypathforever，damnyou！\"criedGania；
and，looseninghisholdonVaria，heslappedtheprince’sfacewithallhisforce。
Exclamationsofhorroraroseonallsides。Theprincegrewpaleasdeath；hegazedintoGania’seyeswithastrange，wild，reproachfullook；hislipstrembledandvainlyendeavouredtoformsomewords；thenhismouthtwistedintoanincongruoussmile。
\"Verywell——nevermindaboutme；butIshallnotallowyoutostrikeher！\"hesaid，atlast，quietly。Then，suddenly，hecouldbearitnolonger，andcoveringhisfacewithhishands，turnedtothewall，andmurmuredinbrokenaccents:
\"Oh！howashamedyouwillbeofthisafterwards！\"
Ganiacertainlydidlookdreadfullyabashed。Coliarusheduptocomforttheprince，andafterhimcrowdedVaria，Rogojinandall，eventhegeneral。
\"It’snothing，it’snothing！\"saidtheprince，andagainheworethesmilewhichwassoinconsistentwiththecircumstances。
\"Yes，hewillbeashamed！\"criedRogojin。\"Youwillbeproperlyashamedofyourselfforhavinginjuredsucha——suchasheep\"hecouldnotfindabetterword。\"Prince，mydearfellow，leavethisandcomeawaywithme。I’llshowyouhowRogojinshowshisaffectionforhisfriends。\"
NastasiaPhilipovnawasalsomuchimpressed，bothwithGania’sactionandwiththeprince’sreply。
Herusuallythoughtful，paleface，whichallthiswhilehadbeensolittleinharmonywiththejestsandlaughterwhichshehadseemedtoputonfortheoccasion，wasnowevidentlyagitatedbynewfeelings，thoughshetriedtoconcealthefactandtolookasthoughshewereasreadyaseverforjestingandirony。
\"IreallythinkImusthaveseenhimsomewhere！\"shemurmuredseriouslyenough。
\"Oh，aren’tyouashamedofyourself——aren’tyouashamed？Areyoureallythesortofwomanyouaretryingtorepresentyourselftobe？Isitpossible？\"TheprincewasnowaddressingNastasia，inatoneofreproach，whichevidentlycamefromhisveryheart。
NastasiaPhilipovnalookedsurprised，andsmiled，butevidentlyconcealedsomethingbeneathhersmileandwithsomeconfusionandaglanceatGaniashelefttheroom。
However，shehadnotreachedtheouterhallwhensheturnedround，walkedquicklyuptoNinaAlexandrovna，seizedherhandandliftedittoherlips。
\"Heguessedquiteright。Iamnotthatsortofwoman，\"shewhisperedhurriedly，flushingredallover。Thensheturnedagainandlefttheroomsoquicklythatnoonecouldimaginewhatshehadcomebackfor。AlltheysawwasthatshesaidsomethingtoNinaAlexandrovnainahurriedwhisper，andseemedtokissherhand。Varia，however，bothsawandheardall，andwatchedNastasiaoutoftheroomwithanexpressionofwonder。
Ganiarecollectedhimselfintimetorushafterherinordertoshowherout，butshehadgone。Hefollowedhertothestairs。
\"Don’tcomewithme，\"shecried，\"Aurevoir，tilltheevening——doyouhear？Aurevoir！\"
Hereturnedthoughtfulandconfused；theriddlelayheavierthaneveronhissoul。Hewastroubledabouttheprince，too，andsobewilderedthathedidnotevenobserveRogojin’srowdybandcrowdpasthimandsteponhistoes，atthedoorastheywentout。Theywerealltalkingatonce。Rogojinwentaheadoftheothers，talkingtoPtitsin，andapparentlyinsistingvehementlyuponsomethingveryimportant\"You’velostthegame，Gania\"hecried，ashepassedthelatter。
Ganiagazedafterhimuneasily，butsaidnothing。
XI。
THEprincenowlefttheroomandshuthimselfupinhisownchamber。Coliafollowedhimalmostatonce，anxioustodowhathecouldtoconsolehim。Thepoorboyseemedtobealreadysoattachedtohimthathecouldhardlyleavehim。
\"Youwerequiterighttogoaway！\"hesaid。\"Therowwillragethereworsethanevernow；andit’slikethiseverydaywithus——
andallthroughthatNastasiaPhilipovna。\"
\"Youhavesomanysourcesoftroublehere，Colia，\"saidtheprince。
\"Yes，indeed，anditisallourownfault。ButIhaveagreatfriendwhoismuchworseoffeventhanweare。Wouldyouliketoknowhim？\"
\"Yes，verymuch。Isheoneofyourschool-fellows？\"
\"Well，notexactly。Iwilltellyouallabouthimsomeday……
WhatdoyouthinkofNastasiaPhilipovna？Sheisbeautiful，isn’tshe？Ihadneverseenherbefore，thoughIhadagreatwishtodoso。Shefascinatedme。IcouldforgiveGaniaifheweretomarryherforlove，butformoney！Ohdear！thatishorrible！\"
\"Yes，yourbrotherdoesnotattractmemuch。\"
\"Iamnotsurprisedatthat。Afterwhatyou……ButIdohatethatwayoflookingatthings！Becausesomefool，oraroguepretendingtobeafool，strikesaman，thatmanistobedishonouredforhiswholelife，unlesshewipesoutthedisgracewithblood，ormakeshisassailantbegforgivenessonhisknees！
Ithinkthatsoveryabsurdandtyrannical。Lermontoff’sBalMasqueisbasedonthatidea——astupidandunnaturalone，inmyopinion；buthewashardlymorethanachildwhenhewroteit。\"
\"Ilikeyoursisterverymuch。\"
\"DidyouseehowshespatinGania’sface！Variaisafraidofnoone。Butyoudidnotfollowherexample，andyetIamsureitwasnotthroughcowardice。Hereshecomes！Speakofawolfandyouseehistail！Ifeltsurethatshewouldcome。Sheisverygenerous，thoughofcourseshehasherfaults。\"
Variapounceduponherbrother。
\"Thisisnottheplaceforyou，\"saidshe。\"Gotofather。Isheplaguingyou，prince？\"
\"Notintheleast；onthecontrary，heinterestsme。\"
\"Scoldingasusual，Varia！Itistheworstthingabouther。Afterall，IbelievefathermayhavestartedoffwithRogojin。Nodoubtheissorrynow。PerhapsIhadbettergoandseewhatheisdoing，\"addedColia，runningoff。
\"ThankGod，Ihavegotmotheraway，andputhertobedwithoutanotherscene！Ganiaisworried——andashamed——notwithoutreason！
Whataspectacle！Ihavecometothankyouoncemore，prince，andtoaskyouifyouknewNastasiaPhilipovnabefore\"No，Ihaveneverknownher。\"
\"Thenwhatdidyoumean，whenyousaidstraightouttoherthatshewasnotreally’likethat’？Youguessedright，Ifancy。Itisquitepossibleshewasnotherselfatthemoment，thoughIcannotfathomhermeaning。Evidentlyshemeanttohurtandinsultus。I
haveheardcurioustalesaboutherbeforenow，butifshecametoinviteustoherhouse，whydidshebehavesotomymother？
Ptitsinknowsherverywell；hesayshecouldnotunderstandhertoday。WithRogojin，too！Noonewithasparkofself-respectcouldhavetalkedlikethatinthehouseofher……Motherisextremelyvexedonyouraccount，too……
\"Thatisnothing！\"saidtheprince，wavinghishand。
\"Buthowmeekshewaswhenyouspoketoher！\"
\"Meek！Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"Youtoldheritwasashameforhertobehaveso，andhermannerchangedatonce；shewaslikeanotherperson。Youhavesomeinfluenceoverher，prince，\"addedVaria，smilingalittle。
Thedooropenedatthispoint，andincameGaniamostunexpectedly。
HewasnotintheleastdisconcertedtoseeVariathere，buthestoodamomentatthedoor，andthenapproachedtheprincequietly。
\"Prince，\"hesaid，withfeeling，\"Iwasablackguard。Forgiveme！\"Hisfacegaveevidenceofsuffering。Theprincewasconsiderablyamazed，anddidnotreplyatonce。\"Oh，come，forgiveme，forgiveme！\"Ganiainsisted，ratherimpatiently。\"Ifyoulike，I’llkissyourhand。There！\"
Theprincewastouched；hetookGania’shands，andembracedhimheartily，whileeachkissedtheother。
\"Inever，neverthoughtyouwerelikethat，\"saidMuishkin，drawingadeepbreath。\"Ithoughtyou——youweren’tcapableof——\"
\"Ofwhat？Apologizing，eh？AndwhereonearthdidIgettheideathatyouwereanidiot？Youalwaysobservewhatotherpeoplepassbyunnoticed；onecouldtalksensetoyou，but——\"
\"Hereisanothertowhomyoushouldapologize，\"saidtheprince，pointingtoVaria。
\"No，no！theyareallenemies！I’vetriedthemoftenenough，believeme，\"andGaniaturnedhisbackonVariawiththesewords。
\"ButifIbegyoutomakeitup？\"saidVaria。
\"Andyou’llgotoNastasiaPhilipovna’sthisevening——\"
\"Ifyouinsist:but，judgeforyourself，canIgo，oughtItogo？\"
\"Butsheisnotthatsortofwoman，Itellyou！\"saidGania，angrily。\"Shewasonlyacting。\"
\"Iknowthat——Iknowthat；butwhataparttoplay！AndthinkwhatshemusttakeYOUfor，Gania！Iknowshekissedmother’shand，andallthat，butshelaughedatyou，allthesame。Allthisisnotgoodenoughforseventy-fivethousandroubles，mydearboy。Youarecapableofhonourablefeelingsstill，andthat’swhyIamtalkingtoyouso。Oh！DOtakecarewhatyouaredoing！Don’tyouknowyourselfthatitwillendbadly，Gania？\"
Sosaying，andinastateofviolentagitation，Varialefttheroom。
\"There，theyarealllikethat，\"saidGania，laughing，\"justasifIdonotknowallaboutitmuchbetterthantheydo。\"
Hesatdownwiththesewords，evidentlyintendingtoprolonghisvisit。
\"Ifyouknowitsowell，\"saidtheprincealittletimidly，\"whydoyouchooseallthisworryforthesakeoftheseventy-fivethousand，which，youconfess，doesnotcoverit？\"
\"Ididn’tmeanthat，\"saidGania；\"butwhileweareuponthesubject，letmehearyouropinion。Isallthisworryworthseventy-fivethousandornot？
\"Certainlynot。\"
\"Ofcourse！Anditwouldbeadisgracetomarryso，eh？\"
\"Agreatdisgrace。\"
\"Oh，well，thenyoumayknowthatIshallcertainlydoit，now。I
shallcertainlymarryher。Iwasnotquitesureofmyselfbefore，butnowIam。Don’tsayaword:Iknowwhatyouwanttotellme——\"
\"No。Iwasonlygoingtosaythatwhatsurprisesmemostofallisyourextraordinaryconfidence。\"
\"Howso？Whatin？\"
\"ThatNastasiaPhilipovnawillacceptyou，andthatthequestionisasgoodassettled；andsecondly，thatevenifshedid，youwouldbeabletopocketthemoney。Ofcourse，Iknowverylittleaboutit，butthat’smyview。Whenamanmarriesformoneyitoftenhappensthatthewifekeepsthemoneyinherownhands。\"
\"Ofcourse，youdon’tknowall；but，Iassureyou，youneedn’tbeafraid，itwon’tbelikethatinourcase。Therearecircumstances，\"saidGania，ratherexcitedly。\"Andastoheranswertome，there’snodoubtaboutthat。Whyshouldyousupposeshewillrefuseme？\"
\"Oh，IonlyjudgebywhatIsee。VarvaraArdalionovnasaidjustnow——\"
\"Ohshe——theydon’tknowanythingaboutit！NastasiawasonlychaffingRogojin。Iwasalarmedatfirst，butIhavethoughtbetterofitnow；shewassimplylaughingathim。ShelooksonmeasafoolbecauseIshowthatImeanthermoney，anddoesn’trealizethatthereareothermenwhowoulddeceiveherinfarworsefashion。I’mnotgoingtopretendanything，andyou’llseeshe’llmarryme，allright。Ifshelikestolivequietly，sosheshall；butifshegivesmeanyofhernonsense，Ishallleaveheratonce，butIshallkeepthemoney。I’mnotgoingtolookafool；that’sthefirstthing，nottolookafool。\"
\"ButNastasiaPhilipovnaseemstometobesuchaSENSIBLEwoman，and，assuch，whyshouldsherunblindlyintothisbusiness？
That’swhatpuzzlesmeso，\"saidtheprince。
\"Youdon’tknowall，yousee；Itellyoutherearethings——andbesides，I’msurethatsheispersuadedthatIlovehertodistraction，andIgiveyoumywordIhaveastrongsuspicionthatshelovesme，too——inherownway，ofcourse。Shethinksshewillbeabletomakeasortofslaveofmeallmylife；butI
shallpreparealittlesurpriseforher。Idon’tknowwhetherI
oughttobeconfidentialwithyou，prince；but，Iassureyou，youaretheonlydecentfellowIhavecomeacross。IhavenotspokensosincerelyasIamdoingatthismomentforyears。Thereareuncommonlyfewhonestpeopleabout，prince；thereisn’tonehonesterthanPtitsin，he’sthebestofthelot。Areyoulaughing？Youdon’tknow，perhaps，thatblackguardslikehonestpeople，andbeingonemyselfIlikeyou。WHYamIablackguard？
Tellmehonestly，now。Theyallcallmeablackguardbecauseofher，andIhavegotintothewayofthinkingmyselfone。That’swhatissobadaboutthebusiness。\"
\"Iforoneshallneverthinkyouablackguardagain，\"saidtheprince。\"IconfessIhadapooropinionofyouatfirst，butI
havebeensojoyfullysurprisedaboutyoujustnow；it’sagoodlessonforme。Ishallneverjudgeagainwithoutathoroughtrial。Iseenowthatyouareriotonlynotablackguard，butarenotevenquitespoiled。Iseethatyouarequiteanordinaryman，notoriginalintheleastdegree，butratherweak。\"
Ganialaughedsarcastically，butsaidnothing。Theprince，seeingthathedidnotquitelikethelastremark，blushed，andwassilenttoo。
\"Hasmyfatheraskedyouformoney？\"askedGania，suddenly。
\"No。\"
\"Don’tgiveittohimifhedoes。Fancy，hewasadecent，respectablemanonce！Hewasreceivedinthebestsociety；hewasnotalwaystheliarheisnow。Ofcourse，wineisatthebottomofitall；butheisagooddealworsethananinnocentliarnow。
Doyouknowthathekeepsamistress？Ican’tunderstandhowmotherissolong-sufferring。DidhetellyouthestoryofthesiegeofKars？Orperhapstheoneabouthisgreyhorsethattalked？Heloves，toenlargeontheseabsurdhistories。\"AndGaniaburstintoafitoflaughter。Suddenlyheturnedtotheprinceandasked:\"Whyareyoulookingatmelikethat？\"
\"Iamsurprisedtoseeyoulaughinthatway，likeachild。Youcametomakefriendswithmeagainjustnow，andyousaid，’I
willkissyourhand，ifyoulike，’justasachildwouldhavesaidit。Andthen，allatonceyouaretalkingofthismadproject——oftheseseventy-fivethousandroubles！Itallseemssoabsurdandimpossible。\"
\"Well，whatconclusionhaveyoureached？\"
\"Thatyouarerushingmadlyintotheundertaking，andthatyouwoulddowelltothinkitoveragain。ItismorethanpossiblethatVarvaraArdalionovnaisright。\"
\"Ah！nowyoubegintomoralize！IknowthatIamonlyachild，verywell，\"repliedGaniaimpatiently。\"Thatisprovedbymyhavingthisconversationwithyou。Itisnotformoneyonly，prince，thatIamrushingintothisaffair，\"hecontinued，hardlymasterofhiswords，socloselyhadhisvanitybeentouched。\"IfIreckonedonthatIshouldcertainlybedeceived，forIamstilltooweakinmindandcharacter。Iamobeyingapassion，animpulseperhaps，becauseIhavebutoneaim，onethatovermastersallelse。YouimaginethatonceIaminpossessionoftheseseventy-fivethousandroubles，Ishallrushtobuyacarriage……
No，IshallgoonwearingtheoldovercoatIhavewornforthreeyears，andIshallgiveupmyclub。Ishallfollowtheexampleofmenwhohavemadetheirfortunes。WhenPtitsinwasseventeenhesleptinthestreet，hesoldpen-knives，andbeganwithacopeck；nowhehassixtythousandroubles，buttogetthem，whathashenotdone？Well，Ishallbesparedsuchahardbeginning，andshallstartwithalittlecapital。Infifteenyearspeoplewillsay，’Look，that’sIvolgin，thekingoftheJews！’YousaythatIhavenooriginality。Nowmarkthis，prince——
thereisnothingsooffensivetoamanofourtimeandracethantobetoldthatheiswantinginoriginality，thatheisweakincharacter，hasnoparticulartalent，andis，inshort，anordinaryperson。Youhavenotevendonemethehonouroflookinguponmeasarogue。Doyouknow，Icouldhaveknockedyoudownforthatjustnow！YouwoundedmemorecruellythanEpanchin，whothinksmecapableofsellinghimmywife！Observe，itwasaperfectlygratuitousideaonhispart，seeingtherehasneverbeenanydiscussionofitbetweenus！Thishasexasperatedme，andIamdeterminedtomakeafortune！Iwilldoit！OnceIamrich，Ishallbeagenius，anextremelyoriginalman。Oneofthevilestandmosthatefulthingsconnectedwithmoneyisthatitcanbuyeventalent；andwilldosoaslongastheworldlasts。
Youwillsaythatthisischildish——orromantic。Well，thatwillbeallthebetterforme，butthethingshallbedone。Iwillcarryitthrough。Helaughsmost，wholaughslast。WhydoesEpanchininsultme？Simplybecause，socially，Iamanobody。
However，enoughforthepresent。Coliahasputhisnoseintotellusdinnerisready，twice。I’mdiningout。Ishallcomeandtalktoyounowandthen；youshallbecomfortableenoughwithus。Theyaresuretomakeyouoneofthefamily。IthinkyouandIwilleitherbegreatfriendsorenemies。Lookherenow，supposingIhadkissedyourhandjustnow，asIofferedtodoinallsincerity，shouldIhavehatedyouforitafterwards？\"
\"Certainly，butnotalways。Youwouldnothavebeenabletokeepitup，andwouldhaveendedbyforgivingme，\"saidtheprince，afterapauseforreflection，andwithapleasantsmile。
\"Oho，howcarefulonehastobewithyou，prince！Haven’tyouputadropofpoisoninthatremarknow，eh？Bytheway——ha，ha，ha！——
Iforgottoask，wasIrightinbelievingthatyouwereagooddealstruckyourselfwithNastasiaPhilipovna\"Ye-yes。\"
\"Areyouinlovewithher？\"
\"N-no。\"
\"Andyetyouflushupasredasarosebud！Come——it’sallright。
I’mnotgoingtolaughatyou。Doyouknowsheisaveryvirtuouswoman？Believeitornot，asyoulike。YouthinksheandTotski——
notabitofit，notabitofit！Notforeversolong！Aurevoir！\"
Ganialefttheroomingreatgoodhumour。Theprincestayedbehind，andmeditatedaloneforafewminutes。Atlength，Coliapoppedhisheadinoncemore。
\"Idon’twantanydinner，thanks，Colia。IhadtoogoodalunchatGeneralEpanchin’s。\"
Coliacameintotheroomandgavetheprinceanote；itwasfromthegeneralandwascarefullysealedup。ItwasclearfromColia’sfacehowpainfulitwastohimtodeliverthemissive。
Theprincereadit，rose，andtookhishat。
\"It’sonlyacoupleofyards，\"saidColia，blushing。
\"He’ssittingthereoverhisbottle——andhowtheycangivehimcredit，Icannotunderstand。Don’ttellmotherIbroughtyouthenote，prince；Ihaveswornnottodoitathousandtimes，butI’malwayssosorryforhim。Don’tstandonceremony，givehimsometrifle，andletthatendit。\"
\"Comealong，Colia，Iwanttoseeyourfather。Ihaveanidea，\"
saidtheprince。
XII。
Coliatooktheprincetoapublic-houseintheLitaynaya，notfaroff。Inoneofthesideroomstheresatatatable——lookinglikeoneoftheregularguestsoftheestablishment——ArdalionAlexandrovitch，withabottlebeforehim，andanewspaperonhisknee。Hewaswaitingfortheprince，andnosoonerdidthelatterappearthanhebeganalongharangueaboutsomethingorother；
butsofargonewashethattheprincecouldhardlyunderstandaword。
\"Ihavenotgotaten-roublenote，\"saidtheprince；\"buthereisatwenty-five。Changeitandgivemebackthefifteen，orIshallbeleftwithoutafarthingmyself。\"
\"Oh，ofcourse，ofcourse；andyouquiteunderstandthatI——\"
\"Yes；andIhaveanotherrequesttomake，general。HaveyoueverbeenatNastasiaPhilipovna’s？\"
\"I？I？Doyoumeanme？Often，myfriend，often！IonlypretendedIhadnotinordertoavoidapainfulsubject。Yousawtoday，youwereawitness，thatIdidallthatakind，anindulgentfathercoulddo。Nowafatherofaltogetheranothertypeshallstepintothescene。Youshallsee；theoldsoldiershalllaybarethisintrigue，orashamelesswomanwillforceherwayintoarespectableandnoblefamily。\"
\"Yes，quiteso。IwishedtoaskyouwhetheryoucouldshowmethewaytoNastasiaPhilipovna’stonight。Imustgo；Ihavebusinesswithher；IwasnotinvitedbutIwasintroduced。AnyhowIamreadytotrespassthelawsofproprietyifonlyIcangetinsomehoworother。\"
\"Mydearyoungfriend，youhavehitonmyveryidea。ItwasnotforthisrubbishIaskedyoutocomeoverhere\"hepocketedthemoney，however，atthispoint，\"itwastoinviteyourallianceinthecampaignagainstNastasiaPhilipovnatonight。Howwellitsounds，’GeneralIvolginandPrinceMuishkin。’That’llfetchher，Ithink，eh？Capital！We’llgoatnine；there’stimeyet。\"
\"Wheredoesshelive？\"
\"Oh，alongwayoff，neartheGreatTheatre，justinthesquarethere——Itwon’tbealargeparty。\"
Thegeneralsatonandon。Hehadorderedafreshbottlewhentheprincearrived；thistookhimanhourtodrink，andthenhehadanother，andanother，duringtheconsumptionofwhichhetoldprettynearlythewholestoryofhislife。Theprincewasindespair。HefeltthatthoughhehadbutappliedtothismiserableolddrunkardbecausehesawnootherwayofgettingtoNastasiaPhilipovna’s，yethehadbeenverywrongtoputtheslightestconfidenceinsuchaman。
Atlastheroseanddeclaredthathewouldwaitnolonger。Thegeneralrosetoo，drankthelastdropsthathecouldsqueezeoutofthebottle，andstaggeredintothestreet。
Muishkinbegantodespair。Hecouldnotimaginehowhehadbeensofoolishastotrustthisman。Heonlywantedonething，andthatwastogettoNastasiaPhilipovna’s，evenatthecostofacertainamountofimpropriety。Butnowthescandalthreatenedtobemorethanhehadbargainedfor。BythistimeArdalionAlexandrovitchwasquiteintoxicated，andhekepthiscompanionlisteningwhilehediscoursedeloquentlyandpatheticallyonsubjectsofallkinds，interspersedwithtorrentsofrecriminationagainstthemembersofhisfamily。Heinsistedthatallhistroubleswerecausedbytheirbadconduct，andtimealonewouldputanendtothem。
AtlasttheyreachedtheLitaynaya。Thethawincreasedsteadily，awarm，unhealthywindblewthroughthestreets，vehiclessplashedthroughthemud，andtheironshoesofhorsesandmulesrangonthepavingstones。Crowdsofmelancholypeopleploddedwearilyalongthefootpaths，withhereandthereadrunkenmanamongthem。
\"Doyouseethosebrightly-lightedwindows？\"saidthegeneral。
\"Manyofmyoldcomrades-in-armsliveabouthere，andI，whoservedlonger，andsufferedmorethananyofthem，amwalkingonfoottothehouseofawomanofratherquestionablereputation！
Aman，lookyou，whohasthirteenbulletsonhisbreast！……Youdon’tbelieveit？Well，IcanassureyouitwasentirelyonmyaccountthatPirogofftelegraphedtoParis，andleftSebastopolatthegreatestriskduringthesiege。Nelaton，theTuileriessurgeon，demandedasafeconduct，inthenameofscience，intothebesiegedcityinordertoattendmywounds。Thegovernmentknowsallaboutit。’That’stheIvolginwiththirteenbulletsinhim！’That’showtheyspeakofme……Doyouseethathouse，prince？Oneofmyoldfriendslivesonthefirstfloor，withhislargefamily。Inthisandfiveotherhouses，threeoverlookingNevsky，twointheMorskaya，areallthatremainofmypersonalfriends。NinaAlexandrovnagavethemuplongago，butIkeepintouchwiththemstill……ImaysayIfindrefreshmentinthislittlecoterie，inthusmeetingmyoldacquaintancesandsubordinates，whoworshipmestill，inspiteofall。GeneralSokolovitchbytheway，Ihavenotcalledonhimlately，orseenAnnaFedorovna……Youknow，mydearprince，whenapersondoesnotreceivecompanyhimself，hegivesupgoingtootherpeople’shousesinvoluntarily。Andyet……well……youlookasifyoudidn’tbelieveme……Wellnow，whyshouldInotpresentthesonofmyoldfriendandcompaniontothisdelightfulfamily——GeneralIvolginandPrinceMuishkin？Youwillseealovelygirl——whatamIsaying——alovelygirl？No，indeed，two，three！Ornamentsofthiscityandofsociety:beauty，education，culture——thewomanquestion——poetry——everything！Addedtowhichisthefactthateachonewillhaveadotofatleasteightythousandroubles。Nobadthing，eh？……InawordIabsolutelymustintroduceyoutothem:itisaduty，anobligation。GeneralIvolginandPrinceMuishkin。Tableau！\"
\"Atonce？Now？Youmusthaveforgotten……\"begantheprince。
\"No，Ihaveforgottennothing。Come！Thisisthehouse——upthismagnificentstaircase。Iamsurprisednottoseetheporter，but……itisaholiday……andthemanhasgoneoff……Drunkenfool！Whyhavetheynotgotridofhim？Sokolovitchowesallthehappinesshehashadintheserviceandinhisprivatelifetome，andmealone，but……hereweare。\"
Theprincefollowedquietly，makingnofurtherobjectionforfearofirritatingtheoldman。AtthesametimeheferventlyhopedthatGeneralSokolovitchandhisfamilywouldfadeawaylikeamirageinthedesert，sothatthevisitorscouldescape，bymerelyreturningdownstairs。ButtohishorrorhesawthatGeneralIvolginwasquitefamiliarwiththehouse，andreallyseemedtohavefriendsthere。Ateverystephenamedsometopographicalorbiographicaldetailthatleftnothingtobedesiredonthescoreofaccuracy。Whentheyarrivedatlast，onthefirstfloor，andthegeneralturnedtoringthebelltotheright，theprincedecidedtorunaway，butacuriousincidentstoppedhimmomentarily。
\"Youhavemadeamistake，general，\"saidhe。\"ThenameonthedoorisKoulakoff，andyouweregoingtoseeGeneralSokolovitch。\"
\"Koulakoff……Koulakoffmeansnothing。ThisisSokolovitch’sflat，andIamringingathisdoor……WhatdoIcareforKoulakoff？……Herecomessomeonetoopen。\"
Infact，thedooropeneddirectly，andthefootmaninformedthevisitorsthatthefamilywereallaway。
\"Whatapity！Whatapity！It’sjustmyluck！\"repeatedArdalionAlexandrovitchoverandoveragain，inregretfultones。\"Whenyourmasterandmistressreturn，myman，tellthemthatGeneralIvolginandPrinceMuishkindesiredtopresentthemselves，andthattheywereextremelysorry，excessivelygrieved……\"
Justthenanotherpersonbelongingtothehouseholdwasseenatthebackofthehall。Itwasawomanofsomefortyyears，dressedinsombrecolours，probablyahousekeeperoragoverness。Hearingthenamesshecameforwardwithalookofsuspiciononherface。
\"MarieAlexandrovnaisnotathome，\"saidshe，staringhardatthegeneral。\"Shehasgonetohermother’s，withAlexandraMichailovna。\"
\"AlexandraMichailovnaout，too！Howdisappointing！Wouldyoubelieveit，Iamalwayssounfortunate！MayImostrespectfullyaskyoutopresentmycomplimentstoAlexandraMichailovna，andremindher……tellher，thatwithmywholeheartIwishforherwhatshewishedforherselfonThursdayevening，whileshewaslisteningtoChopin’sBallade。Shewillremember。Iwishitwithallsincerity。GeneralIvolginandPrinceMuishkin！\"
Thewoman’sfacechanged；shelosthersuspiciousexpression。
\"Iwillnotfailtodeliveryourmessage，\"shereplied，andbowedthemout。
Astheywentdownstairsthegeneralregrettedrepeatedlythathehadfailedtointroducetheprincetohisfriends。
\"YouknowIamabitofapoet，\"saidhe。\"Haveyounoticedit？
Thepoeticsoul，youknow。\"Thenheaddedsuddenly——\"Butafterall……afterallIbelievewemadeamistakethistime！I
rememberthattheSokolovitch’sliveinanotherhouse，andwhatismore，theyarejustnowinMoscow。Yes，Icertainlywasatfault。However，itisofnoconsequence。\"
\"Justtellme，\"saidtheprinceinreply，\"mayIcountstillonyourassistance？OrshallIgoonalonetoseeNastasiaPhilipovna？\"
\"Countonmyassistance？Goalone？Howcanyouaskmethatquestion，whenitisamatteronwhichthefateofmyfamilysolargelydepends？Youdon’tknowIvolgin，myfriend。TotrustIvolginistotrustarock；that’showthefirstsquadronI
commandedspokeofme。’DependuponIvolgin，’saidtheyall，’heisassteadyasarock。’But，excuseme，Imustjustcallatahouseonourway，ahousewhereIhavefoundconsolationandhelpinallmytrialsforyears。\"
\"Youaregoinghome？\"
\"No……Iwish……tovisitMadameTerentieff，thewidowofCaptainTerentieff，myoldsubordinateandfriend。Shehelpsmetokeepupmycourage，andtobearthetrialsofmydomesticlife，andasIhaveanextraburdenonmymindtoday……\"
\"Itseemstome，\"interruptedtheprince，\"thatIwasfoolishtotroubleyoujustnow。However，atpresentyou……Good-bye！\"
\"Indeed，youmustnotgoawaylikethat，youngman，youmustnot！\"criedthegeneral。\"Myfriendhereisawidow，themotherofafamily；herwordscomestraightfromherheart，andfindanechoinmine。Avisittoherismerelyanaffairofafewminutes；Iamquiteathomeinherhouse。Iwillhaveawash，anddress，andthenwecandrivetotheGrandTheatre。Makeupyourmindtospendtheeveningwithme……Wearejustthere——that’sthehouse……Why，Colia！youhere！Well，isMarfaBorisovnaathomeorhaveyouonlyjustcome？\"
\"Ohno！Ihavebeenherealongwhile，\"repliedColia，whowasatthefrontdoorwhenthegeneralmethim。\"IamkeepingHippolytecompany。Heisworse，andhasbeeninbedallday。Icamedowntobuysomecards。MarfaBorisovnaexpectsyou。Butwhatastateyouarein，father！\"addedtheboy，noticinghisfather’sunsteadygait。\"Well，letusgoin。\"
OnmeetingColiatheprincedeterminedtoaccompanythegeneral，thoughhemadeuphismindtostayasshortatimeaspossible。
HewantedColia，butfirmlyresolvedtoleavethegeneralbehind。
HecouldnotforgivehimselfforbeingsosimpleastoimaginethatIvolginwouldbeofanyuse。ThethreeclimbedupthelongstaircaseuntiltheyreachedthefourthfloorwhereMadameTerentiefflived。
\"Youintendtointroducetheprince？\"askedColia，astheywentup。
\"Yes，myboy。Iwishtopresenthim:GeneralIvolginandPrinceMuishkin！Butwhat’sthematter？……what？……HowisMarfaBorisovna？\"
\"Youknow，father，youwouldhavedonemuchbetternottocomeatall！Sheisreadytoeatyouup！Youhavenotshownyourselfsincethedaybeforeyesterdayandsheisexpectingthemoney。
Whydidyoupromiseherany？Youarealwaysthesame！Well，nowyouwillhavetogetoutofitasbestyoucan。\"
Theystoppedbeforeasomewhatlowdoorwayonthefourthfloor。
ArdalionAlexandrovitch，evidentlymuchoutofcountenance，pushedMuishkininfront。
\"Iwillwaithere，\"hestammered。\"Ishouldliketosurpriseher……\"
Coliaenteredfirst，andasthedoorstoodopen，themistressofthehousepeepedout。Thesurpriseofthegeneral’simaginationfellveryflat，forsheatoncebegantoaddresshimintermsofreproach。
MarfaBorisovnawasaboutfortyyearsofage。Sheworeadressing-jacket，herfeetwereinslippers，herfacepainted，andherhairwasindozensofsmallplaits。NosoonerdidshecatchsightofArdalionAlexandrovitchthanshescreamed:
\"Thereheis，thatwicked，meanwretch！Iknewitwashe！Myheartmisgaveme！\"
Theoldmantriedtoputagoodfaceontheaffair。
\"Come，letusgoin——it’sallright，\"hewhisperedintheprince’sear。
Butitwasmoreseriousthanhewishedtothink。Assoonasthevisitorshadcrossedthelowdarkhall，andenteredthenarrowreception-room，furnishedwithhalfadozencanechairs，andtwosmallcard-tables，MadameTerentieff，intheshrilltoneshabitualtoher，continuedherstreamofinvectives。
\"Areyounotashamed？Areyounotashamed？Youbarbarian！Youtyrant！YouhaverobbedmeofallIpossessed——youhavesuckedmybonestothemarrow。HowlongshallIbeyourvictim？Shameless，dishonourableman！\"
\"MarfaBorisovna！MarfaBorisovna！Hereis……thePrinceMuishkin！GeneralIvolginandPrinceMuishkin，\"stammeredthedisconcertedoldman。
\"Wouldyoubelieve，\"saidthemistressofthehouse，suddenlyaddressingtheprince，\"wouldyoubelievethatthatmanhasnotevensparedmyorphanchildren？HehasstoleneverythingI
possessed，soldeverything，pawnedeverything；hehasleftmenothing——nothing！WhatamItodowithyourIOU’s，youcunning，unscrupulousrogue？Answer，devourerIanswer，heartofstone！
HowshallIfeedmyorphans？withwhatshallInourishthem？Andnowhehascome，heisdrunk！Hecanscarcelystand。How，ohhow，haveIoffendedtheAlmighty，thatHeshouldbringthiscurseuponme！Answer，youworthlessvillain，answer！\"
Butthiswastoomuchforthegeneral。
\"Herearetwenty-fiveroubles，MarfaBorisovna……itisallthatIcangive……andIoweeventhesetotheprince’sgenerosity——mynoblefriend。Ihavebeencruellydeceived。Suchis……life……Now……Excuseme，Iamveryweak，\"hecontinued，standinginthecentreoftheroom，andbowingtoallsides。\"Iamfaint；excuseme！Lenotchka……acushion……mydear！\"
Lenotchka，alittlegirlofeight，rantofetchthecushionatonce，andplaceditonthericketyoldsofa。Thegeneralmeanttohavesaidmuchmore，butassoonashehadstretchedhimselfout，heturnedhisfacetothewall，andsleptthesleepofthejust。
Withagraveandceremoniousair，MarfaBorisovnamotionedtheprincetoachairatoneofthecard-tables。Sheseatedherselfopposite，leanedherrightcheekonherhand，andsatinsilence，hereyesfixedonMuishkin，nowandagainsighingdeeply。Thethreechildren，twolittlegirlsandaboy，Lenotchkabeingtheeldest，cameandleantonthetableandalsostaredsteadilyathim。PresentlyColiaappearedfromtheadjoiningroom。
\"Iamverygladindeedtohavemetyouhere，Colia，\"saidtheprince。\"Canyoudosomethingforme？ImustseeNastasiaPhilipovna，andIaskedArdalionAlexandrovitchjustnowtotakemetoherhouse，buthehasgonetosleep，asyousee。Willyoushowmetheway，forIdonotknowthestreet？Ihavetheaddress，though；itisclosetotheGrandTheatre。\"
\"NastasiaPhilipovna？Shedoesnotlivethere，andtotellyouthetruthmyfatherhasneverbeentoherhouse！Itisstrangethatyoushouldhavedependedonhim！ShelivesnearWladimirStreet，attheFiveCorners，anditisquitecloseby。Willyougodirectly？Itisjusthalf-pastnine。Iwillshowyouthewaywithpleasure。\"
Coliaandtheprincewentofftogether。Alas！thelatterhadnomoneytopayforacab，sotheywereobligedtowalk。
\"IshouldhavelikedtohavetakenyoutoseeHippolyte，\"saidColia。\"Heistheeldestsonoftheladyyoumetjustnow，andwasinthenextroom。Heisill，andhasbeeninbedallday。Butheisratherstrange，andextremelysensitive，andIthoughthemightbeupsetconsideringthecircumstancesinwhichyoucame……Somehowittouchesmeless，asitconcernsmyfather，whileitisHISmother。That，ofcourse，makesagreatdifference。Whatisaterribledisgracetoawoman，doesnotdisgraceaman，atleastnotinthesameway。Perhapspublicopinioniswrongincondemningonesex，andexcusingtheother。
Hippolyteisanextremelycleverboy，butsoprejudiced。Heisreallyaslavetohisopinions。\"
\"Doyousayheisconsumptive？\"
\"Yes。Itreallywouldbehappierforhimtodieyoung。IfIwereinhisplaceIshouldcertainlylongfordeath。Heisunhappyabouthisbrotherandsisters，thechildrenyousaw。Ifitwerepossible，ifweonlyhadalittlemoney，weshouldleaveourrespectivefamilies，andlivetogetherinalittleapartmentofourown。Itisourdream。But，doyouknow，whenIwastalkingoveryouraffairwithhim，hewasangry，andsaidthatanyonewhodidnotcalloutamanwhohadgivenhimablowwasacoward。Heisveryirritableto-day，andIleftoffarguingthematterwithhim。SoNastasiaPhilipovnahasinvitedyoutogoandseeher？\"
\"Totellthetruth，shehasnot。\"
\"Thenhowdoyoucometobegoingthere？\"criedColia，somuchastonishedthathestoppedshortinthemiddleofthepavement。
\"And……andareyougoingtoherAtHomeinthatcostume？\"
\"Idon’tknow，really，whetherIshallbeallowedinatall。Ifshewillreceiveme，somuchthebetter。Ifnot，thematterisended。Astomyclothes——whatcanIdo？\"
\"Areyougoingthereforsomeparticularreason，oronlyasawayofgettingintohersociety，andthatofherfriends？\"
\"No，Ihavereallyanobjectingoing……Thatis，Iamgoingonbusinessitisdifficulttoexplain，but……\"
\"Well，whetheryougoonbusinessornotisyouraffair，Idonotwanttoknow。Theonlyimportantthing，inmyeyes，isthatyoushouldnotbegoingtheresimplyforthepleasureofspendingyoureveninginsuchcompany——cocottes，generals，usurers！IfthatwerethecaseIshoulddespiseandlaughatyou。
Thereareterriblyfewhonestpeoplehere，andhardlyanywhomonecanrespect，althoughpeopleputonairs——Variaespecially！
Haveyounoticed，prince，howmanyadventurerstherearenowadays？Especiallyhere，inourdearRussia。HowithashappenedInevercanunderstand。Thereusedtobeacertainamountofsolidityinallthings，butnowwhathappens？
Everythingisexposedtothepublicgaze，veilsarethrownback，everywoundisprobedbycarelessfingers。Weareforeverpresentatanorgyofscandalousrevelations。Parentsblushwhentheyremembertheirold-fashionedmorality。AtMoscowlatelyafatherwasheardurginghissontostopatnothing——atnothing，mindyou！——togetmoney！Thepressseizeduponthestory，ofcourse，andnowitispublicproperty。Lookatmyfather，thegeneral！Seewhatheis，andyet，Iassureyou，heisanhonestman！Only……hedrinkstoomuch，andhismoralsarenotallwecoulddesire。Yes，that’strue！Ipityhim，totellthetruth，butIdarenotsayso，becauseeverybodywouldlaughatme——butI
dopityhim！Andwhoarethereallyclevermen，afterall？Money-
grubbers，everyoneofthem，fromthefirsttothelast。
Hippolytefindsexcusesformoney-lending，andsaysitisanecessity。Hetalksabouttheeconomicmovement，andtheebbandflowofcapital；thedevilknowswhathemeans。Itmakesmeangrytohearhimtalkso，butheissouredbyhistroubles。Justimagine-thegeneralkeepshismother-butshelendshimmoney！Shelendsitforaweekortendaysatveryhighinterest！Isn’titdisgusting？Andthen，youwouldhardlybelieveit，butmymother——
NinaAlexandrovna——helpsHippolyteinallsortsofways，sendshimmoneyandclothes。Sheevengoesasfarashelpingthechildren，throughHippolyte，becausetheirmothercaresnothingaboutthem，andVariadoesthesame。\"
\"Well，justnowyousaidtherewerenohonestnorgoodpeopleabout，thattherewereonlymoney-grubbers——andheretheyarequitecloseathand，thesehonestandgoodpeople，yourmotherandVaria！Ithinkthereisagooddealofmoralstrengthinhelpingpeopleinsuchcircumstances。\"
\"Variadoesitfrompride，andlikesshowingoff，andgivingherselfairs。Astomymother，Ireallydoadmireher——yes，andhonourher。Hippolyte，hardenedasheis，feelsit。Helaughedatfirst，andthoughtitvulgarofher——butnow，heissometimesquitetouchedandovercomebyherkindness。H’m！Youcallthatbeingstrongandgood？Iwillrememberthat！Ganiaknowsnothingaboutit。Hewouldsaythatitwasencouragingvice。\"
\"Ah，Ganiaknowsnothingaboutit？ItseemstherearemanythingsthatGaniadoesnotknow，\"exclaimedtheprince，asheconsideredColia’slastwords。
\"Doyouknow，Ilikeyouverymuchindeed，prince？Ishallneverforgetaboutthisafternoon。\"
\"Ilikeyoutoo，Colia。\"
\"Listentome！Youaregoingtolivehere，areyounot？\"saidColia。\"Imeantogetsomethingtododirectly，andearnmoney。
Thenshallwethreelivetogether？You，andI，andHippolyte？Wewillhireaflat，andletthegeneralcomeandvisitus。Whatdoyousay？\"
\"Itwouldbeverypleasant，\"returnedtheprince。\"Butwemustsee。
Iamreallyratherworriedjustnow。What！arewetherealready？
Isthatthehouse？Whatalongflightofsteps！Andthere’saporter！Well，ColiaIdon’tknowwhatwillcomeofitall。\"
Theprinceseemedquitedistractedforthemoment。
\"Youmusttellmeallaboutittomorrow！Don’tbeafraid。Iwishyousuccess；weagreesoentirelyIthatcandoso，althoughIdonotunderstandwhyyouarehere。Good-bye！\"criedColiaexcitedly。
\"NowIwillrushbackandtellHippolyteallaboutourplansandproposals！Butastoyourgettingin——don’tbeintheleastafraid。Youwillseeher。Sheissooriginalabouteverything。It’sthefirstfloor。Theporterwillshowyou。\"
XIII。
THEprincewasverynervousashereachedtheouterdoor；buthedidhisbesttoencouragehimselfwiththereflectionthattheworstthingthatcouldhappentohimwouldbethathewouldnotbereceived，or，perhaps，received，thenlaughedatforcoming。
Buttherewasanotherquestion，whichterrifiedhimconsiderably，andthatwas:whatwashegoingtodowhenheDIDgetin？Andtothisquestionhecouldfashionnosatisfactoryreply。
IfonlyhecouldfindanopportunityofcomingcloseuptoNastasiaPhilipovnaandsayingtoher:\"Don’truinyourselfbymarryingthisman。Hedoesnotloveyou，heonlylovesyourmoney。Hetoldmesohimself，andsodidAglayaIvanovna，andI
havecomeonpurposetowarnyou\"——buteventhatdidnotseemquitealegitimateorpracticablethingtodo。Then，again，therewasanotherdelicatequestion，towhichhecouldnotfindananswer；darednot，infact，thinkofit；butattheveryideaofwhichhetrembledandblushed。However，inspiteofallhisfearsandheart-quakingshewentin，andaskedforNastasiaPhilipovna。
Nastasiaoccupiedamedium-sized，butdistinctlytasteful，flat，beautifullyfurnishedandarranged。AtoneperiodofthesefiveyearsofPetersburglife，Totskihadcertainlynotsparedhisexpenditureuponher。Hehadcalculateduponhereventuallove，andtriedtotemptherwithalavishoutlayuponcomfortsandluxuries，knowingtoowellhoweasilytheheartaccustomsitselftocomforts，andhowdifficultitistotearone’sselfawayfromluxurieswhichhavebecomehabitualand，littlebylittle，indispensable。
Nastasiadidnotrejectallthis，sheevenlovedhercomfortsandluxuries，but，strangelyenough，neverbecame，intheleastdegree，dependentuponthem，andalwaysgavetheimpressionthatshecoulddojustaswellwithoutthem。Infact，shewentsofarastoinformTotskionseveraloccasionsthatsuchwasthecase，whichthelattergentlemanconsideredaveryunpleasantcommunicationindeed。
But，oflate，TotskihadobservedmanystrangeandoriginalfeaturesandcharacteristicsinNastasia，whichhehadneitherknownnorreckoneduponinformertimes，andsomeofthesefascinatedhim，evennow，inspiteofthefactthatallhisoldcalculationswithregardtoherwerelongagocasttothewinds。
AmaidopenedthedoorfortheprinceNastasia’sservantswereallfemalesand，tohissurprise，receivedhisrequesttoannouncehimtohermistresswithoutanyastonishment。Neitherhisdirtyboots，norhiswide-brimmedhat，norhissleevelesscloak，norhisevidentconfusionofmanner，producedtheleastimpressionuponher。Shehelpedhimoffwithhiscloak，andbeggedhimtowaitamomentintheante-roomwhilesheannouncedhim。
ThecompanyassembledatNastasiaPhilipovna’sconsistedofnonebuthermostintimatefriends，andformedaverysmallpartyincomparisonwithherusualgatheringsonthisanniversary。
InthefirstplacetherewerepresentTotski，andGeneralEpanchin。Theywerebothhighlyamiable，butbothappearedtobelabouringunderahalf-hiddenfeelingofanxietyastotheresultofNastasia’sdeliberationswithregardtoGania，whichresultwastobemadepublicthisevening。
Then，ofcourse，therewasGaniawhowasbynomeanssoamiableashiselders，butstoodapart，gloomy，andmiserable，andsilent。HehaddeterminednottobringVariawithhim；butNastasiahadnotevenaskedafterher，thoughnosoonerhadhearrivedthanshehadremindedhimoftheepisodebetweenhimselfandtheprince。Thegeneral，whohadheardnothingofitbefore，begantolistenwithsomeinterest，whileGania，drily，butwithperfectcandour，wentthroughthewholehistory，includingthefactofhisapologytotheprince。Hefinishedbydeclaringthattheprincewasamostextraordinaryman，andgoodnessknowswhyhehadbeenconsideredanidiothitherto，forhewasveryfarfrombeingone。
Nastasialistenedtoallthiswithgreatinterest；buttheconversationsoonturnedtoRogojinandhisvisit，andthisthemeprovedofthegreatestattractiontobothTotskiandthegeneral。
PtitsinwasabletoaffordsomeparticularsastoRogojin’sconductsincetheafternoon。Hedeclaredthathehadbeenbusyfindingmoneyforthelattereversince，anduptonineo’clock，Rogojinhavingdeclaredthathemustabsolutelyhaveahundredthousandroublesbytheevening。HeaddedthatRogojinwasdrunk，ofcourse；butthathethoughtthemoneywouldbeforthcoming，fortheexcitedandintoxicatedraptureofthefellowimpelledhimtogiveanyinterestorpremiumthatwasaskedofhim，andtherewereseveralothersengagedinbeatingupthemoney，also。
Allthisnewswasreceivedbythecompanywithsomewhatgloomyinterest。Nastasiawassilent，andwouldnotsaywhatshethoughtaboutit。Ganiawasequallyuncommunicative。Thegeneralseemedthemostanxiousofall，anddecidedlyuneasy。Thepresentofpearlswhichhehadpreparedwithsomuchjoyinthemorninghadbeenacceptedbutcoldly，andNastasiahadsmiledratherdisagreeablyasshetookitfromhim。Ferdishenkowastheonlypersonpresentingoodspirits。
Totskihimself，whohadthereputationofbeingacapitaltalker，andwasusuallythelifeandsouloftheseentertainments，wasassilentasanyonthisoccasion，andsatinastateof，forhim，mostuncommonperturbation。
Therestoftheguestsanoldtutororschoolmaster，goodnessknowswhyinvited；ayoungman，verytimid，andshyandsilent；aratherloudwomanofaboutforty，apparentlyanactress；andaverypretty，well-dressedGermanladywhohardlysaidawordalltheeveningnotonlyhadnogiftforenliveningtheproceedings，buthardlyknewwhattosayforthemselveswhenaddressed。Underthesecircumstancesthearrivaloftheprincecamealmostasagodsend。
Theannouncementofhisnamegaverisetosomesurpriseandtosomesmiles，especiallywhenitbecameevident，fromNastasia’sastonishedlook，thatshehadnotthoughtofinvitinghim。Butherastonishmentonceover，Nastasiashowedsuchsatisfactionthatallpreparedtogreettheprincewithcordialsmilesofwelcome。
\"Ofcourse，\"remarkedGeneralEpanchin，\"hedoesthisoutofpureinnocence。It’salittledangerous，perhaps，toencouragethissortoffreedom；butitisratheragoodthingthathehasarrivedjustatthismoment。Hemayenlivenusalittlewithhisoriginalities。\"
\"Especiallyasheaskedhimself，\"saidFerdishenko。
\"What’sthatgottodowithit？\"askedthegeneral，wholoathedFerdishenko。
\"Why，hemustpaytollforhisentrance，\"explainedthelatter。
\"H’m！PrinceMuishkinisnotFerdishenko，\"saidthegeneral，impatiently。ThisworthygentlemancouldneverquitereconcilehimselftotheideaofmeetingFerdishenkoinsociety，andonanequalfooting。
\"Ohgeneral，spareFerdishenko！\"repliedtheother，smiling。\"I
havespecialprivileges。\"
\"Whatdoyoumeanbyspecialprivileges？\"
\"OncebeforeIhadthehonourofstatingthemtothecompany。I
willrepeattheexplanationto-dayforyourexcellency’sbenefit。