第20章

Shewasevidentlyindifficultiesastohowbesttogoon。"MayI

speakofsomethingserioustoyou，foronceinmylife？"sheasked，angrily。Shewasirritatedatsheknewnotwhat，andcouldnotrestrainherwrath。

"Ofcourseyoumay；Iamverygladtolisten，"repliedMuishkin。

Aglayawassilentamomentandthenbeganagainwithevidentdislikeofhersubject:

"Idonotwishtoquarrelwiththemaboutthis；insomethingstheywon’tbereasonable。Ialwaysdidfeelaloathingforthelawswhichseemtoguidemamma’sconductattimes。Idon’tspeakoffather，forhecannotbeexpectedtobeanythingbutwhatheis。Motherisanoble-mindedwoman，Iknow；youtrytosuggestanythingmeantoher，andyou’llsee！Butsheissuchaslavetothesemiserablecreatures！Idon’tmeanoldBielokonskialone。

Sheisacontemptibleoldthing，butsheisabletotwistpeopleroundherlittlefinger，andIadmirethatinher，atallevents！

Howmeanitallis，andhowfoolish！Wewerealwaysmiddle-class，thoroughlymiddle-class，people。Whyshouldweattempttoclimbintothegiddyheightsofthefashionableworld？Mysistersareallforit。It’sPrinceS。theyhavetothankforpoisoningtheirminds。WhyareyousogladthatEvgeniePavlovitchiscoming？"

"Listentome，Aglaya，"saidtheprince，"IdobelieveyouarenervouslestIshallmakeafoolofmyselftomorrowatyourparty？"

"Nervousaboutyou？"Aglayablushed。"WhyshouldIbenervousaboutyou？Whatwoulditmattertomeifyouweretomakeeversuchafoolofyourself？Howcanyousaysuchathing？Whatdoyoumeanby’makingafoolofyourself’？Whatavulgarexpression！Isupposeyouintendtotalkinthatsortofwaytomorrowevening？Lookupafewmoresuchexpressionsinyourdictionary；do，you’llmakeagrandeffect！I’msorrythatyouseemtobeabletocomeintoaroomasgracefullyasyoudo；

wheredidyoulearntheart？Doyouthinkyoucandrinkacupofteadecently，whenyouknoweverybodyislookingatyou，onpurposetoseehowyoudoit？"

"Yes，IthinkIcan。"

"Canyou？I’msorryforitthen，forIshouldhavehadagoodlaughatyouotherwise。DobreakSOMETHINGatleast，inthedrawing-room！UpsettheChinesevase，won’tyou？It’savaluableone；DObreakit。Mammavaluesit，andshe’llgooutofhermind——itwasapresent。She’llcrybeforeeveryone，you’llsee！Waveyourhandabout，youknow，asyoualwaysdo，andjustsmashit。

Sitdownnearitonpurpose。"

"Onthecontrary，IshallsitasfarfromitasIcan。Thanksforthehint。"

"Ha，ha！ThenyouareafraidyouWILLwaveyourarmsabout！I

wouldn’tmindbettingthatyou’lltalkaboutsomeloftysubject，somethingseriousandlearned。Howdelightful，howtactfulthatwillbe！"

"Ishouldthinkitwouldbeveryfoolishindeed，unlessithappenedtocomeinappropriately。"

"Lookhere，onceforall，"criedAglaya，boilingover，"ifIhearyoutalkingaboutcapitalpunishment，ortheeconomicalconditionofRussia，oraboutBeautyredeemingtheworld，oranythingofthatsort，I’ll——well，ofcourseIshalllaughandseemverypleased，butIwarnyoubeforehand，don’tlookmeinthefaceagain！I’mseriousnow，mind，thistimeIAMREALLYserious。"Shecertainlydidsaythisveryseriously，somuchso，thatshelookedquitedifferentfromwhatsheusuallywas，andtheprincecouldnothelpnoticingthefact。Shedidnotseemtobejokingintheslightestdegree。

"Well，you’veputmeintosuchafrightthatIshallcertainlymakeafoolofmyself，andverylikelybreaksomethingtoo。I

wasn’tabitalarmedbefore，butnowI’masnervousascanbe。"

"Thendon’tspeakatall。Sitstillanddon’ttalk。"

"Oh，Ican’tdothat，youknow！Ishallsaysomethingfoolishoutofpure’funk，’andbreaksomethingforthesameexcellentreason；IknowIshall。PerhapsIshallslipandfallontheslipperyfloor；I’vedonethatbeforenow，youknow。Ishalldreamofitallnightnow。Whydidyousayanythingaboutit？"

Aglayalookedblacklyathim。

"Doyouknowwhat，Ihadbetternotcomeatalltomorrow！I’llpleadsick-listandstayaway，"saidtheprince，withdecision。

Aglayastampedherfoot，andgrewquitepalewithanger。

Oh，mygoodness！Justlistentothat！’Betternotcome，’whenthepartyisonpurposeforhim！GoodLord！Whatadelightfulthingitistohavetodowithsucha——suchastupidasyouare！"

"Well，I’llcome，I’llcome，"interruptedtheprince，hastily，"andI’llgiveyoumywordofhonourthatIwillsitthewholeeveningandnotsayaword。"

"Ibelievethat’sthebestthingyoucando。Yousaidyou’d’pleadsick-list’justnow；whereintheworlddoyougetholdofsuchexpressions？Whydoyoutalktomelikethis？Areyoutryingtoirritateme，orwhat？"

"Forgiveme，it’saschoolboyexpression。Iwon’tdoitagain。I

knowquitewell，Iseeit，thatyouareanxiousonmyaccount(now，don’tbeangry)，anditmakesmeveryhappytoseeit。Youwouldn’tbelievehowfrightenedIamofmisbehavingsomehow，andhowgladIamofyourinstructions。Butallthispanicissimplynonsense，youknow，Aglaya！Igiveyoumyworditis；Iamsopleasedthatyouaresuchachild，suchadeargoodchild。HowCHARMINGyoucanbeifyoulike，Aglaya。"

Aglayawantedtobeangry，ofcourse，butsuddenlysomequiteunexpectedfeelingseizeduponherheart，allinamoment。

"Andyouwon’treproachmeforalltheserudewordsofmine——someday——afterwards？"sheasked，ofasudden。

"Whatanidea！Ofcoursenot。Andwhatareyoublushingforagain？Andtherecomesthatfrownoncemore！You’vetakentolookingtoogloomysometimes，Aglaya，muchmorethanyouusedto。

Iknowwhyitis。"

"Bequiet，dobequiet！"

"No，no，Ihadmuchbetterspeakout。Ihavelongwishedtosayit，andHAVEsaidit，butthat’snotenough，foryoudidn’tbelieveme。Betweenustwotherestandsabeingwho——"

"Bequiet，bequiet，bequiet，bequiet！"Aglayastruckin，suddenly，seizinghishandinhers，andgazingathimalmostinterror。

Atthismomentshewascalledbysomeone。Shebrokeloosefromhimwithanairofreliefandranaway。

Theprincewasinafeverallnight。Itwasstrange，buthehadsufferedfromfeverforseveralnightsinsuccession。Onthisparticularnight，whileinsemi-delirium，hehadanidea:whatifonthemorrowheweretohaveafitbeforeeverybody？Thethoughtseemedtofreezehisbloodwithinhim。Allnighthefanciedhimselfinsomeextraordinarysocietyofstrangepersons。Theworstofitwasthathewastalkingnonsense；heknewthatheoughtnottospeakatall，andyethetalkedthewholetime；heseemedtobetryingtopersuadethemalltosomething。EvgenieandHippolytewereamongtheguests，andappearedtobegreatfriends。

Heawoketowardsnineo’clockwithaheadache，fullofconfusedideasandstrangeimpressions。ForsomereasonorotherhefeltmostanxioustoseeRogojin，toseeandtalktohim，butwhathewishedtosayhecouldnottell。Next，hedeterminedtogoandseeHippolyte。Hismindwasinaconfusedstate，somuchsothattheincidentsofthemorningseemedtobeimperfectlyrealized，thoughacutelyfelt。

OneoftheseincidentswasavisitfromLebedeff。Lebedeffcameratherearly——beforeten——buthewastipsyalready。Thoughtheprincewasnotinanobservantcondition，yethecouldnotavoidseeingthatforatleastthreedays——eversinceGeneralIvolginhadleftthehouseLebedeffhadbeenbehavingverybadly。Helookeduntidyanddirtyatalltimesoftheday，anditwassaidthathehadbeguntorageaboutinhisownhouse，andthathistemperwasverybad。Assoonashearrivedthismorning，hebegantoholdforth，beatinghisbreastandapparentlyblaminghimselfforsomething。

"I’ve——I’vehadarewardformymeanness——I’vehadaslapintheface，"heconcluded，tragically。

"Aslapintheface？Fromwhom？Andsoearlyinthemorning？"

"Early？"saidLebedeff，sarcastically。"Timecountsfornothing，eveninphysicalchastisement；butmyslapinthefacewasnotphysical，itwasmoral。"

Hesuddenlytookaseat，veryunceremoniously，andbeganhisstory。Itwasverydisconnected；theprincefrowned，andwishedhecouldgetaway；butsuddenlyafewwordsstruckhim。Hesatstiffwithwonder——Lebedeffsaidsomeextraordinarythings。

Inthefirstplacehebeganaboutsomeletter；thenameofAglayaIvanovnacamein。Thensuddenlyhebrokeoffandbegantoaccusetheprinceofsomething；hewasapparentlyoffendedwithhim。Atfirsthedeclaredthattheprincehadtrustedhimwithhisconfidencesasto"acertainperson"(NastasiaPhilipovna)，butthatoflatehisfriendshiphadbeenthrustbackintohisbosom，andhisinnocentquestionasto"approachingfamilychanges"hadbeencurtlyputaside，whichLebedeffdeclared，withtipsytears，hecouldnotbear；especiallyasheknewsomuchalreadybothfromRogojinandNastasiaPhilipovnaandherfriend，andfromVarvaraArdalionovna，andevenfromAglayaIvanovna，throughhisdaughterVera。"AndwhotoldLizabethaProkofievnasomethinginsecret，byletter？WhotoldherallaboutthemovementsofacertainpersoncalledNastasiaPhilipovna？Whowastheanonymousperson，eh？Tellme！"

"Surelynotyou？"criedtheprince。

"Justso，"saidLebedeff，withdignity；"andonlythisverymorningIhavesentupalettertothenoblelady，statingthatI

haveamatterofgreatimportancetocommunicate。Shereceivedtheletter；Iknowshegotit；andshereceivedME，too。"

"HaveyoujustseenLizabethaProkofievna？"askedtheprince，scarcelybelievinghisears。

"Yes，Isawher，andgotthesaidslapinthefaceasmentioned。

Shechuckedtheletterbacktomeunopened，andkickedmeoutofthehouse，morally，notphysically，althoughnotfaroffit。"

"Whatletterdoyoumeanshereturnedunopened？"

"What！didn’tItellyou？Ha，ha，ha！IthoughtIhad。Why，I

receivedaletter，youknow，tobehandedover——"Fromwhom？Towhom？"

Butitwasdifficult，ifnotimpossible，toextractanythingfromLebedeff。Alltheprincecouldgatherwas，thattheletterhadbeenreceivedveryearly，andhadarequestwrittenontheoutsidethatitmightbesentontotheaddressgiven。

"Justasbefore，sir，justasbefore！Toacertainperson，andfromacertainhand。Theindividual’snamewhowrotetheletteristoberepresentedbytheletterA——"

"What？Impossible！ToNastasiaPhilipovna？Nonsense！"criedtheprince。

"Itwas，Iassureyou，andifnottoherthentoRogojin，whichisthesamething。Mr。Hippolytehashadletters，too，andallfromtheindividualwhosenamebeginswithanA。，"smirkedLebedeff，withahideousgrin。

Ashekeptjumpingfromsubjecttosubject，andforgettingwhathehadbeguntotalkabout，theprincesaidnothing，butwaited，togivehimtime。

Itwasallveryvague。Whohadtakentheletters，ifletterstherewere？ProbablyVera——andhowcouldLebedeffhavegotthem？

Inallprobability，hehadmanagedtostealthepresentletterfromVera，andhadhimselfgoneovertoLizabethaProkofievnawithsomeideainhishead。Sotheprinceconcludedatlast。

"Youaremad！"hecried，indignantly。

"Notquite，esteemedprince，"repliedLebedeff，withsomeacerbity。"IconfessIthoughtofdoingyoutheserviceofhandingtheletterovertoyourself，butIdecidedthatitwouldpaymebettertodeliverituptothenobleladyaforesaid，asI

hadinformedherofeverythinghithertobyanonymousletters；sowhenIsentherupanotefrommyself，withtheletter，youknow，inordertofixameetingforeighto’clockthismorning，I

signedit’yoursecretcorrespondent。’Theyletmeinatonce——

veryquickly——bythebackdoor，andthenobleladyreceivedme。"

"Well？Goon。"

"Oh，well，whenIsawhershealmostpunchedmyhead，asIsay；

infactsonearlythatonemightalmostsayshedidpunchmyhead。Shethrewtheletterinmyface；sheseemedtoreflectfirst，asifshewouldhavelikedtokeepit，butthoughtbetterofitandthrewitinmyfaceinstead。’Ifanybodycanhavebeensuchafoolastotrustamanlikeyoutodelivertheletter，’

saysshe，’takeitanddeliverit！’Hey！shewasgrandlyindignant。Afierce，fieryladythat，sir！"

"Where’stheletternow？"

"Oh，I’vestillgotit，here！"

AndhehandedtheprincetheveryletterfromAglayatoGania，whichthelattershowedwithsomuchtriumphtohisSisteratalaterhour。

"Thislettercannotbeallowedtoremaininyourhands。"

"It’sforyou——foryou！I’vebroughtityouonpurpose！"criedLebedeff，excitedly。"Why，I’myoursagainnow，heartandhand，yourslave；therewasbutamomentarypauseintheflowofmyloveandesteemforyou。Meaculpa，meaculpa！asthePopeofRomesays。

"Thislettershouldbesentonatonce，"saidtheprince，disturbed。"I’llhanditovermyself。"

"Wouldn’titbebetter，esteemedprince，wouldn’titbebetter——

to——don’tyouknow——"

Lebedeffmadeastrangeandveryexpressivegrimace；hetwistedaboutinhischair，anddidsomething，apparentlysymbolical，withhishands。

"Whatdoyoumean？"saidtheprince。

"Why，openit，forthetimebeing，don’tyouknow？"hesaid，mostconfidentiallyandmysteriously。

TheprincejumpedupsofuriouslythatLebedeffrantowardsthedoor；havinggainedwhichstrategicposition，however，hestoppedandlookedbacktoseeifhemighthopeforpardon。

"Oh，Lebedeff，Lebedeff！Canamanreallysinktosuchdepthsofmeanness？"saidtheprince，sadly。

Lebedeff’sfacebrightened。

"Oh，I’mameanwretch——ameanwretch！"hesaid，approachingtheprinceoncemore，andbeatinghisbreast，withtearsinhiseyes。

"It’sabominabledishonesty，youknow！"

"Dishonesty——itis，itis！That’stheveryword！"

"Whatintheworldinducesyoutoactso？Youarenothingbutaspy。Whydidyouwriteanonymouslytoworrysonobleandgenerousalady？WhyshouldnotAglayaIvanovnawriteanotetowhomevershepleases？Whatdidyoumeantocomplainoftoday？Whatdidyouexpecttogetbyit？Whatmadeyougoatall？"

"Pureamiablecuriosity，——Iassureyou——desiretodoaservice。

That’sall。NowI’mentirelyyoursagain，yourslave；hangmeifyoulike！"

"DidyougobeforeLizabethaProkofievnainyourpresentcondition？"inquiredtheprince。

"No——ohno，fresher——morethecorrectcard。IonlybecamethislikeafterthehumiliationIsufferedthere，"Well——that’lldo；nowleaveme。"

Thisinjunctionhadtoberepeatedseveraltimesbeforethemancouldbepersuadedtomove。Eventhenheturnedbackatthedoor，cameasfarasthemiddleoftheroom，andtherewentthroughhismysteriousmotionsdesignedtoconveythesuggestionthattheprinceshouldopentheletter。Hedidnotdareputhissuggestionintowordsagain。

Afterthisperformance，hesmiledsweetlyandlefttheroomontiptoe。

Allthishadbeenverypainfultolistento。Onefactstoodoutcertainandclear，andthatwasthatpoorAglayamustbeinastateofgreatdistressandindecisionandmentaltorment("fromjealousy，"theprincewhisperedtohimself)。Undoubtedlyinthisinexperienced，buthotandproudlittlehead，therewereallsortsofplansforming，wildandimpossibleplans，maybe；andtheideaofthissofrightenedtheprincethathecouldnotmakeuphismindwhattodo。Somethingmustbedone，thatwasclear。

Helookedattheaddressontheletteroncemore。Oh，hewasnotintheleastdegreealarmedaboutAglayawritingsuchaletter；

hecouldtrusther。WhathedidnotlikeaboutitwasthathecouldnottrustGania。

However，hemadeuphismindthathewouldhimselftakethenoteanddeliverit。Indeed，hewentsofarastoleavethehouseandwalkuptheroad，butchangedhismindwhenhehadnearlyreachedPtitsin’sdoor。However，hethereluckilymetColia，andcommissionedhimtodeliverthelettertohisbrotherasifdirectfromAglaya。Coliaaskednoquestionsbutsimplydeliveredit，andGaniaconsequentlyhadnosuspicionthatithadpassedthroughsomanyhands。

Arrivedhomeagain，theprincesentforVeraLebedeffandtoldherasmuchaswasnecessary，inordertorelievehermind，forshehadbeeninadreadfulstateofanxietysinceshehadmissedtheletter。Sheheardwithhorrorthatherfatherhadtakenit。

MuishkinlearnedfromherthatshehadonseveraloccasionsperformedsecretmissionsbothforAglayaandforRogojin，without，however，havinghadtheslightestideathatinsodoingshemightinjuretheprinceinanyway。

Thelatter，withonethingandanother，wasnowsodisturbedandconfused，thatwhen，acoupleofhoursorsolater，amessagecamefromColiathatthegeneralwasill，hecouldhardlytakethenewsin。

However，whenhedidmasterthefact，itacteduponhimasatonicbycompletelydistractinghisattention。HewentatoncetoNinaAlexandrovna’s，whitherthegeneralhadbeencarried，andstayedthereuntiltheevening。Hecoulddonogood，buttherearepeoplewhomtohavenearoneisablessingatsuchtimes。

Coliawasinanalmosthystericalstate；hecriedcontinuously，butwasrunningaboutallday，allthesame；fetchingdoctors，ofwhomhecollectedthree；goingtothechemist’s，andsoon。

Thegeneralwasbroughtroundtosomeextent，butthedoctorsdeclaredthathecouldnotbesaidtobeoutofdanger。VariaandNinaAlexandrovnaneverleftthesickman’sbedside；Ganiawasexcitedanddistressed，butwouldnotgoupstairs，andseemedafraidtolookatthepatient。Hewrunghishandswhentheprincespoketohim，andsaidthat"suchamisfortuneatsuchamoment"

wasterrible。

TheprincethoughtheknewwhatGaniameantby"suchamoment。"

Hippolytewasnotinthehouse。Lebedeffturneduplateintheafternoon；hehadbeenasleepeversincehisinterviewwiththeprinceinthemorning。Hewasquitesobernow，andcriedwithrealsincerityoverthesickgeneral——mourningforhimasthoughhewerehisownbrother。Heblamedhimselfaloud，butdidnotexplainwhy。HerepeatedoverandoveragaintoNinaAlexandrovnathathealonewastoblame——nooneelse——butthathehadactedoutof"pureamiablecuriosity，"andthat"thedeceased，"asheinsisteduponcallingthestilllivinggeneral，hadbeenthegreatestofgeniuses。

Helaidmuchstressonthegeniusofthesufferer，asifthisideamustbeoneofimmensesolaceinthepresentcrisis。

NinaAlexandrovna——seeinghissincerityoffeeling——saidatlast，andwithoutthefaintestsuspicionofreproachinhervoice:

"Come，come——don’tcry！Godwillforgiveyou！"

Lebedeffwassoimpressedbythesewords，andthetoneinwhichtheywerespoken，thathecouldnotleaveNinaAlexandrovnaalltheevening——infact，forseveraldays。Tillthegeneral’sdeath，indeed，hespentalmostallhistimeathisside。

TwiceduringthedayamessengercametoNinaAlexandrovnafromtheEpanchinstoinquireaftertheinvalid。

When——lateintheevening——theprincemadehisappearanceinLizabethaProkofievna’sdrawing-room，hefounditfullofguests。

Mrs。Epanchinquestionedhimveryfullyaboutthegeneralassoonasheappeared；andwhenoldPrincessBielokonskiwishedtoknow"whothisgeneralwas，andwhowasNinaAlexandrovna，"sheproceededtoexplaininamannerwhichpleasedtheprinceverymuch。

Hehimself，whenrelatingthecircumstancesofthegeneral’sillnesstoLizabethaProkofievna，"spokebeautifully，"asAglaya’ssistersdeclaredafterwards——"modestly，quietly，withoutgesturesortoomanywords，andwithgreatdignity。"Hehadenteredtheroomwithproprietyandgrace，andhewasperfectlydressed；henotonlydidnot"falldownontheslipperyfloor，"

ashehadexpressedit，butevidentlymadeaveryfavourableimpressionupontheassembledguests。

Asforhisownimpressiononenteringtheroomandtakinghisseat，heinstantlyremarkedthatthecompanywasnotintheleastsuchasAglaya’swordshadledhimtofear，andashehaddreamedof——innightmareform——allnight。

Thiswasthefirsttimeinhislifethathehadseenalittlecornerofwhatwasgenerallyknownbytheterriblenameof"society。"Hehadlongthirsted，forreasonsofhisown，topenetratethemysteriesofthemagiccircle，and，therefore，thisassemblagewasofthegreatestpossibleinteresttohim。

Hisfirstimpressionwasoneoffascination。Somehoworotherhefeltthatallthesepeoplemusthavebeenbornonpurposetobetogether！ItseemedtohimthattheEpanchinswerenothavingapartyatall；thatthesepeoplemusthavebeenherealways，andthathehimselfwasoneofthem——returnedamongthemafteralongabsence，butoneofthem，naturallyandindisputably。

Itneverstruckhimthatallthisrefinedsimplicityandnobilityandwitandpersonaldignitymightpossiblybenomorethananexquisiteartisticpolish。Themajorityoftheguests——whoweresomewhatempty-headed，afterall，inspiteoftheiraristocraticbearing——neverguessed，intheirself-satisfiedcomposure，thatmuchoftheirsuperioritywasmereveneer，whichindeedtheyhadadoptedunconsciouslyandbyinheritance。

Theprincewouldneversomuchassuspectsuchathinginthedelightofhisfirstimpression。

Hesaw，forinstance，thatoneimportantdignitary，oldenoughtobehisgrandfather，brokeoffhisownconversationinordertolistentoHIM——ayoungandinexperiencedman；andnotonlylistened，butseemedtoattachvaluetohisopinion，andwaskindandamiable，andyettheywerestrangersandhadneverseeneachotherbefore。Perhapswhatmostappealedtotheprince’simpressionabilitywastherefinementoftheoldman’scourtesytowardshim。Perhapsthesoilofhissusceptiblenaturewasreallypredisposedtoreceiveapleasantimpression。

Meanwhileallthesepeople-thoughfriendsofthefamilyandofeachothertoacertainextent——wereveryfarfrombeingsuchintimatefriendsofthefamilyandofeachotherastheprinceconcluded。ThereweresomepresentwhoneverwouldthinkofconsideringtheEpanchinstheirequals。Therewereevensomewhohatedoneanothercordially。Forinstance，oldPrincessBielokonskihadallherlifedespisedthewifeofthe"dignitary，"whilethelatterwasveryfarfromlovingLizabethaProkofievna。ThedignitaryhimselfhadbeenGeneralEpanchin’sprotectorfromhisyouthup；andthegeneralconsideredhimsomajesticapersonagethathewouldhavefeltaheartycontemptforhimselfifhehadevenforonemomentallowedhimselftoposeasthegreatman’sequal，ortothinkofhim——inhisfearandreverence-asanythinglessthananOlympicGod！Therewereotherspresentwhohadnotmetforyears，andwhohadnofeelingwhateverforeachother，unlessitweredislike；andyettheymettonightasthoughtheyhadseeneachotherbutyesterdayinsomefriendlyandintimateassemblyofkindredspirits。

Itwasnotalargeparty，however。BesidesPrincessBielokonskiandtheolddignitary(whowasreallyagreatman)andhiswife，therewasanoldmilitarygeneral——acountorbaronwithaGermanname，amanreputedtopossessgreatknowledgeandadministrativeability。HewasoneofthoseOlympianadministratorswhoknoweverythingexceptRussia，pronounceawordofextraordinarywisdom，admiredbyall，aboutonceinfiveyears，and，afterbeinganeternityintheservice，generallydiefullofhonourandriches，thoughtheyhaveneverdoneanythinggreat，andhaveevenbeenhostiletoallgreatness。ThisgeneralwasIvanFedorovitch’simmediatesuperiorintheservice；anditpleasedthelattertolookuponhimalsoasapatron。Ontheotherhand，thegreatmandidnotatallconsiderhimselfEpanchin’spatron。

Hewasalwaysverycooltohim，whiletakingadvantageofhisreadyservices，andwouldinstantlyhaveputanotherinhisplaceiftherehadbeentheslightestreasonforthechange。

Anotherguestwasanelderly，important-lookinggentleman，adistantrelativeofLizabethaProkofievna’s。Thisgentlemanwasrich，heldagoodposition，wasagreattalker，andhadthereputationofbeing"oneofthedissatisfied，"thoughnotbelongingtothedangeroussectionsofthatclass。Hehadthemanners，tosomeextent，oftheEnglisharistocracy，andsomeoftheirtastes(especiallyinthematterofunder-doneroastbeef，harness，men-servants，etc。)。Hewasagreatfriendofthedignitary’s，andLizabethaProkofievna，forsomereasonorother，hadgotholdoftheideathatthisworthyintendedatnodistantdatetooffertheadvantagesofhishandandhearttoAlexandra。

Besidestheelevatedandmoresolidindividualsenumerated，therewerepresentafewyoungerthoughnotlesselegantguests。

BesidesPrinceS。andEvgeniePavlovitch，wemustnametheeminentandfascinatingPrinceN——oncethevanquisheroffemaleheartsalloverEurope。Thisgentlemanwasnolongerinthefirstbloomofyouth——hewasforty-five，butstillveryhandsome。Hewaswelloff，andlived，asarule，abroad，andwasnotedasagoodtellerofstories。Thencameafewguestsbelongingtoalowerstratumofsociety——peoplewho，liketheEpanchinsthemselves，movedonlyoccasionallyinthisexaltedsphere。TheEpanchinslikedtodraftamongtheirmoreelevatedguestsafewpickedrepresentativesofthislowerstratum，andLizabethaProkofievnareceivedmuchpraiseforthispractice，whichproved，herfriendssaid，thatshewasawomanoftact。TheEpanchinspridedthemselvesuponthegoodopinionpeopleheldofthem。

Oneoftherepresentativesofthemiddle-classpresenttodaywasacolonelofengineers，averyseriousmanandagreatfriendofPrinceS。，whohadintroducedhimtotheEpanchins。Hewasextremelysilentinsociety，anddisplayedontheforefingerofhisrighthandalargering，probablybestoweduponhimforservicesofsomesort。Therewasalsoapoet，Germanbyname，butaRussianpoet；verypresentable，andevenhandsome-thesortofmanonecouldbringintosocietywithimpunity。ThisgentlemanbelongedtoaGermanfamilyofdecidedlybourgeoisorigin，buthehadaknackofacquiringthepatronageof"big-wigs，"andofretainingtheirfavour。HehadtranslatedsomegreatGermanpoemintoRussianverse，andclaimedtohavebeenafriendofafamousRussianpoet，sincedead。(Itisstrangehowgreatamultitudeofliterarypeopletherearewhohavehadtheadvantagesoffriendshipwithsomegreatmanoftheirownprofessionwhois，unfortunately，dead。)Thedignitary’swifehadintroducedthisworthytotheEpanchins。Thisladyposedasthepatronessofliterarypeople，andshecertainlyhadsucceededinobtainingpensionsforafewofthem，thankstoherinfluencewiththoseinauthorityonsuchmatters。Shewasaladyofweightinherownway。Heragewasaboutforty-five，sothatshewasaveryyoungwifeforsuchanelderlyhusbandasthedignitary。Shehadbeenabeautyinherdayandstillloved，asmanyladiesofforty-fivedolove，todressalittletoosmartly。Herintellectwasnothingtoboastof，andherliteraryknowledgeverydoubtful。Literarypatronagewas，however，withherasmuchamaniaaswastheloveofgorgeousclothes。Manybooksandtranslationswerededicatedtoherbyherproteges，andafewofthesetalentedindividualshadpublishedsomeoftheirownletterstoher，uponveryweightysubjects。

This，then，wasthesocietythattheprinceacceptedatonceastruecoin，aspuregoldwithoutalloy。

Itsohappened，however，thatonthisparticulareveningallthesegoodpeoplewereinexcellenthumourandhighlypleasedwiththemselves。EveryoneofthemfeltthattheyweredoingtheEpanchinsthegreatestpossiblehonourbytheirpresence。Butalas！theprinceneversuspectedanysuchsubtleties！Forinstance，hehadnosuspicionofthefactthattheEpanchins，havingintheirmindsoimportantastepasthemarriageoftheirdaughter，wouldneverthinkofpresumingtotakeitwithouthavingpreviously"shownoff"theproposedhusbandtothedignitary——therecognizedpatronofthefamily。Thelatter，too，thoughhewouldprobablyhavereceivednewsofagreatdisastertotheEpanchinfamilywithperfectcomposure，wouldneverthelesshaveconsidereditapersonaloffenceiftheyhaddaredtomarrytheirdaughterwithouthisadvice，orwemightalmostsay，hisleave。

TheamiableandundoubtedlywittyPrinceN。couldnotbutfeelthathewasasasun，risenforonenightonlytoshineupontheEpanchindrawing-room。Heaccountedthemimmeasurablyhisinferiors，anditwasthisfeelingwhichcausedhisspecialamiabilityanddelightfuleaseandgracetowardsthem。Heknewverywellthathemusttellsomestorythiseveningfortheedificationofthecompany，andleduptoitwiththeinspirationofanticipatorytriumph。

Theprince，whenheheardthestoryafterwards，feltthathehadneveryetcomeacrosssowonderfulahumorist，orsuchremarkablebrilliancyaswasshownbythisman；andyetifhehadonlyknownit，thisstorywastheoldest，stalest，andmostworn-outyarn，andeverydrawing-roomintownwassicktodeathofit。ItwasonlyintheinnocentEpanchinhouseholdthatitpassedforanewandbrillianttale——asasuddenandstrikingreminiscenceofasplendidandtalentedman。

EventheGermanpoet，thoughasamiableaspossible，feltthathewasdoingthehousethegreatestofhonoursbyhispresenceinit。

Buttheprinceonlylookedatthebrightside；hedidnotturnthecoatandseetheshabbylining。

Aglayahadnotforeseenthatparticularcalamity。Sheherselflookedwonderfullybeautifulthisevening。Allthreesistersweredressedverytastefully，andtheirhairwasdonewithspecialcare。

AglayasatnexttoEvgeniePavlovitch，andlaughedandtalkedtohimwithanunusualdisplayoffriendliness。Evgeniehimselfbehavedrathermoresedatelythanusual，probablyoutofrespecttothedignitary。Evgeniehadbeenknowninsocietyforalongwhile。HehadappearedattheEpanchins’todaywithcrapeonhishat，andPrincessBielokonskihadcommendedthisactiononhispart。Noteverysocietymanwouldhaveworncrapefor"suchanuncle。"LizabethaProkofievnahadlikeditalso，butwastoopreoccupiedtotakemuchnotice。TheprinceremarkedthatAglayalookedattentivelyathimtwoorthreetimes，andseemedtobesatisfiedwithhisbehaviour。

Littlebylittlehebecameveryhappyindeed。Allhislateanxietiesandapprehensions(afterhisconversationwithLebedeff)nowappearedlikesomanybaddreams——impossible，andevenlaughable。

Hedidnotspeakmuch，onlyansweringsuchquestionsaswereputtohim，andgraduallysettleddownintounbrokensilence，listeningtowhatwenton，andsteepedinperfectsatisfactionandcontentment。

Littlebylittleasortofinspiration，however，begantostirwithinhim，readytospringintolifeattherightmoment。Whenhedidbegintospeak，itwasaccidentally，inresponsetoaquestion，andapparentlywithoutanyspecialobject。

VII。

WHILEhefeastedhiseyesuponAglaya，asshetalkedmerrilywithEvgenieandPrinceN。，suddenlytheoldanglomaniac，whowastalkingtothedignitaryinanothercorneroftheroom，apparentlytellinghimastoryaboutsomethingorother——suddenlythisgentlemanpronouncedthenameof"NicolaiAndreevitchPavlicheff"aloud。Theprincequicklyturnedtowardshim，andlistened。

Theconversationhadbeenonthesubjectofland，andthepresentdisorders，andtheremusthavebeensomethingamusingsaid，fortheoldmanhadbeguntolaughathiscompanion’sheatedexpressions。

Thelatterwasdescribingineloquentwordshow，inconsequenceofrecentlegislation，hewasobligedtosellabeautifulestateintheN。province，notbecausehewantedreadymoney——infact，hewasobligedtosellitathalfitsvalue。"ToavoidanotherlawsuitaboutthePavlicheffestate，Iranaway，"hesaid。"WithafewmoreinheritancesofthatkindIshouldsoonberuined！"

AtthispointGeneralEpanchin，noticinghowinterestedMuishkinhadbecomeintheconversation，saidtohim，inalowtone:

"Thatgentleman——IvanPetrovitch——isarelationofyourlatefriend，Mr。Pavlicheff。Youwantedtofindsomeofhisrelations，didyounot？"

Thegeneral，whohadbeentalkingtohischiefuptothismoment，hadobservedtheprince’ssolitudeandsilence，andwasanxioustodrawhimintotheconversation，andsointroducehimagaintothenoticeofsomeoftheimportantpersonages。

"LefNicolaievitchwasawardofNicolaiAndreevitchPavlicheff，afterthedeathofhisownparents，"heremarked，meetingIvanPetrovitch’seye。

"Veryhappytomeethim，I’msure，"remarkedthelatter。"I

rememberLefNicolaievitchwell。WhenGeneralEpanchinintroducedusjustnow，Irecognizedyouatonce，prince。Youareverylittlechanged，thoughIsawyoulastasachildofsometenorelevenyearsold。Therewassomethinginyourfeatures，I

suppose，that——"

"Yousawmeasachild！"exclaimedtheprince，withsurprise。

"Oh！yes，longago，"continuedIvanPetrovitch，"whileyouwerelivingwithmycousinatZlatoverhoff。Youdon’trememberme？No，Idaresayyoudon’t；youhadsomemaladyatthetime，I

remember。ItwassoseriousthatIwassurprised——"

"No；Iremembernothing！"saidtheprince。Afewmorewordsofexplanationfollowed，wordswhichwerespokenwithoutthesmallestexcitementbyhiscompanion，butwhichevokedthegreatestagitationintheprince；anditwasdiscoveredthattwooldladiestowhosecaretheprincehadbeenleftbyPavlicheff，andwholivedatZlatoverhoff，werealsorelationsofIvanPetrovitch。

ThelatterhadnoideaandcouldgivenoinformationastowhyPavlicheffhadtakensogreataninterestinthelittleprince，hisward。

"InpointoffactIdon’tthinkIthoughtmuchaboutit，"saidtheoldfellow。Heseemedtohaveawonderfullygoodmemory，however，forhetoldtheprinceallaboutthetwooldladies，Pavlicheff’scousins，whohadtakencareofhim，andwhom，hedeclared，hehadtakentotaskforbeingtooseverewiththeprinceasasmallsicklyboy——theeldersister，atleast；theyoungerhadbeenkind，herecollected。Theybothnowlivedinanotherprovince，onasmallestatelefttothembyPavlicheff。

Theprincelistenedtoallthiswitheyessparklingwithemotionanddelight。

Hedeclaredwithunusualwarmththathewouldneverforgivehimselfforhavingtravelledaboutinthecentralprovincesduringtheselastsixmonthswithouthavinghunteduphistwooldfriends。

Hedeclared，further，thathehadintendedtogoeveryday，buthadalwaysbeenpreventedbycircumstances；butthatnowhewouldpromisehimselfthepleasure——howeverfaritwas，hewouldfindthemout。AndsoIvanPetrovitchREALLYknewNataliaNikitishna！——

whatasaintlynaturewashers！——andMarthaNikitishna！IvanPetrovitchmustexcusehim，butreallyhewasnotquitefairondearoldMartha。Shewassevere，perhaps；butthenwhatelsecouldshebewithsuchalittleidiotashewasthen？(Ha，ha。)

Hereallywasanidiotthen，IvanPetrovitchmustknow，thoughhemightnotbelieveit。(Ha，ha。)Sohehadreallyseenhimthere！

Goodheavens！AndwashereallyandtrulyandactuallyacousinofPavlicheff’s？

"Iassureyouofit，"laughedIvanPetrovitch，gazingamusedlyattheprince。

"Oh！Ididn’tsayitbecauseIDOUBTthefact，youknow。(Ha，ha。)HowcouldIdoubtsuchathing？(Ha，ha，ha。)Imadetheremarkbecause——becauseNicolaiAndreevitchPavlicheffwassuchasplendidman，don’tyousee！Suchahigh-souledman，hereallywas，Iassureyou。"

Theprincedidnotexactlypantforbreath，buthe"seemedalmosttoCHOKEoutofpuresimplicityandgoodnessofheart，"asAdelaidaexpressedit，ontalkingthepartyoverwithherfiance，thePrinceS。，nextmorning。

"But，mygoodnessme，"laughedIvanPetrovitch，"whycan’tIbecousintoevenasplendidman？"

"Oh，dear！"criedtheprince，confused，tryingtohurryhiswordsout，andgrowingmoreandmoreeagereverymoment:"I’vegoneandsaidanotherstupidthing。Idon’tknowwhattosay。I——Ididn’tmeanthat，youknow——I——I——hereallywassuchasplendidman，wasn’the？"

Theprincetrembledallover。Whywashesoagitated？Whyhadheflownintosuchtransportsofdelightwithoutanyapparentreason？Hehadfaroutshotthemeasureofjoyandemotionconsistentwiththeoccasion。Whythiswasitwouldbedifficulttosay。

Heseemedtofeelwarmlyanddeeplygratefultosomeoneforsomethingorother——perhapstoIvanPetrovitch；butlikelyenoughtoalltheguests，individually，andcollectively。Hewasmuchtoohappy。

IvanPetrovitchbegantostareathimwithsomesurprise；thedignitary，too，lookedathimwithconsiderableattention；

PrincessBielokonskiglaredathimangrily，andcompressedherlips。PrinceN。，Evgenie，PrinceS。，andthegirls，allbrokeofftheirownconversationsandlistened。Aglayaseemedalittlestartled；asforLizabethaProkofievna，herheartsankwithinher。

ThiswasoddofLizabethaProkofievnaandherdaughters。Theyhadthemselvesdecidedthatitwouldbebetteriftheprincedidnottalkalltheevening。Yetseeinghimsittingsilentandalone，butperfectlyhappy，theyhadbeenonthepointofexertingthemselvestodrawhimintooneofthegroupsoftalkersaroundtheroom。Nowthathewasinthemidstofatalktheybecamemorethaneveranxiousandperturbed。

"Thathewasasplendidmanisperfectlytrue；youarequiteright，"repeatedIvanPetrovitch，butseriouslythistime。"Hewasafineandaworthyfellow——worthy，onemaysay，ofthehighestrespect，"headded，moreandmoreseriouslyateachpause；"anditisagreeabletosee，onyourpart，such——"

"Wasn’titthissamePavlicheffaboutwhomtherewasastrangestoryinconnectionwithsomeabbot？Idon’trememberwhotheabbotwas，butIrememberatonetimeeverybodywastalkingaboutit，"remarkedtheolddignitary。

"Yes——AbbotGurot，aJesuit，"saidIvanPetrovitch。"Yes，that’sthesortofthingourbestmenareapttodo。Amanofrank，too，andrich——amanwho，ifhehadcontinuedtoserve，mighthavedoneanything；andthentothrowuptheserviceandeverythingelseinordertogoovertoRomanCatholicismandturnJesuit——

openly，too——almosttriumphantly。ByJove！itwaspositivelyamercythathediedwhenhedid——itwasindeed——everyonesaidsoatthetime。"

Theprincewasbesidehimself。

"Pavlicheff？——PavlicheffturnedRomanCatholic？Impossible！"hecried，inhorror。

"H’m！impossibleisratherastrongword，"saidIvanPetrovitch。

"Youmustallow，mydearprince……However，ofcourseyouvaluethememoryofthedeceasedsoveryhighly；andhecertainlywasthekindestofmen；towhichfact，bytheway，Iascribe，morethantoanythingelse，thesuccessoftheabbotininfluencinghisreligiousconvictions。Butyoumayaskme，ifyouplease，howmuchtroubleandworryI，personally，hadoverthatbusiness，andespeciallywiththissameGurot！Wouldyoubelieveit，"hecontinued，addressingthedignitary，"theyactuallytriedtoputinaclaimunderthedeceased’swill，andIhadtoresorttotheverystrongestmeasuresinordertobringthemtotheirsenses？Iassureyoutheyknewtheircue，didthesegentlemen——

wonderful！ThankgoodnessallthiswasinMoscow，andIgottheCourt，youknow，tohelpme，andwesoonbroughtthemtotheirsenses。

"Youwouldn’tbelievehowyouhavepainedandastonishedme，"

criedtheprince。

"Verysorry；butinpointoffact，youknow，itwasallnonsenseandwouldhaveendedinsmoke，asusual——I’msureofthat。Lastyear，"——heturnedtotheoldmanagain，——"CountessK。joinedsomeRomanConventabroad。Ourpeopleneverseemtobeabletoofferanyresistancesosoonastheygetintothehandsofthese——

intriguers——especiallyabroad。"

"Thatisallthankstoourlassitude，Ithink，"repliedtheoldman，withauthority。"Andthentheirwayofpreaching；theyhaveaskilfulmannerofdoingit！Andtheyknowhowtostartleone，too。Igotquiteafrightmyselfin’32，inVienna，Iassureyou；

butIdidn’tcaveintothem，Iranawayinstead，ha，ha！"

"Come，come，I’vealwaysheardthatyouranawaywiththebeautifulCountessLevitskythattime——throwingupeverythinginordertodoit——andnotfromtheJesuitsatall，"saidPrincessBielokonski，suddenly。

"Well，yes——butwecallitfromtheJesuits，youknow；itcomestothesamething，"laughedtheoldfellow，delightedwiththepleasantrecollection。

"Youseemtobeveryreligious，"hecontinued，kindly，addressingtheprince，"whichisathingonemeetssoseldomnowadaysamongyoungpeople。"

Theprincewaslisteningopen-mouthed，andstillinaconditionofexcitedagitation。Theoldmanwasevidentlyinterestedinhim，andanxioustostudyhimmoreclosely。

"PavlicheffwasamanofbrightintellectandagoodChristian，asincereChristian，"saidtheprince，suddenly。"Howcouldhepossiblyembraceafaithwhichisunchristian？RomanCatholicismis，sotospeak，simplythesamethingasunchristianity，"headdedwithflashingeyes，whichseemedtotakeineverybodyintheroom。

"Come，that’salittleTOOstrong，isn’tit？"murmuredtheoldman，glancingatGeneralEpanchininsurprise。

"HowdoyoumakeoutthattheRomanCatholicreligionisUNCHRISTIAN？Whatisit，then？"askedIvanPetrovitch，turningtotheprince。

"ItisnotaChristianreligion，inthefirstplace，"saidthelatter，inextremeagitation，quiteoutofproportiontothenecessityofthemoment。"Andinthesecondplace，RomanCatholicismis，inmyopinion，worsethanAtheismitself。Yes——

thatismyopinion。Atheismonlypreachesanegation，butRomanismgoesfurther；itpreachesadisfigured，distortedChrist——itpreachesAnti-Christ——Iassureyou，Iswearit！Thisismyownpersonalconviction，andithaslongdistressedme。TheRomanCatholicbelievesthattheChurchonearthcannotstandwithoutuniversaltemporalPower。Hecries’nonpossumus！’InmyopiniontheRomanCatholicreligionisnotafaithatall，butsimplyacontinuationoftheRomanEmpire，andeverythingissubordinatedtothisidea——beginningwithfaith。ThePopehasseizedterritoriesandanearthlythrone，andhasheldthemwiththesword。Andsothethinghasgoneon，onlythattotheswordtheyhaveaddedlying，intrigue，deceit，fanaticism，superstition，swindling；——theyhaveplayedfastandloosewiththemostsacredandsincerefeelingsofmen；——theyhaveexchangedeverything——everythingformoney，forbaseearthlyPOWER！AndisthisnottheteachingofAnti-Christ？HowcouldtheupshotofallthisbeotherthanAtheism？AtheismisthechildofRomanCatholicism——itproceededfromtheseRomansthemselves，thoughperhapstheywouldnotbelieveit。Itgrewandfattenedonhatredofitsparents；itistheprogenyoftheirliesandspiritualfeebleness。Atheism！Inourcountryitisonlyamongtheupperclassesthatyoufindunbelievers；menwhohavelosttherootorspiritoftheirfaith；butabroadwholemassesofthepeoplearebeginningtoprofessunbelief——atfirstbecauseofthedarknessandliesbywhichtheyweresurrounded；butnowoutoffanaticism，outofloathingfortheChurchandChristianity！"

Theprincepausedtogetbreath。Hehadspokenwithextraordinaryrapidity，andwasverypale。

Allpresentinterchangedglances，butatlasttheolddignitaryburstoutlaughingfrankly。PrinceN。tookouthiseye-glasstohaveagoodlookatthespeaker。TheGermanpoetcameoutofhiscornerandcreptnearertothetable，withaspitefulsmile。

"Youexaggeratethematterverymuch，"saidIvanPetrovitch，withratheraboredair。"Thereare，intheforeignChurches，manyrepresentativesoftheirfaithwhoareworthyofrespectandesteem。"

"Oh，butIdidnotspeakofindividualrepresentatives。IwasmerelytalkingaboutRomanCatholicism，anditsessence——ofRomeitself。AChurchcanneverentirelydisappear；Ineverhintedatthat！"

"Agreedthatallthismaybetrue；butweneednotdiscussasubjectwhichbelongstothedomainoftheology。"

"Oh，no；oh，no！Nottotheologyalone，Iassureyou！Why，SocialismistheprogenyofRomanismandoftheRomanisticspirit。ItanditsbrotherAtheismproceedfromDespairinoppositiontoCatholicism。Itseekstoreplaceinitselfthemoralpowerofreligion，inordertoappeasethespiritualthirstofparchedhumanityandsaveit；notbyChrist，butbyforce。

’Don’tdaretobelieveinGod，don’tdaretopossessanyindividuality，anyproperty！FraterniteoulaMort；twomillionheads。’Bytheirworksyeshallknowthem’——wearetold。Andwemustnotsupposethatallthisisharmlessandwithoutdangertoourselves。Oh，no；wemustresist，andquickly，quickly！WemustletoutChristshineforthupontheWesternnations，ourChristwhomwehavepreservedintact，andwhomtheyhaveneverknown。

Notasslaves，allowingourselvestobecaughtbythehooksoftheJesuits，butcarryingourRussiancivilizationtoTHEM，wemuststandbeforethem，notlettingitbesaidamongusthattheirpreachingis’skilful，’assomeoneexpresseditjustnow。"

"Butexcuseme，excuseme；"criedIvanPetrovitchconsiderablydisturbed，andlookingarounduneasily。"Yourideasare，ofcourse，mostpraiseworthy，andinthehighestdegreepatriotic；

butyouexaggeratethematterterribly。Itwouldbebetterifwedroppedthesubject。"

"No，sir，Idonotexaggerate，Iunderstatethematter，ifanything，undoubtedlyunderstateit；simplybecauseIcannotexpressmyselfasIshouldlike，but——"

"Allowme！"

Theprincewassilent。HesatstraightupinhischairandgazedferventlyatIvanPetrovitch。

"Itseemstomethatyouhavebeentoopainfullyimpressedbythenewsofwhathappenedtoyourgoodbenefactor，"saidtheolddignitary，kindly，andwiththeutmostcalmnessofdemeanour。

"Youareexcitable，perhapsastheresultofyoursolitarylife。

Ifyouwouldmakeupyourmindtolivemoreamongyourfellowsinsociety，Itrust，Iamsure，thattheworldwouldbegladtowelcomeyou，asaremarkableyoungman；andyouwouldsoonfindyourselfabletolookatthingsmorecalmly。Youwouldseethatallthesethingsaremuchsimplerthanyouthink；and，besides，theserarecasescomeabout，inmyopinion，fromennuiandfromsatiety。"

"Exactly，exactly！Thatisatruethought！"criedtheprince。

"Fromennui，fromourennuibutnotfromsatiety！Oh，no，youarewrongthere！SayfromTHIRSTifyoulike；thethirstoffever！

Andpleasedonotsupposethatthisissosmallamatterthatwemayhavealaughatitanddismissit；wemustbeabletoforeseeourdisastersandarmagainstthem。WeRussiansnosoonerarriveatthebrinkofthewater，andrealizethatwearereallyatthebrink，thanwearesodelightedwiththeoutlookthatinweplungeandswimtothefarthestpointwecansee。Whyisthis？

YousayyouaresurprisedatPavlicheff’saction；youascribeittomadness，tokindnessofheart，andwhatnot，butitisnotso。

"OurRussianintensitynotonlyastonishesourselves；allEuropewondersatourconductinsuchcases！For，ifoneofusgoesovertoRomanCatholicism，heissuretobecomeaJesuitatonce，andarabidoneintothebargain。IfoneofusbecomesanAtheist，hemustneedsbegintoinsistontheprohibitionoffaithinGodbyforce，thatis，bythesword。Whyisthis？Whydoeshethenexceedallboundsatonce？Becausehehasfoundlandatlast，thefatherlandthathesoughtinvainbefore；and，becausehissoulisrejoicedtofindit，hethrowshimselfuponitandkissesit！

Oh，itisnotfromvanityalone，itisnotfromfeelingsofvanitythatRussiansbecomeAtheistsandJesuits！Butfromspiritualthirst，fromanguishoflongingforhigherthings，fordryfirmland，forfootholdonafatherlandwhichtheyneverbelievedinbecausetheyneverknewit。ItiseasierforaRussiantobecomeanAtheist，thanforanyothernationalityintheworld。AndnotonlydoesaRussian’becomeanAtheist，’butheactuallyBELIEVESINAtheism，justasthoughhehadfoundanewfaith，notperceivingthathehaspinnedhisfaithtoanegation。Suchisouranguishofthirst！’WhosohasnocountryhasnoGod。’Thatisnotmyownexpression；itistheexpressionofamerchant，oneoftheOldBelievers，whomIoncemetwhiletravelling。Hedidnotsayexactlythesewords。Ithinkhisexpressionwas:

"’WhosoforsakeshiscountryforsakeshisGod。’

"ButletthesethirstyRussiansoulsfind，likeColumbus’

discoverers，anewworld；letthemfindtheRussianworld，letthemsearchanddiscoverallthegoldandtreasurethatlieshidinthebosomoftheirownland！Showthemtherestitutionoflosthumanity，inthefuture，byRussianthoughtalone，andbymeansoftheGodandoftheChristofourRussianfaith，andyouwillseehowmightyandjustandwiseandgoodagiantwillriseupbeforetheeyesoftheastonishedandfrightenedworld；

astonishedbecausetheyexpectnothingbuttheswordfromus，becausetheythinktheywillgetnothingoutofusbutbarbarism。

Thishasbeenthecaseuptonow，andthelongermattersgoonastheyarenowproceeding，themoreclearwillbethetruthofwhatIsay；andI——"

Butatthismomentsomethinghappenedwhichputamostunexpectedendtotheorator’sspeech。Allthisheatedtirade，thisoutflowofpassionatewordsandecstaticideaswhichseemedtohustleandtumbleovereachotherastheyfellfromhislips，boreevidenceofsomeunusuallydisturbedmentalconditionintheyoungfellowwhohad"boiledover"insucharemarkablemanner，withoutanyapparentreason。

Ofthosewhowerepresent，suchasknewtheprincelistenedtohisoutburstinastateofalarm，somewithafeelingofmortification。Itwassounlikehisusualtimidself-constraint；

soinconsistentwithhisusualtasteandtact，andwithhisinstinctivefeelingforthehigherproprieties。Theycouldnotunderstandtheoriginoftheoutburst；itcouldnotbesimplythenewsofPavlicheff’sperversion。Bytheladiestheprincewasregardedaslittlebetterthanalunatic，andPrincessBielokonskiadmittedafterwardsthat"inanotherminuteshewouldhavebolted。"

Thetwooldgentlemenlookedquitealarmed。Theoldgeneral(Epanchin’schief)satandglaredattheprinceinseveredispleasure。Thecolonelsatimmovable。EventheGermanpoetgrewalittlepale，thoughheworehisusualartificialsmileashelookedaroundtoseewhattheotherswoulddo。

Inpointoffactitisquitepossiblethatthematterwouldhaveendedinaverycommonplaceandnaturalwayinafewminutes。Theundoubtedlyastonished，butnowmorecollected，GeneralEpanchinhadseveraltimesendeavouredtointerrupttheprince，andnothavingsucceededhewasnowpreparingtotakefirmerandmorevigorousmeasurestoattainhisend。Inanotherminuteortwohewouldprobablyhavemadeuphismindtoleadtheprincequietlyoutoftheroom，onthepleaofhisbeingill(anditwasmorethanlikelythatthegeneralwasrightinhisbeliefthattheprinceWASactuallyill)，butitsohappenedthatdestinyhadsomethingdifferentinstore。

Atthebeginningoftheevening，whentheprincefirstcameintotheroom，hehadsatdownasfaraspossiblefromtheChinesevasewhichAglayahadspokenofthedaybefore。

Willitbebelievedthat，afterAglaya’salarmingwords，anineradicableconvictionhadtakenpossessionofhismindthat，howeverhemighttrytoavoidthisvasenextday，hemustcertainlybreakit？Butsoitwas。

Duringtheeveningotherimpressionsbegantoawakeninhismind，aswehaveseen，andheforgothispresentiment。ButwhenPavlicheffwasmentionedandthegeneralintroducedhimtoIvanPetrovitch，hehadchangedhisplace，andwentovernearertothetable；when，itsohappened，hetookthechairnearesttothebeautifulvase，whichstoodonapedestalbehindhim，justaboutonalevelwithhiselbow。

Ashespokehislastwordshehadrisensuddenlyfromhisseatwithawaveofhisarm，andtherewasageneralcryofhorror。

Thehugevaseswayedbackwardsandforwards；itseemedtobeuncertainwhetherornototoppleoverontotheheadofoneoftheoldmen，buteventuallydeterminedtogotheotherway，andcamecrashingovertowardstheGermanpoet，whodartedoutofthewayinterror。

Thecrash，thecry，thesightofthefragmentsofvaluablechinacoveringthecarpet，thealarmofthecompany——whatallthismeanttothepoorprinceitwouldbedifficulttoconveytothemindofthereader，orforhimtoimagine。

Butoneverycuriousfactwasthatalltheshameandvexationandmortificationwhichhefeltovertheaccidentwerelesspowerfulthanthedeepimpressionofthealmostsupernaturaltruthofhispremonition。Hestoodstillinalarm——inalmostsuperstitiousalarm，foramoment；thenallmistsseemedtoclearawayfromhiseyes；hewasconsciousofnothingbutlightandjoyandecstasy；

hisbreathcameandwent；butthemomentpassed。ThankGoditwasnotthat！Hedrewalongbreathandlookedaround。

Forsomeminuteshedidnotseemtocomprehendtheexcitementaroundhim；thatis，hecomprehendeditandsaweverything，buthestoodaside，asitwere，likesomeoneinvisibleinafairytale，asthoughhehadnothingtodowithwhatwasgoingon，thoughitpleasedhimtotakeaninterestinit。

Hesawthemgatherupthebrokenbitsofchina；heheardtheloudtalkingoftheguestsandobservedhowpaleAglayalooked，andhowverystrangelyshewasgazingathim。Therewasnohatredinherexpression，andnoangerwhatever。Itwasfullofalarmforhim，andsympathyandaffection，whileshelookedaroundattheotherswithflashing，angryeyes。Hisheartfilledwithasweetpainashegazedather。

Atlengthheobserved，tohisamazement，thatallhadtakentheirseatsagain，andwerelaughingandtalkingasthoughnothinghadhappened。Anotherminuteandthelaughtergrewlouder——theywerelaughingathim，athisdumbstupor——laughingkindlyandmerrily。

Severalofthemspoketohim，andspokesokindlyandcordially，especiallyLizabethaProkofievna——shewassayingthekindestpossiblethingstohim。

SuddenlyhebecameawarethatGeneralEpanchinwastappinghimontheshoulder；IvanPetrovitchwaslaughingtoo，butstillmorekindandsympathizingwastheolddignitary。Hetooktheprincebythehandandpresseditwarmly；thenhepattedit，andquietlyurgedhimtorecollecthimself——speakingtohimexactlyashewouldhavespokentoalittlefrightenedchild，whichpleasedtheprincewonderfully；andnextseatedhimbesidehimself。

Theprincegazedintohisfacewithpleasure，butstillseemedtohavenopowertospeak。Hisbreathfailedhim。Theoldman’sfacepleasedhimgreatly。

"Doyoureallyforgiveme？"hesaidatlast。"And——andLizabethaProkofievnatoo？"Thelaughincreased，tearscameintotheprince’seyes，hecouldnotbelieveinallthiskindness——hewasenchanted。

"Thevasecertainlywasaverybeautifulone。Irememberithereforfifteenyears——yes，quitethat！"remarkedIvanPetrovitch。

"Oh，whatadreadfulcalamity！Awretchedvasesmashed，andamanhalfdeadwithremorseaboutit，"saidLizabethaProkofievna，loudly。"Whatmadeyousodreadfullystartled，LefNicolaievitch？"sheadded，alittletimidly。"Come，mydearboy！

cheerup。Youreallyalarmme，takingtheaccidentsotoheart。"

"Doyouforgivemeall——ALL，besidesthevase，Imean？"saidtheprince，risingfromhisseatoncemore，buttheoldgentlemancaughthishandanddrewhimdownagain——heseemedunwillingtolethimgo。

"C’esttres-curieuxetc’esttres-serieux，"hewhisperedacrossthetabletoIvanPetrovitch，ratherloudly。Probablytheprinceheardhim。

"SothatIhavenotoffendedanyofyou？YouwillnotbelievehowhappyIamtobeabletothinkso。Itisasitshouldbe。AsifI

COULDoffendanyonehere！Ishouldoffendyouagainbyevensuggestingsuchathing。"

"Calmyourself，mydearfellow。Youareexaggeratingagain；youreallyhavenooccasiontobesogratefultous。Itisafeelingwhichdoesyougreatcredit，butanexaggeration，forallthat。"

"Iamnotexactlythankingyou，Iamonlyfeelingagrowingadmirationforyou——itmakesmehappytolookatyou。IdaresayIamspeakingveryfoolishly，butImustspeak——Imustexplain，ifitbeoutofnothingbetterthanself-respect。"

Allhesaidanddidwasabrupt，confused，feverish——verylikelythewordshespoke，asoftenasnot，werenotthosehewishedtosay。HeseemedtoinquirewhetherheMIGHTspeak。HiseyeslightedonPrincessBielokonski。

"Allright，myfriend，talkaway，talkaway！"sheremarked。"Onlydon’tloseyourbreath；youwereinsuchahurrywhenyoubegan，andlookwhatyou’vecometonow！Don’tbeafraidofspeaking——

alltheseladiesandgentlemenhaveseenfarstrangerpeoplethanyourself；youdon’tastonishTHEM。Youarenothingout-of-the-wayremarkable，youknow。You’vedonenothingbutbreakavase，andgiveusallafright。"

Theprincelistened，smiling。

"Wasn’tityou，"hesaid，suddenlyturningtotheoldgentleman，"whosavedthestudentPorkunoffandaclerkcalledShoabrinfrombeingsenttoSiberia，twoorthreemonthssince？"

Theolddignitaryblushedalittle，andmurmuredthattheprincehadbetternotexcitehimselffurther。

"AndIhaveheardofYOU，"continuedtheprince，addressingIvanPetrovitch，"thatwhensomeofyourvillagerswereburnedoutyougavethemwoodtobuilduptheirhousesagain，thoughtheywerenolongeryourserfsandhadbehavedbadlytowardsyou。"

"Oh，come，come！Youareexaggerating，"saidIvanPetrovitch，beamingwithsatisfaction，allthesame。Hewasright，however，inthisinstance，forthereporthadreachedtheprince’searsinanincorrectform。

"Andyou，princess，"hewenton，addressingPrincessBielokonski，"wasitnotyouwhoreceivedmeinMoscow，sixmonthssince，askindlyasthoughIhadbeenyourownson，inresponsetoaletterfromLizabethaProkofievna；andgavemeonepieceofadvice，againastoyourownson，whichIshallneverforget？Doyouremember？"

"Whatareyoumakingsuchafussabout？"saidtheoldlady，withannoyance。"Youareagoodfellow，butverysilly。Onegivesyouahalfpenny，andyouareasgratefulasthoughonehadsavedyourlife。Youthinkthisispraiseworthyonyourpart，butitisnot——itisnot，indeed。"

Sheseemedtobeveryangry，butsuddenlyburstoutlaughing，quitegood-humouredly。

LizabethaProkofievna’sfacebrightenedup，too；sodidthatofGeneralEpanchin。

"ItoldyouLefNicolaievitchwasaman——aman——ifonlyhewouldnotbeinsuchahurry，astheprincessremarked，"saidthelatter，withdelight。

Aglayaaloneseemedsadanddepressed；herfacewasflushed，perhapswithindignation。

"Hereallyisverycharming，"whisperedtheolddignitarytoIvanPetrovitch。

"Icameintothisroomwithanguishinmyheart，"continuedtheprince，withever-growingagitation，speakingquickerandquicker，andwithincreasingstrangeness。"I——Iwasafraidofyouall，andafraidofmyself。Iwasmostafraidofmyself。WhenI

returnedtoPetersburg，Ipromisedmyselftomakeapointofseeingourgreatestmen，andmembersofouroldestfamilies——theoldfamilieslikemyown。Iamnowamongprinceslikemyself，amInot？Iwishedtoknowyou，anditwasnecessary，very，verynecessary。Ihadalwaysheardsomuchthatwasevilsaidofyouall——moreevilthangood；astohowsmallandpettywereyourinterests，howabsurdyourhabits，howshallowyoureducation，andsoon。Thereissomuchwrittenandsaidaboutyou！Icameheretodaywithanxiouscuriosity；IwishedtoseeformyselfandformmyownconvictionsastowhetheritweretruethatthewholeofthisupperstratumofRussiansocietyisWORTHLESS，hasoutliveditstime，hasexistedtoolong，andisonlyfittodie——

andyetisdyingwithpetty，spitefulwarringagainstthatwhichisdestinedtosupersedeitandtakeitsplace——hinderingtheComingMen，andknowingnotthatitselfisinadyingcondition。

Ididnotfullybelieveinthisviewevenbefore，forthereneverwassuchaclassamongus——exceptingperhapsatcourt，byaccident——orbyuniform；butnowthereisnoteventhat，isthere？Ithasvanished，hasitnot？"

"No，notabitofit，"saidIvanPetrovitch，withasarcasticlaugh。

"GoodLord，he’soffagain！"saidPrincessBielokonski，impatiently。

"Laissez-ledire！Heistremblingallover，"saidtheoldman，inawarningwhisper。

Theprincecertainlywasbesidehimself。

"Well？WhathaveIseen？"hecontinued。"Ihaveseenmenofgracefulsimplicityofintellect；IhaveseenanoldmanwhoisnotabovespeakingkindlyandevenLISTENINGtoaboylikemyself；Iseebeforemepersonswhocanunderstand，whocanforgive——kind，goodRussianhearts——heartsalmostaskindandcordialasImetabroad。ImaginehowdelightedImusthavebeen，andhowsurprised！Oh，letmeexpressthisfeeling！Ihavesooftenheard，andIhaveevenbelieved，thatinsocietytherewasnothingbutemptyforms，andthatrealityhadvanished；butInowseeformyselfthatthiscanneverbethecaseHERE，amongus——itmaybetheorderelsewhere，butnotinRussia。SurelyyouarenotallJesuitsanddeceivers！IheardPrinceN。’sstoryjustnow。

Wasitnotsimple-minded，spontaneoushumour？Couldsuchwordscomefromthelipsofamanwhoisdead？——amanwhoseheartandtalentsaredriedup？Coulddeadmenandwomenhavetreatedmesokindlyasyouhaveallbeentreatingmeto-day？Istherenotmaterialforthefutureinallthis——forhope？CansuchpeoplefailtoUNDERSTAND？Cansuchmenfallawayfromreality？"