Page 115 - the-idiot

ible rage.
‘I am very sorry; I was not thinking at the time. I merely
said that Aglaya was almost as beautiful as Nastasia Phili-
povna.’
Gania asked for further details; and the prince once
more repeated the conversation. Gania looked at him with
ironical contempt the while.
‘Nastasia Philipovna,’ he began, and there paused; he was
clearly much agitated and annoyed. The prince reminded
him of the portrait.
‘Listen, prince,’ said Gania, as though an idea had just
struck him, ‘I wish to ask you a great favour, and yet I really
don’t know—‘
He paused again, he was trying to make up his mind to
something, and was turning the matter over. The prince
waited quietly. Once more Gania fixed him with intent and
questioning eyes.
‘Prince,’ he began again, ‘they are rather angry with me,
in there, owing to a circumstance which I need not explain,
so that I do not care to go in at present without an invi-
tation. I particularly wish to speak to Aglaya, but I have
written a few words in case I shall not have the chance of
seeing her’ (here the prince observed a small note in his
hand), ‘and I do not know how to get my communication to
her. Don’t you think you could undertake to give it to her at
once, but only to her, mind, and so that no one else should
see you give it? It isn’t much of a secret, but still—Well, will
you do it?’
‘I don’t quite like it,’ replied the prince.

11 The Idiot