Page 153 - the-idiot

door motionless and bewildered himself, still managed to
remark Gania’s death-like pallor, and the dreadful change
that had come over his face. This witness was the prince,
who now advanced in alarm and muttered to Gania:
‘Drink some water, and don’t look like that!’
It was clear that he came out with these words quite
spontaneously, on the spur of the moment. But his speech
was productive of much—for it appeared that all. Gania’s
rage now overflowed upon the prince. He seized him by the
shoulder and gazed with an intensity of loathing and re-
venge at him, but said nothing—as though his feelings were
too strong to permit of words.
General agitation prevailed. Nina Alexandrovna gave a
little cry of anxiety; Ptitsin took a step forward in alarm;
Colia and Ferdishenko stood stock still at the door in
amazement;—only Varia remained coolly watching the
scene from under her eyelashes. She did not sit down, but
stood by her mother with folded hands. However, Gania
recollected himself almost immediately. He let go of the
prince and burst out laughing.
‘Why, are you a doctor, prince, or what?’ he asked, as
naturally as possible. ‘I declare you quite frightened me!
Nastasia Philipovna, let me introduce this interesting char-
acter to you— though I have only known him myself since
the morning.’
Nastasia gazed at the prince in bewilderment. ‘Prince?
He a Prince? Why, I took him for the footman, just now, and
sent him in to announce me! Ha, ha, ha, isn’t that good!’
‘Not bad that, not bad at all!’ put in Ferdishenko, ‘se non

1 The Idiot