Page 154 - the-idiot

e vero—‘
‘I rather think I pitched into you, too, didn’t I? Forgive
me—do! Who is he, did you say? What prince? Muishkin?’
she added, addressing Gania.
‘He is a lodger of ours,’ explained the latter.
‘An idiot!’—the prince distinctly heard the word half
whispered from behind him. This was Ferdishenko’s volun-
tary information for Nastasia’s benefit.
‘Tell me, why didn’t you put me right when I made such a
dreadful mistake just now?’ continued the latter, examining
the prince from head to foot without the slightest ceremony.
She awaited the answer as though convinced that it would
be so foolish that she must inevitably fail to restrain her
laughter over it.
‘I was astonished, seeing you so suddenly—‘ murmured
the prince.
‘How did you know who I was? Where had you seen me
before? And why were you so struck dumb at the sight of
me? What was there so overwhelming about me?’
‘Oho! ho, ho, ho!’ cried Ferdishenko. ‘NOW then, prince!
My word, what things I would say if I had such a chance as
that! My goodness, prince—go on!’
‘So should I, in your place, I’ve no doubt!’ laughed the
prince to Ferdishenko; then continued, addressing Nas-
tasia: ‘Your portrait struck me very forcibly this morning;
then I was talking about you to the Epanchins; and then, in
the train, before I reached Petersburg, Parfen Rogojin told
me a good deal about you; and at the very moment that I
opened the door to you I happened to be thinking of you,

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