Page 163 - the-idiot

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HE entrance-hall suddenly became full of noise and
Tpeople. To judge from the sounds which penetrated to
the drawing-room, a number of people had already come
in, and the stampede continued. Several voices were talk-
ing and shouting at once; others were talking and shouting
on the stairs outside; it was evidently a most extraordinary
visit that was about to take place.
Everyone exchanged startled glances. Gania rushed out
towards the dining-room, but a number of men had already
made their way in, and met him.
‘Ah! here he is, the Judas!’ cried a voice which the prince
recognized at once. ‘How d’ye do, Gania, you old black-
guard?’
‘Yes, that’s the man!’ said another voice.
There was no room for doubt in the prince’s mind: one of
the voices was Rogojin’s, and the other Lebedeff’s.
Gania stood at the door like a block and looked on in
silence, putting no obstacle in the way of their entrance,
and ten or a dozen men marched in behind Parfen Rogojin.
They were a decidedly mixed-looking collection, and some
of them came in in their furs and caps. None of them were
quite drunk, but all appeared to De considerably excited.
They seemed to need each other’s support, morally,
before they dared come in; not one of them would have en-

1 The Idiot