Page 168 - the-idiot

sion, suddenly burst out laughing.
‘Eighteen thousand roubles, for me? Why, you declare
yourself a fool at once,’ she said, with impudent familiarity,
as she rose from the sofa and prepared to go. Gania watched
the whole scene with a sinking of the heart.
‘Forty thousand, then—forty thousand roubles instead
of eighteen! Ptitsin and another have promised to find me
forty thousand roubles by seven o’clock tonight. Forty thou-
sand roubles—paid down on the nail!’
The scene was growing more and more disgraceful; but
Nastasia Philipovna continued to laugh and did not go
away. Nina Alexandrovna and Varia had both risen from
their places and were waiting, in silent horror, to see what
would happen. Varia’s eyes were all ablaze with anger; but
the scene had a different effect on Nina Alexandrovna. She
paled and trembled, and looked more and more like faint-
ing every moment.
‘Very well then, a HUNDRED thousand! a hundred
thousand! paid this very day. Ptitsin! find it for me. A good
share shall stick to your fingers—come!’
‘You are mad!’ said Ptitsin, coming up quickly and seiz-
ing him by the hand. ‘You’re drunk—the police will be sent
for if you don’t look out. Think where you are.’
‘Yes, he’s boasting like a drunkard,’ added Nastasia, as
though with the sole intention of goading him.
‘I do NOT boast! You shall have a hundred thousand,
this very day. Ptitsin, get the money, you gay usurer! Take
what you like for it, but get it by the evening! I’ll show that
I’m in earnest!’ cried Rogojin, working himself up into a

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