Page 174 - the-idiot

be dishonoured for his whole life, unless he wipes out the
disgrace with blood, or makes his assailant beg forgiveness
on his knees! I think that so very absurd and tyrannical. Le-
rmontoff’s Bal Masque is based on that idea—a stupid and
unnatural one, in my opinion; but he was hardly more than
a child when he wrote it.’
‘I like your sister very much.’
‘Did you see how she spat in Gania’s face! Varia is afraid
of no one. But you did not follow her example, and yet I am
sure it was not through cowardice. Here she comes! Speak
of a wolf and you see his tail! I felt sure that she would come.
She is very generous, though of course she has her faults.’
Varia pounced upon her brother.
‘This is not the place for you,’ said she. ‘Go to father. Is he
plaguing you, prince?’
‘Not in the least; on the contrary, he interests me.’
‘Scolding as usual, Varia! It is the worst thing about her.
After all, I believe father may have started off with Rogojin.
No doubt he is sorry now. Perhaps I had better go and see
what he is doing,’ added Colia, running off.
‘Thank God, I have got mother away, and put her to bed
without another scene! Gania is worried—and ashamed—
not without reason! What a spectacle! I have come to thank
you once more, prince, and to ask you if you knew Nastasia
Philipovna before
‘No, I have never known her.’
‘Then what did you mean, when you said straight out to
her that she was not really ‘like that’? You guessed right, I
fancy. It is quite possible she was not herself at the moment,

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