Page 175 - the-idiot

though I cannot fathom her meaning. Evidently she meant
to hurt and insult us. I have heard curious tales about her
before now, but if she came to invite us to her house, why did
she behave so to my mother? Ptitsin knows her very well; he
says he could not understand her today. With Rogojin, too!
No one with a spark of self-respect could have talked like
that in the house of her... Mother is extremely vexed on your
account, too...
‘That is nothing!’ said the prince, waving his hand.
‘But how meek she was when you spoke to her!’
‘Meek! What do you mean?’
‘You told her it was a shame for her to behave so, and her
manner changed at once; she was like another person. You
have some influence over her, prince,’ added Varia, smiling
a little.
The door opened at this point, and in came Gania most
unexpectedly.
He was not in the least disconcerted to see Varia there,
but he stood a moment at the door, and then approached
the prince quietly.
‘Prince,’ he said, with feeling, ‘I was a blackguard. For-
give me!’ His face gave evidence of suffering. The prince was
considerably amazed, and did not reply at once. ‘Oh, come,
forgive me, forgive me!’ Gania insisted, rather impatiently.
‘If you like, I’ll kiss your hand. There!’
The prince was touched; he took Gania’s hands, and em-
braced him heartily, while each kissed the other.
‘I never, never thought you were like that,’ said Muishkin,
drawing a deep breath. ‘I thought you—you weren’t capable

1 The Idiot