Page 178 - the-idiot

said just now—‘
‘Oh she—they don’t know anything about it! Nastasia
was only chaffing Rogojin. I was alarmed at first, but I have
thought better of it now; she was simply laughing at him.
She looks on me as a fool because I show that I meant her
money, and doesn’t realize that there are other men who
would deceive her in far worse fashion. I’m not going to pre-
tend anything, and you’ll see she’ll marry me, all right. If
she likes to live quietly, so she shall; but if she gives me any
of her nonsense, I shall leave her at once, but I shall keep the
money. I’m not going to look a fool; that’s the first thing, not
to look a fool.’
‘But Nastasia Philipovna seems to me to be such a SENSI-
BLE woman, and, as such, why should she run blindly into
this business? That’s what puzzles me so,’ said the prince.
‘You don’t know all, you see; I tell you there are things—
and besides, I’m sure that she is persuaded that I love her
to distraction, and I give you my word I have a strong sus-
picion that she loves me, too—in her own way, of course.
She thinks she will be able to make a sort of slave of me all
my life; but I shall prepare a little surprise for her. I don’t
know whether I ought to be confidential with you, prince;
but, I assure you, you are the only decent fellow I have come
across. I have not spoken so sincerely as I am doing at this
moment for years. There are uncommonly few honest peo-
ple about, prince; there isn’t one honester than Ptitsin, he’s
the best of the lot. Are you laughing? You don’t know, per-
haps, that blackguards like honest people, and being one
myself I like you. WHY am I a blackguard? Tell me honest-

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