Page 187 - the-idiot

looking Nevsky, two in the Morskaya, are all that remain
of my personal friends. Nina Alexandrovna gave them up
long ago, but I keep in touch with them still... I may say I
find refreshment in this little coterie, in thus meeting my
old acquaintances and subordinates, who worship me still,
in spite of all. General Sokolovitch (by the way, I have not
called on him lately, or seen Anna Fedorovna)... You know,
my dear prince, when a person does not receive company
himself, he gives up going to other people’s houses involun-
tarily. And yet ... well ... you look as if you didn’t believe me....
Well now, why should I not present the son of my old friend
and companion to this delightful family—General Ivolgin
and Prince Muishkin? You will see a lovely girl—what am
I saying—a lovely girl? No, indeed, two, three! Ornaments
of this city and of society: beauty, education, culture—the
woman question—poetry—everything! Added to which is
the fact that each one will have a dot of at least eighty thou-
sand roubles. No bad thing, eh? ... In a word I absolutely
must introduce you to them: it is a duty, an obligation. Gen-
eral Ivolgin and Prince Muishkin. Tableau!’
‘At once? Now? You must have forgotten ... ‘ began the
prince.
‘No, I have forgotten nothing. Come! This is the house—
up this magnificent staircase. I am surprised not to see the
porter, but .... it is a holiday ... and the man has gone off ...
Drunken fool! Why have they not got rid of him? Sokolo-
vitch owes all the happiness he has had in the service and in
his private life to me, and me alone, but ... here we are.’
The prince followed quietly, making no further objec-

1 The Idiot