Page 188 - the-idiot

tion for fear of irritating the old man. At the same time
he fervently hoped that General Sokolovitch and his fam-
ily would fade away like a mirage in the desert, so that the
visitors could escape, by merely returning downstairs. But
to his horror he saw that General Ivolgin was quite famil-
iar with the house, and really seemed to have friends there.
At every step he named some topographical or biograph-
ical detail that left nothing to be desired on the score of
accuracy. When they arrived at last, on the first floor, and
the general turned to ring the bell to the right, the prince
decided to run away, but a curious incident stopped him
momentarily.
‘You have made a mistake, general,’ said he. ‘ The name
on the door is Koulakoff, and you were going to see General
Sokolovitch.’
‘Koulakoff ... Koulakoff means nothing. This is Sokolo-
vitch’s flat, and I am ringing at his door.... What do I care
for Koulakoff? ... Here comes someone to open.’
In fact, the door opened directly, and the footman in
formed the visitors that the family were all away.
‘What a pity! What a pity! It’s just my luck!’ repeated Ar-
dalion Alexandrovitch over and over again, in regretful
tones. ‘ When your master and mistress return, my man,
tell them that General Ivolgin and Prince Muishkin desired
to present themselves, and that they were extremely sorry,
excessively grieved ...’
Just then another person belonging to the household was
seen at the back of the hall. It was a woman of some forty
years, dressed in sombre colours, probably a housekeeper

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