Page 202 - the-idiot

money would be forthcoming, for the excited and intoxi-
cated rapture of the fellow impelled him to give any interest
or premium that was asked of him, and there were several
others engaged in beating up the money, also.
All this news was received by the company with some-
what gloomy interest. Nastasia was silent, and would not
say what she thought about it. Gania was equally uncom-
municative. The general seemed the most anxious of all,
and decidedly uneasy. The present of pearls which he had
prepared with so much joy in the morning had been accept-
ed but coldly, and Nastasia had smiled rather disagreeably
as she took it from him. Ferdishenko was the only person
present in good spirits.
Totski himself, who had the reputation of being a capital
talker, and was usually the life and soul of these entertain-
ments, was as silent as any on this occasion, and sat in a
state of, for him, most uncommon perturbation.
The rest of the guests (an old tutor or schoolmaster, good-
ness knows why invited; a young man, very timid, and shy
and silent; a rather loud woman of about forty, apparent-
ly an actress; and a very pretty, well-dressed German lady
who hardly said a word all the evening) not only had no gift
for enlivening the proceedings, but hardly knew what to say
for themselves when addressed. Under these circumstances
the arrival of the prince came almost as a godsend.
The announcement of his name gave rise to some sur-
prise and to some smiles, especially when it became evident,
from Nastasia’s astonished look, that she had not thought
of inviting him. But her astonishment once over, Nasta-

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