Page 203 - the-idiot

sia showed such satisfaction that all prepared to greet the
prince with cordial smiles of welcome.
‘Of course,’ remarked General Epanchin, ‘he does this
out of pure innocence. It’s a little dangerous, perhaps, to
encourage this sort of freedom; but it is rather a good thing
that he has arrived just at this moment. He may enliven us
a little with his originalities.’
‘Especially as he asked himself,’ said Ferdishenko.
‘What’s that got to do with it?’ asked the general, who
loathed Ferdishenko.
‘Why, he must pay toll for his entrance,’ explained the
latter.
‘H’m! Prince Muishkin is not Ferdishenko,’ said the gen-
eral, impatiently. This worthy gentleman could never quite
reconcile himself to the idea of meeting Ferdishenko in so-
ciety, and on an equal footing.
‘Oh general, spare Ferdishenko!’ replied the other, smil-
ing. ‘I have special privileges.’
‘What do you mean by special privileges?’
‘Once before I had the honour of stating them to the
company. I will repeat the explanation to-day for your ex-
cellency’s benefit. You see, excellency, all the world is witty
and clever except myself. I am neither. As a kind of compen-
sation I am allowed to tell the truth, for it is a well-known
fact that only stupid people tell ‘the truth. Added to this,
I am a spiteful man, just because I am not clever. If I am
offended or injured I bear it quite patiently until the man
injuring me meets with some misfortune. Then I remember,
and take my revenge. I return the injury sevenfold, as Ivan

0 The Idiot