Page 206 - the-idiot

‘You are altogether perfection; even your pallor and thin-
ness are perfect; one could not wish you otherwise. I did so
wish to come and see you. I—forgive me, please—‘
‘Don’t apologize,’ said Nastasia, laughing; ‘you spoil the
whole originality of the thing. I think what they say about
you must be true, that you are so original.—So you think
me perfection, do you?’
‘Yes.’
‘H’m! Well, you may be a good reader of riddles but you
are wrong THERE, at all events. I’ll remind you of this, to-
night.’
Nastasia introduced the prince to her guests, to most of
whom he was already known.
Totski immediately made some amiable remark. Al
seemed to brighten up at once, and the conversation be-
came general. Nastasia made the prince sit down next to
herself.
‘Dear me, there’s nothing so very curious about the
prince dropping in, after all,’ remarked Ferdishenko.
‘It’s quite a clear case,’ said the hitherto silent Gania. I
have watched the prince almost all day, ever since the mo-
ment when he first saw Nastasia Philipovna’s portrait, at
General Epanchin’s. I remember thinking at the time what
I am now pretty sure of; and what, I may say in passing, the
prince confessed to myself.’
Gania said all this perfectly seriously, and without the
slightest appearance of joking; indeed, he seemed strangely
gloomy.
‘I did not confess anything to you,’ said the prince, blush-

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