Page 215 - the-idiot

the actress, with evident dislike in her face.
‘That was a psychological phenomenon, not an action,’
remarked Totski.
‘And what about the maid?’ asked Nastasia Philipovna,
with undisguised contempt.
‘Oh, she was turned out next day, of course. It’s a very
strict household, there!’
‘And you allowed it?’
‘I should think so, rather! I was not going to return and
confess next day,’ laughed Ferdishenko, who seemed a lit-
tle surprised at the disagreeable impression which his story
had made on all parties.
‘How mean you were!’ said Nastasia.
‘Bah! you wish to hear a man tell of his worst actions,
and you expect the story to come out goody-goody! One’s
worst actions always are mean. We shall see what the gener-
al has to say for himself now. All is not gold that glitters, you
know; and because a man keeps his carriage he need not be
specially virtuous, I assure you, all sorts of people keep car-
riages. And by what means?’
In a word, Ferdishenko was very angry and rapidly for-
getting himself; his whole face was drawn with passion.
Strange as it may appear, he had expected much better suc-
cess for his story. These little errors of taste on Ferdishenko’s
part occurred very frequently. Nastasia trembled with rage,
and looked fixedly at him, whereupon he relapsed into
alarmed silence. He realized that he had gone a little too
far.
‘Had we not better end this game?’ asked Totski.

1 The Idiot