Page 226 - the-idiot

to depart.
‘Nastasia Philipovna! Nastasia Philipovna!’
The words burst involuntarily from every mouth. All
present started up in bewildered excitement; all surround-
ed her; all had listened uneasily to her wild, disconnected
sentences. All felt that something had happened, some-
thing had gone very far wrong indeed, but no one could
make head or tail of the matter.
At this moment there was a furious ring at the bell, and
a great knock at the door—exactly similar to the one which
had startled the company at Gania’s house in the after-
noon.
‘Ah, ah! here’s the climax at last, at half-past twelve!’ cried
Nastasia Philipovna. ‘Sit down, gentlemen, I beg you. Some-
thing is about to happen.’
So saying, she reseated herself; a strange smile played on
her lips. She sat quite still, but watched the door in a fever
of impatience.
‘Rogojin and his hundred thousand roubles, no doubt of
it,’ muttered Ptitsin to himself.