Page 242 - the-idiot

‘One thing I may tell you, for certain,’ concluded Ptitsin,
addressing the prince, ‘that there is no question about the
authenticity of this matter. Anything that Salaskin writes
you as regards your unquestionable right to this inheri-
tance, you may look upon as so much money in your pocket.
I congratulate you, prince; you may receive a million and a
half of roubles, perhaps more; I don’t know. All I DO know
is that Paparchin was a very rich merchant indeed.’
‘Hurrah!’ cried Lebedeff, in a drunken voice. ‘Hurrah for
the last of the Muishkins!’
‘My goodness me! and I gave him twenty-five roubles this
morning as though he were a beggar,’ blurted out the gen-
eral, half senseless with amazement. ‘Well, I congratulate
you, I congratulate you!’ And the general rose from his seat
and solemnly embraced the prince. All came forward with
congratulations; even those of Rogojin’s party who had re-
treated into the next room, now crept softly back to look on.
For the moment even Nastasia Philipovna was forgotten.
But gradually the consciousness crept back into the
minds of each one present that the prince had just made her
an offer of marriage. The situation had, therefore, become
three times as fantastic as before.
Totski sat and shrugged his shoulders, bewildered. He
was the only guest left sitting at this time; the others had
thronged round the table in disorder, and were all talking
at once.
It was generally agreed, afterwards, in recalling that eve-
ning, that from this moment Nastasia Philipovna seemed
entirely to lose her senses. She continued to sit still in her

1