Page 252 - the-idiot

‘Oughtn’t-oughtn’t we to secure her?’ asked the general
of Ptitsin, in a whisper; ‘or shall we send for the authorities?
Why, she’s mad, isn’t she—isn’t she, eh?’
‘N-no, I hardly think she is actually mad,’ whispered Ptit-
sin, who was as white as his handkerchief, and trembling
like a leaf. He could not take his eyes off the smouldering
packet.
‘She’s mad surely, isn’t she?’ the general appealed to Tots-
ki.
‘I told you she wasn’t an ordinary woman,’ replied the lat-
ter, who was as pale as anyone.
‘Oh, but, positively, you know—a hundred thousand rou-
bles!’
‘Goodness gracious! good heavens!’ came from all quar-
ters of the room.
All now crowded round the fire and thronged to see what
was going on; everyone lamented and gave vent to excla-
mations of horror and woe. Some jumped up on chairs in
order to get a better view. Daria Alexeyevna ran into the
next room and whispered excitedly to Katia and Pasha. The
beautiful German disappeared altogether.
‘My lady! my sovereign!’ lamented Lebedeff, falling on
his knees before Nastasia Philipovna, and stretching out
his hands towards the fire; ‘it’s a hundred thousand rou-
bles, it is indeed, I packed it up myself, I saw the money!
My queen, let me get into the fire after it—say the word-I’ll
put my whole grey head into the fire for it! I have a poor
lame wife and thirteen children. My father died of starva-
tion last week. Nastasia Philipovna, Nastasia Philipovna!’

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