Page 255 - the-idiot

DAMN the thing!’
Gania hurled Ferdishenko from him; then he turned
sharp round and made for the door. But he had not gone a
couple of steps when he tottered and fell to the ground.
‘He’s fainted!’ the cry went round.
‘And the money’s burning still,’ Lebedeff lamented.
‘Burning for nothing,’ shouted others.
‘Katia-Pasha! Bring him some water!’ cried Nastasia Phil-
ipovna. Then she took the tongs and fished out the packet.
Nearly the whole of the outer covering was burned
away, but it was soon evident that the contents were hardly
touched. The packet had been wrapped in a threefold cov-
ering of newspaper, and the, notes were safe. All breathed
more freely.
‘Some dirty little thousand or so may be touched,’ said
Lebedeff, immensely relieved, ‘but there’s very little harm
done, after all.’
‘It’s all his—the whole packet is for him, do you hear—
all of you?’ cried Nastasia Philipovna, placing the packet by
the side of Gania. ‘He restrained himself, and didn’t go after
it; so his self-respect is greater than his thirst for money. All
right— he’ll come to directly—he must have the packet or
he’ll cut his throat afterwards. There! He’s coming to him-
self. General, Totski, all of you, did you hear me? The money
is all Gania’s. I give it to him, fully conscious of my action,
as recompense for— well, for anything he thinks best. Tell
him so. Let it lie here beside him. Off we go, Rogojin! Good-
bye, prince. I have seen a man for the first time in my life.
Goodbye, Afanasy Ivanovitch— and thanks!’

The Idiot