Page 263 - the-idiot

was now not only unable to support his family, but even re-
quired help himself.
We may mention that Gania was no longer mentioned
in the Epanchin household any more than the prince was;
but that a certain circumstance in connection with the fatal
evening at Nastasia’s house became known to the general,
and, in fact, to all the family the very next day. This fact was
that Gania had come home that night, but had refused to go
to bed. He had awaited the prince’s return from Ekaterin-
hof with feverish impatience.
On the latter’s arrival, at six in the morning, Gania had
gone to him in his room, bringing with him the singed
packet of money, which he had insisted that the prince
should return to Nastasia Philipovna without delay. It was
said that when Gania entered the prince’s room, he came
with anything but friendly feelings, and in a condition of
despair and misery; but that after a short conversation, he
had stayed on for a couple of hours with him, sobbing con-
tinuously and bitterly the whole time. They had parted upon
terms of cordial friendship.
The Epanchins heard about this, as well as about the epi-
sode at Nastasia Philipovna’s. It was strange, perhaps, that
the facts should become so quickly, and fairly accurate-
ly, known. As far as Gania was concerned, it might have
been supposed that the news had come through Varvara
Ardalionovna, who had suddenly become a frequent visi-
tor of the Epanchin girls, greatly to their mother’s surprise.
But though Varvara had seen fit, for some reason, to make
friends with them, it was not likely that she would have

The Idiot