Page 265 - the-idiot

Princess Bielokonski, who had given her most comforting
news about ‘that queer young prince.’ Her friend had hunt-
ed him up, and found that all was going well with him. He
had since called in person upon her, making an extremely
favourable impression, for the princess had received him
each day since, and had introduced him into several good
houses.
The girls could see that their mother concealed a great
deal from them, and left out large pieces of the letter in
reading it to them.
However, the ice was broken, and it suddenly became
possible to mention the prince’s name again. And again it
became evident how very strong was the impression the
young man had made in the household by his one visit there.
Mrs. Epanchin was surprised at the effect which the news
from Moscow had upon the girls, and they were no less sur-
prised that after solemnly remarking that her most striking
characteristic was ‘being mistaken in people’ she should
have troubled to obtain for the prince the favour and protec-
tion of so powerful an old lady as the Princess Bielokonski.
As soon as the ice was thus broken, the general lost no time
in showing that he, too, took the greatest interest in the
subject. He admitted that he was interested, but said that it
was merely in the business side of the question. It appeared
that, in the interests of the prince, he had made arrange-
ments in Moscow for a careful watch to be kept upon the
prince’s business affairs, and especially upon Salaskin. All
that had been said as to the prince being an undoubted heir
to a fortune turned out to be perfectly true; but the fortune

The Idiot