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proved to be much smaller than was at first reported. The
estate was considerably encumbered with debts; creditors
turned up on all sides, and the prince, in spite of all advice
and entreaty, insisted upon managing all matters of claim
himself—which, of course, meant satisfying everybody all
round, although half the claims were absolutely fraudulent.
Mrs. Epanchin confirmed all this. She said the princess
had written to much the same effect, and added that there
was no curing a fool. But it was plain, from her expression
of face, how strongly she approved of this particular young
fool’s doings. In conclusion, the general observed that his
wife took as great an interest in the prince as though he
were her own son; and that she had commenced to be espe-
cially affectionate towards Aglaya was a self-evident fact.
All this caused the general to look grave and important.
But, alas! this agreeable state of affairs very soon changed
once more.
A couple of weeks went by, and suddenly the general and
his wife were once more gloomy and silent, and the ice was
as firm as ever. The fact was, the general, who had heard first,
how Nastasia Philipovna had fled to Moscow and had been
discovered there by Rogojin; that she had then disappeared
once more, and been found again by Rogojin, and how after
that she had almost promised to marry him, now received
news that she had once more disappeared, almost on the
very day fixed for her wedding, flying somewhere into the
interior of Russia this time, and that Prince Muishkin had
left all his affairs in the hands of Salaskin and disappeared
also—but whether he was with Nastasia, or had only set off