Page 292 - the-idiot

The prince rose from his seat, and Lebedeff, surprised to
see his guest preparing to go so soon, remarked: ‘You are
not interested?’ in a respectful tone.
‘I am not very well, and my head aches. Doubtless the ef-
fect of the journey,’ replied the prince, frowning.
‘You should go into the country,’ said Lebedeff timidly.
The prince seemed to be considering the suggestion.
‘You see, I am going into the country myself in three days,
with my children and belongings. The little one is delicate;
she needs change of air; and during our absence this house
will be done up. I am going to Pavlofsk.’
‘You are going to Pavlofsk too?’ asked the prince sharply.
‘Everybody seems to be going there. Have you a house in
that neighbourhood?’
‘I don’t know of many people going to Pavlofsk, and as
for the house, Ivan Ptitsin has let me one of his villas rather
cheaply. It is a pleasant place, lying on a hill surrounded by
trees, and one can live there for a mere song. There is good
music to be heard, so no wonder it is popular. I shall stay in
the lodge. As to the villa itself. . ‘
‘Have you let it?’
‘N-no—not exactly.’
‘Let it to me,’ said the prince.
Now this was precisely what Lebedeff had made up his
mind to do in the last three minutes. Not that he bad any
difficulty in finding a tenant; in fact the house was occupied
at present by a chance visitor, who had told Lebedeff that
he would perhaps take it for the summer months. The clerk
knew very well that this ‘PERHAPS’ meant ‘CERTAINLY,’

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