Page 299 - the-idiot

prince
‘Yes, I’m at home. Where else should I go to?’
‘We haven’t met for some time. Meanwhile I have heard
things about you which I should not have believed to be
possible.’
‘What of that? People will say anything,’ said Rogojin
drily.
‘At all events, you’ve disbanded your troop—and you are
living in your own house instead of being fast and loose
about the place; that’s all very good. Is this house all yours,
or joint property?’
‘It is my mother’s. You get to her apartments by that pas-
sage.’
‘Where’s your brother?’
‘In the other wing.’
‘Is he married?’
‘Widower. Why do you want to know all this?’
The prince looked at him, but said nothing. He had sud-
denly relapsed into musing, and had probably not heard the
question at all. Rogojin did not insist upon an answer, and
there was silence for a few moments.
‘I guessed which was your house from a hundred yards
off,’ said the prince at last.
‘Why so?’
‘I don’t quite know. Your house has the aspect of yourself
and all your family; it bears the stamp of the Rogojin life;
but ask me why I think so, and I can tell you nothing. It is
nonsense, of course. I am nervous about this kind of thing
troubling me so much. I had never before imagined what

The Idiot