Page 302 - the-idiot

ly. If this marriage were to be broken off again, I admit I
should be greatly pleased; but at the same time I have not
the slightest intention of trying to part you. You may be
quite easy in your mind, and you need not suspect me. You
know yourself whether I was ever really your rival or not,
even when she ran away and came to me.
‘There, you are laughing at me—I know why you laugh.
It is perfectly true that we lived apart from one another all
the time, in different towns. I told you before that I did not
love her with love, but with pity! You said then that you un-
derstood me; did you really understand me or not? What
hatred there is in your eyes at this moment! I came to re-
lieve your mind, because you are dear to me also. I love you
very much, Parfen; and now I shall go away and never come
back again. Goodbye.’
The prince rose.
‘Stay a little,’ said Parfen, not leaving his chair and rest-
ing his head on his right hand. ‘I haven’t seen you for a long
time.’
The prince sat down again. Both were silent for a few mo-
ments.
‘When you are not with me I hate you, Lef Nicolaievitch.
I have loathed you every day of these three months since I
last saw you. By heaven I have!’ said Rogojin.’ I could have
poisoned you at any minute. Now, you have been with me
but a quarter of an hour, and all my malice seems to have
melted away, and you are as dear to me as ever. Stay here a
little longer.’
‘When I am with you you trust me; but as soon as my

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