Page 321 - the-idiot

Parfen! there is work to be done; there is work to be done in
this Russian world! Remember what talks we used to have
in Moscow! And I never wished to come here at all; and
I never thought to meet you like this, Parfen! Well, well—
good-bye—good-bye! God be with you!’
He turned and went downstairs.
‘Lef Nicolaievitch!’ cried Parfen, before he had reached
the next landing. ‘Have you got that cross you bought from
the soldier with you?’
‘Yes, I have,’ and the prince stopped again.
‘Show it me, will you?’
A new fancy! The prince reflected, and then mounted the
stairs once more. He pulled out the cross without taking it
off his neck.
‘Give it to me,’ said Parfen.
‘Why? do you—‘
The prince would rather have kept this particular cross.
‘I’ll wear it; and you shall have mine. I’ll take it off at
once.’
‘You wish to exchange crosses? Very well, Parfen, if that’s
the case, I’m glad enough—that makes us brothers, you
know.’
The prince took off his tin cross, Parfen his gold one, and
the exchange was made.
Parfen was silent. With sad surprise the prince observed
that the look of distrust, the bitter, ironical smile, had still
not altogether left his newly-adopted brother’s face. At mo-
ments, at all events, it showed itself but too plainly,
At last Rogojin took the prince’s hand, and stood so for

0 The Idiot