Page 388 - the-idiot

given the matter publicity, why did you object just now,
when I began to speak of it to my friends?’
‘At last!’ murmured Lizabetha Prokofievna indignantly.
Lebedeff could restrain himself no longer; he made his
way through the row of chairs.
‘Prince,’ he cried, ‘you are forgetting that if you consent-
ed to receive and hear them, it was only because of your
kind heart which has no equal, for they had not the least
right to demand it, especially as you had placed the mat-
ter in the hands of Gavrila Ardalionovitch, which was also
extremely kind of you. You are also forgetting, most excel-
lent prince, that you are with friends, a select company; you
cannot sacrifice them to these gentlemen, and it is only for
you to have them turned out this instant. As the master of
the house I shall have great pleasure ....’
‘Quite right!’ agreed General Ivolgin in a loud voice.
‘That will do, Lebedeff, that will do—‘ began the prince,
when an indignant outcry drowned his words.
‘Excuse me, prince, excuse me, but now that will not do,’
shouted Lebedeff’s nephew, his voice dominating all the
others. ‘The matter must be clearly stated, for it is obvious-
ly not properly understood. They are calling in some legal
chicanery, and upon that ground they are threatening to
turn us out of the house! Really, prince, do you think we are
such fools as not to be aware that this matter does not come
within the law, and that legally we cannot claim a rouble
from you? But we are also aware that if actual law is not on
our side, human law is for us, natural law, the law of com-
mon-sense and conscience, which is no less binding upon