Page 390 - the-idiot

of vulgar and undeveloped mind; we will openly deny you
the right to speak in future of your honour and conscience,
for you have not paid the fair price of such a right. I have no
more to say—I have put the question before you. Now turn
us out if you dare. You can do it; force is on your side. But
remember that we do not beseech, we demand! We do not
beseech, we demand!’
With these last excited words, Lebedeff’s nephew was si-
lent.
‘We demand, we demand, we demand, we do not be-
seech,’ spluttered Burdovsky, red as a lobster.
The speech of Lebedeff’s nephew caused a certain stir
among the company; murmurs arose, though with the
exception of Lebedeff, who was still very much excited, ev-
eryone was careful not to interfere in the matter. Strangely
enough, Lebedeff, although on the prince’s side, seemed
quite proud of his nephew’s eloquence. Gratified vanity was
visible in the glances he cast upon the assembled company.
‘In my opinion, Mr. Doktorenko,’ said the prince, in rath-
er a low voice, ‘you are quite right in at least half of what you
say. I would go further and say that you are altogether right,
and that I quite agree with you, if there were not something
lacking in your speech. I cannot undertake to say precisely
what it is, but you have certainly omitted something, and
you cannot be quite just while there is something lacking.
But let us put that aside and return to the point. Tell me
what induced you to publish this article. Every word of it
is a calumny, and I think, gentlemen, that you have been
guilty of a mean action.’