Page 391 - the-idiot

‘Allow me—‘
‘Sir—‘
‘What? What? What?’ cried all the visitors at once, in vio-
lent agitation.
‘As to the article,’ said Hippolyte in his croaking voice,
‘I have told you already that we none of us approve of it!
There is the writer,’ he added, pointing to the boxer, who
sat beside him. ‘I quite admit that he has written it in his
old regimental manner, with an equal disregard for style
and decency. I know he is a cross between a fool and an ad-
venturer; I make no bones about telling him so to his face
every day. But after all he is half justified; publicity is the
lawful right of every man; consequently, Burdovsky is not
excepted. Let him answer for his own blunders. As to the
objection which I made just now in the name of all, to the
presence of your friends, I think I ought to explain, gentle-
men, that I only did so to assert our rights, though we really
wished to have witnesses; we had agreed unanimously upon
the point before we came in. We do not care who your wit-
nesses may be, or whether they are your friends or not. As
they cannot fail to recognize Burdovsky’s right (seeing that
it is mathematically demonstrable), it is just as well that the
witnesses should be your friends. The truth will only be
more plainly evident.’
‘It is quite true; we had agreed upon that point,’ said Leb-
edeff’s nephew, in confirmation.
‘If that is the case, why did you begin by making such a
fuss about it?’ asked the astonished prince.
The boxer was dying to get in a few words; owing, no

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