Page 407 - the-idiot

Mr. Burdovsky, heard this conjecture, and did not hesitate
to accept it as true. I have had the honour of making your
mother’s acquaintance, and I find that she knows all about
these reports. What she does not know is that you, her son,
should have listened to them so complaisantly. I found your
respected mother at Pskoff, ill and in deep poverty, as she
has been ever since the death of your benefactor. She told
me with tears of gratitude how you had supported her; she
expects much of you, and believes fervently in your future
success...’
‘Oh, this is unbearable!’ said Lebedeff’s nephew impa-
tiently. ‘What is the good of all this romancing?’
‘It is revolting and unseemly!’ cried Hippolyte, jumping
up in a fury.
Burdovsky alone sat silent and motionless.
‘What is the good of it?’ repeated Gavrila Ardalionovitch,
with pretended surprise. ‘Well, firstly, because now perhaps
Mr. Burdovsky is quite convinced that Mr. Pavlicheff’s love
for him came simply from generosity of soul, and not from
paternal duty. It was most necessary to impress this fact
upon his mind, considering that he approved of the article
written by Mr. Keller. I speak thus because I look on you,
Mr. Burdovsky, as an honourable man. Secondly, it appears
that there was no intention of cheating in this case, even
on the part of Tchebaroff. I wish to say this quite plainly,
because the prince hinted a while ago that I too thought it
an attempt at robbery and extortion. On the contrary, ev-
eryone has been quite sincere in the matter, and although
Tchebaroff may be somewhat of a rogue, in this business he

0 The Idiot