Page 420 - the-idiot

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FTER moistening his lips with the tea which Vera Leb-
Aedeff brought him, Hippolyte set the cup down on the
table, and glanced round. He seemed confused and almost
at a loss.
‘Just look, Lizabetha Prokofievna,’ he began, with a kind
of feverish haste; ‘these china cups are supposed to be ex-
tremely valuable. Lebedeff always keeps them locked up
in his chinacupboard; they were part of his wife’s dowry.
Yet he has brought them out tonight—in your honour, of
course! He is so pleased—‘ He was about to add something
else, but could not find the words.
‘There, he is feeling embarrassed; I expected as much,’
whispered Evgenie Pavlovitch suddenly in the prince’s ear.
‘It is a bad sign; what do you think? Now, out of spite, he
will come out with something so outrageous that even Liza-
betha Prokofievna will not be able to stand it.’
Muishkin looked at him inquiringly.
‘You do not care if he does?’ added Evgenie Pavlovitch.
‘Neither do I; in fact, I should be glad, merely as a proper
punishment for our dear Lizabetha Prokofievna. I am very
anxious that she should get it, without delay, and I shall stay
till she does. You seem feverish.’
‘Never mind; by-and-by; yes, I am not feeling well,’ said
the prince impatiently, hardly listening. He had just heard

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