Page 425 - the-idiot

tention of a person interested in contemporary life. I stayed
myself, just as I sometimes stop to look on in the street when
I see something that may be regarded as-as-as-”
‘As a curiosity,’ suggested Evgenie Pavlovitch, seeing his
excellency involved in a comparison which he could not
complete.
‘That is exactly the word I wanted,’ said the general with
satisfaction—‘ a curiosity. However, the most astonishing
and, if I may so express myself, the most painful, thing
in this matter, is that you cannot even understand, young
man, that Lizabetha Prokofievna, only stayed with you be-
cause you are ill, —if you really are dying—moved by the
pity awakened by your plaintive appeal, and that her name,
character, and social position place her above all risk of
contamination. Lizabetha Prokofievna!’ he continued, now
crimson with rage, ‘if you are coming, we will say good-
night to the prince, and—‘
‘Thank you for the lesson, general,’ said Hippolyte, with
unexpected gravity, regarding him thoughtfully.
‘Two minutes more, if you please, dear Ivan Fedorovitch,’
said Lizabetha Prokofievna to her husband; ‘it seems to me
that he is in a fever and delirious; you can see by his eyes
what a state he is in; it is impossible to let him go back to
Petersburg tonight. Can you put him up, Lef Nicolaievitch?
I hope you are not bored, dear prince,’ she added suddenly
to Prince S. ‘Alexandra, my dear, come here! Your hair is
coming down.’
She arranged her daughter’s hair, which was not in the
least disordered, and gave her a kiss. This was all that she

The Idiot