Page 426 - the-idiot

had called her for.
‘I thought you were capable of development,’ said Hip-
polyte, coming out of his fit of abstraction. ‘Yes, that is what
I meant to say,’ he added, with the satisfaction of one who
suddenly remembers something he had forgotten. ‘Here is
Burdovsky, sincerely anxious to protect his mother; is not
that so? And he himself is the cause of her disgrace. The
prince is anxious to help Burdovsky and offers him friend-
ship and a large sum of money, in the sincerity of his heart.
And here they stand like two sworn enemies—ha, ha, ha!
You all hate Burdovsky because his behaviour with regard
to his mother is shocking and repugnant to you; do you
not? Is not that true? Is it not true? You all have a passion
for beauty and distinction in outward forms; that is all you
care for, isn’t it? I have suspected for a long time that you
cared for nothing else! Well, let me tell you that perhaps
there is not one of you who loved your mother as Burdo-
vsky loved his. As to you, prince, I know that you have sent
money secretly to Burdovsky’s mother through Gania. Well,
I bet now,’ he continued with an hysterical laugh, ‘that Bur-
dovsky will accuse you of indelicacy, and reproach you with
a want of respect for his mother! Yes, that is quite certain!
Ha, ha, ha!’
He caught his breath, and began to cough once more.
‘Come, that is enough! That is all now; you have no more
to say? Now go to bed; you are burning with fever,’ said Liz-
abetha Prokofievna impatiently. Her anxious eyes had never
left the invalid. ‘Good heavens, he is going to begin again!’
‘You are laughing, I think? Why do you keep laughing