Page 441 - the-idiot

health. They had wandered out for a walk, and called in ‘by
accident,’ and talked for almost the whole of the time they
were with him about a certain most lovely tree in the park,
which Adelaida had set her heart upon for a picture. This,
and a little amiable conversation on Prince S.’s part, occu-
pied the time, and not a word was said about last evening’s
episodes. At length Adelaida burst out laughing, apolo-
gized, and explained that they had come incognito; from
which, and from the circumstance that they said nothing
about the prince’s either walking back with them or coming
to see them later on, the latter inferred that he was in Mrs.
Epanchin’s black books. Adelaida mentioned a watercolour
that she would much like to show him, and explained that
she would either send it by Colia, or bring it herself the next
day— which to the prince seemed very suggestive.
At length, however, just as the visitors were on the point
of departing, Prince S. seemed suddenly to recollect him-
self. ‘Oh yes, by-the-by,’ he said, ‘do you happen to know,
my dear Lef Nicolaievitch, who that lady was who called out
to Evgenie Pavlovitch last night, from the carriage?’
‘It was Nastasia Philipovna,’ said the prince; ‘didn’t you
know that? I cannot tell you who her companion was.’
‘But what on earth did she mean? I assure you it is a real
riddle to me—to me, and to others, too!’ Prince S. seemed
to be under the influence of sincere astonishment.
‘She spoke of some bills of Evgenie Pavlovitch’s,’ said the
prince, simply, ‘which Rogojin had bought up from some-
one; and implied that Rogojin would not press him.’
‘Oh, I heard that much, my dear fellow! But the thing is so

0 The Idiot