Page 445 - the-idiot

ing he had started for Petersburg. Lebedeff also was away on
business. But Gavrila Ardalionovitch had promised to visit
Muishkin, who eagerly awaited his coming.
About seven in the evening, soon after dinner, he arrived.
At the first glance it struck the prince that he, at any rate,
must know all the details of last night’s affair. Indeed, it
would have been impossible for him to remain in ignorance
considering the intimate relationship between him, Varvara
Ardalionovna, and Ptitsin. But although he and the prince
were intimate, in a sense, and although the latter had placed
the Burdovsky affair in his hands-and this was not the only
mark of confidence he had received—it seemed curious
how many matters there were that were tacitly avoided in
their conversations. Muishkin thought that Gania at times
appeared to desire more cordiality and frankness. It was ap-
parent now, when he entered, that he, was convinced that
the moment for breaking the ice between them had come
at last.
But all the same Gania was in haste, for his sister was
waiting at Lebedeff’s to consult him on an urgent matter of
business. If he had anticipated impatient questions, or im-
pulsive confidences, he was soon undeceived. The prince
was thoughtful, reserved, even a little absent-minded, and
asked none of the questions—one in particular—that Ga-
nia had expected. So he imitated the prince’s demeanour,
and talked fast and brilliantly upon all subjects but the one
on which their thoughts were engaged. Among other things
Gania told his host that Nastasia Philipovna had been only
four days in Pavlofsk, and that everyone was talking about

The Idiot