Page 45 - the-idiot

but proud. She was rather thin, perhaps, and a little pale.
Both Gania and the general gazed at the prince in amaze-
ment.
‘How do you know it’s Nastasia Philipovna?’ asked the
general; ‘you surely don’t know her already, do you? ‘
‘Yes, I do! I have only been one day in Russia, but I have
heard of the great beauty!’ And the prince proceeded to
narrate his meeting with Rogojin in the train and the whole
of the latter’s story.
‘There’s news!’ said the general in some excitement, after
listening to the story with engrossed attention.
‘Oh, of course it’s nothing but humbug!’ cried Gania, a
little disturbed, however. ‘It’s all humbug; the young mer-
chant was pleased to indulge in a little innocent recreation!
I have heard something of Rogojin!’
‘Yes, so have I!’ replied the general. ‘Nastasia Philipovna
told us all about the earrings that very day. But now it is
quite a different matter. You see the fellow really has a mil-
lion of roubles, and he is passionately in love. The whole
story smells of passion, and we all know what this class of
gentry is capable of when infatuated. I am much afraid of
some disagreeable scandal, I am indeed!’
‘You are afraid of the million, I suppose,’ said Gania,
grinning and showing his teeth.
‘And you are NOT, I presume, eh?’
‘How did he strike you, prince?’ asked Gania, suddenly.
‘Did he seem to be a serious sort of a man, or just a com-
mon rowdy fellow? What was your own opinion about the
matter?’

The Idiot