Page 460 - the-idiot

XII

T was seven in the evening, and the prince was just pre-
Iparing to go out for a walk in the park, when suddenly
Mrs. Epanchin appeared on the terrace.
‘In the first place, don’t dare to suppose,’ she began, ‘that
I am going to apologize. Nonsense! You were entirely to
blame.’
The prince remained silent.
‘Were you to blame, or not?’
‘No, certainly not, no more than yourself, though at first
I thought I was.’
‘Oh, very well, let’s sit down, at all events, for I don’t in-
tend to stand up all day. And remember, if you say, one
word about ‘mischievous urchins,’ I shall go away and break
with you altogether. Now then, did you, or did you not, send
a letter to Aglaya, a couple of months or so ago, about Eas-
ter-tide?’
‘Yes!’
‘What for? What was your object? Show me the letter.’
Mrs. Epanchin’s eyes flashed; she was almost trembling
with impatience.
‘I have not got the letter,’ said the prince, timidly, ex-
tremely surprised at the turn the conversation had taken.
‘If anyone has it, if it still exists, Aglaya Ivanovna must have
it.’