Page 463 - the-idiot

to your account.’
She was silent a moment to get breath, and to recover her
composure.
‘Well!—and what’s the meaning of the ‘poor knight,’ eh?’
‘I don’t know in the least; I wasn’t present when the joke
was made. It IS a joke. I suppose, and that’s all.’
‘Well, that’s a comfort, at all events. You don’t suppose
she could take any interest in you, do you? Why, she called
you an ‘idiot’ herself.’
‘I think you might have spared me that,’ murmured the
prince reproachfully, almost in a whisper.
‘Don’t be angry; she is a wilful, mad, spoilt girl. If she
likes a person she will pitch into him, and chaff him. I used
to be just such another. But for all that you needn’t flatter
yourself, my boy; she is not for you. I don’t believe it, and it
is not to be. I tell you so at once, so that you may take proper
precautions. Now, I want to hear you swear that you are not
married to that woman?’
‘Lizabetha Prokofievna, what are you thinking of?’ cried
the prince, almost leaping to his feet in amazement.
‘Why? You very nearly were, anyhow.’
‘Yes—I nearly was,’ whispered the prince, hanging his
head.
‘Well then, have you come here for HER? Are you in love
with HER? With THAT creature?’
‘I did not come to marry at all,’ replied the prince.
‘Is there anything you hold sacred?’
‘There is.’
‘Then swear by it that you did not come here to marry

The Idiot