Page 488 - the-idiot

‘A special case—accidental, of course!’ cried Alexandra
and Adelaida.
‘Let me remind you once more, Evgenie,’ said Prince S.,
‘that your joke is getting a little threadbare.’
‘What do you think about it, prince?’ asked Evgenie, tak-
ing no notice of the last remark, and observing Muishkin’s
serious eyes fixed upon his face. ‘What do you think—was
it a special or a usual case—the rule, or an exception? I con-
fess I put the question especially for you.’
‘No, I don’t think it was a special case,’ said the prince,
quietly, but firmly.
‘My dear fellow!’ cried Prince S., with some annoyance,
‘don’t you see that he is chaffing you? He is simply laughing
at you, and wants to make game of you.’
‘I thought Evgenie Pavlovitch was talking seriously,’ said
the prince, blushing and dropping his eyes.
‘My dear prince,’ continued Prince S. ‘remember what
you and I were saying two or three months ago. We spoke
of the fact that in our newly opened Law Courts one could
already lay one’s finger upon so many talented and remark-
able young barristers. How pleased you were with the state
of things as we found it, and how glad I was to observe your
delight! We both said it was a matter to be proud of; but this
clumsy defence that Evgenie mentions, this strange argu-
ment CAN, of course, only be an accidental case —one in
a thousand!’
The prince reflected a little, but very soon he replied,
with absolute conviction in his tone, though he still spoke
somewhat shyly and timidly: