Page 49 - the-idiot

play to his imagination, and follow the inspiration of his
genius, but a soldier is only at ease in the guard-room, and
the pen stops half-way, a slave to discipline. How delightful!
The first time I met an example of this handwriting, I was
positively astonished, and where do you think I chanced to
find it? In Switzerland, of all places! Now that is an ordinary
English hand. It can hardly be improved, it is so refined and
exquisite—almost perfection. This is an example of another
kind, a mixture of styles. The copy was given me by a French
commercial traveller. It is founded on the English, but the
downstrokes are a little blacker, and more marked. No-
tice that the oval has some slight modification—it is more
rounded. This writing allows for flourishes; now a flourish
is a dangerous thing! Its use requires such taste, but, if suc-
cessful, what a distinction it gives to the whole! It results in
an incomparable type—one to fall in love with!’
‘Dear me! How you have gone into all the refinements
and details of the question! Why, my dear fellow, you are
not a caligraphist, you are an artist! Eh, Gania ?’
‘Wonderful!’ said Gania. ‘And he knows it too,’ he added,
with a sarcastic smile.
‘You may smile,—but there’s a career in this,’ said the
general. ‘You don’t know what a great personage I shall
show this to, prince. Why, you can command a situation
at thirty-five roubles per month to start with. However, it’s
half-past twelve,’ he concluded, looking at his watch; ‘so
to business, prince, for I must be setting to work and shall
not see you again today. Sit down a minute. I have told you
that I cannot receive you myself very often, but I should like

The Idiot