Page 51 - the-idiot

matter another time, and if you are the upright, honest man
you look, I anticipate very little trouble between us on that
score. Taking so much interest in you as you may perceive
I do, I am not without my object, and you shall know it in
good time. You see, I am perfectly candid with you. I hope,
Gania, you have nothing to say against the prince’s taking
up his abode in your house?’
‘Oh, on the contrary! my mother will be very glad,’ said
Gania, courteously and kindly.
‘I think only one of your rooms is engaged as yet, is it not?
That fellow Ferd-Ferd—‘
‘Ferdishenko.’
‘Yes—I don’t like that Ferdishenko. I can’t understand
why Nastasia Philipovna encourages him so. Is he really her
cousin, as he says?’
‘Oh dear no, it’s all a joke. No more cousin than I am.’
‘Well, what do you think of the arrangement, prince?’
‘Thank you, general; you have behaved very kindly to me;
all the more so since I did not ask you to help me. I don’t
say that out of pride. I certainly did not know where to lay
my head tonight. Rogojin asked me to come to his house, of
course, but—‘
‘Rogojin? No, no, my good fellow. I should strongly rec-
ommend you, paternally,—or, if you prefer it, as a friend,—to
forget all about Rogojin, and, in fact, to stick to the family
into which you are about to enter.’
‘Thank you,’ began the prince; ‘and since you are so very
kind there is just one matter which I—‘
‘You must really excuse me,’ interrupted the general,

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