Page 511 - the-idiot

across the face of her insulter.
All this occurred, of course, in one instant of time.
The young officer, forgetting himself, sprang towards
her. Nastasia’s followers were not by her at the moment
(the elderly gentleman having disappeared altogether, and
the younger man simply standing aside and roaring with
laughter).
In another moment, of course, the police would have
been on the spot, and it would have gone hard with Nasta-
sia Philipovna had not unexpected aid appeared.
Muishkin, who was but a couple of steps away, had time
to spring forward and seize the officer’s arms from behind.
The officer, tearing himself from the prince’s grasp,
pushed him so violently backwards that he staggered a few
steps and then subsided into a chair.
But there were other defenders for Nastasia on the spot
by this time. The gentleman known as the ‘boxer’ now con-
fronted the enraged officer.
‘Keller is my name, sir; ex-lieutenant,’ he said, very loud.
‘If you will accept me as champion of the fair sex, I am at
your disposal. English boxing has no secrets from me. I
sympathize with you for the insult you have received, but
I can’t permit you to raise your hand against a woman in
public. If you prefer to meet me—as would be more fitting
to your rank—in some other manner, of course you under-
stand me, captain.’
But the young officer had recovered himself, and was
no longer listening. At this moment Rogojin appeared, el-
bowing through the crowd; he took Nastasia’s hand, drew

10 The Idiot