Page 522 - the-idiot

here. You know what sort of people surround her nowadays,
and solicit the honour of her ‘acquaintance.’ Of course she
might easily have heard the news from someone coming
from town. All Petersburg, if not all Pavlofsk, knows it by
now. Look at the slyness of her observation about Evgenie’s
uniform! I mean, her remark that he had retired just in time!
There’s a venomous hint for you, if you like! No, no! there’s
no insanity there! Of course I refuse to believe that Evgenie
Pavlovitch could have known beforehand of the catastrophe;
that is, that at such and such a day at seven o’clock, and all
that; but he might well have had a presentiment of the truth.
And I—all of us—Prince S. and everybody, believed that he
was to inherit a large fortune from this uncle. It’s dread-
ful, horrible! Mind, I don’t suspect Evgenie of anything, be
quite clear on that point; but the thing is a little suspicious,
nevertheless. Prince S. can’t get over it. Altogether it is a
very extraordinary combination of circumstances.’
‘What suspicion attaches to Evgenie Pavlovitch?’
‘Oh, none at all! He has behaved very well indeed. I didn’t
mean to drop any sort of hint. His own fortune is intact, I
believe. Lizabetha Prokofievna, of course, refuses to listen
to anything. That’s the worst of it all, these family catas-
trophes or quarrels, or whatever you like to call them. You
know, prince, you are a friend of the family, so I don’t mind
telling you; it now appears that Evgenie Pavlovitch pro-
posed to Aglaya a month ago, and was refused.’
‘Impossible!’ cried the prince.
‘Why? Do you know anything about it? Look here,’ con-
tinued the general, more agitated than ever, and trembling

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