Page 531 - the-idiot

like assumed ease and freedom. However, the prince soon
changed his mind on this score, and thought that there was
not only no affectation of indifference, but that Rogojin was
not even particularly agitated. If there were a little appar-
ent awkwardness, it was only in his words and gestures. The
man could not change his heart.
‘How did you—find me here?’ asked the prince for the
sake of saying something.
‘Keller told me (I found him at your place) that you were
in the park. ‘Of course he is!’ I thought.’
‘Why so?’ asked the prince uneasily.
Rogojin smiled, but did not explain.
‘I received your letter, Lef Nicolaievitch—what’s the good
of all that?—It’s no use, you know. I’ve come to you from
HER,—she bade me tell you that she must see you, she has
something to say to you. She told me to find you today.’
‘I’ll come tomorrow. Now I’m going home—are you com-
ing to my house?’
‘Why should I? I’ve given you the message.—Goodbye!’
‘Won’t you come?’ asked the prince in a gentle voice.
‘What an extraordinary man you are! I wonder at you!’
Rogojin laughed sarcastically.
‘Why do you hate me so?’ asked the prince, sadly. ‘You
know yourself that all you suspected is quite unfounded. I
felt you were still angry with me, though. Do you know why?
Because you tried to kill me—that’s why you can’t shake off
your wrath against me. I tell you that I only remember the
Parfen Rogojin with whom I exchanged crosses, and vowed
brotherhood. I wrote you this in yesterday’s letter, in order

0 The Idiot