Page 543 - the-idiot

pressing, still I determined not to go away until I had seen
you, and had a clear understanding with you upon certain
points; and that without loss of time. I will wait now, if you
will allow me, until the company departs; I may just as well,
for I have nowhere else to go to, and I shall certainly not do
any sleeping tonight; I’m far too excited. And finally, I must
confess that, though I know it is bad form to pursue a man
in this way, I have come to beg your friendship, my dear
prince. You are an unusual sort of a person; you don’t lie at
every step, as some men do; in fact, you don’t lie at all, and
there is a matter in which I need a true and sincere friend,
for I really may claim to be among the number of bona fide
unfortunates just now.’
He laughed again.
‘But the trouble is,’ said the prince, after a slight pause for
reflection, ‘that goodness only knows when this party will
break up. Hadn’t we better stroll into the park? I’ll excuse
myself, there’s no danger of their going away.’
‘No, no! I have my reasons for wishing them not to
suspect us of being engaged in any specially important con-
versation. There are gentry present who are a little too much
interested in us. You are not aware of that perhaps, prince?
It will be a great deal better if they see that we are friendly
just in an ordinary way. They’ll all go in a couple of hours,
and then I’ll ask you to give me twenty minutes-half an
hour at most.’
‘By all means! I assure you I am delighted—you need
not have entered into all these explanations. As for your
remarks about friendship with me—thanks, very much in-

The Idiot