Page 559 - the-idiot

is not the real thing!’
Ptitsin listened and smiled, then turned as if to get his
hat; but if he had intended to leave, he changed his mind.
Before the others had risen from the table, Gania had sud-
denly left off drinking, and pushed away his glass, a dark
shadow seemed to come over his face. When they all rose,
he went and sat down by Rogojin. It might have been be-
lieved that quite friendly relations existed between them.
Rogojin, who had also seemed on the point of going away
now sat motionless, his head bent, seeming to have forgot-
ten his intention. He had drunk no wine, and appeared
absorbed in reflection. From time to time he raised his eyes,
and examined everyone present; one might have imagined
that he was expecting something very important to himself,
and that he had decided to wait for it. The prince had taken
two or three glasses of champagne, and seemed cheerful. As
he rose he noticed Evgenie Pavlovitch, and, remembering
the appointment he had made with him, smiled pleasantly.
Evgenie Pavlovitch made a sign with his head towards Hip-
polyte, whom he was attentively watching. The invalid was
fast asleep, stretched out on the sofa.
‘Tell me, prince, why on earth did this boy intrude him-
self upon you?’ he asked, with such annoyance and irritation
in his voice that the prince was quite surprised. ‘I wouldn’t
mind laying odds that he is up to some mischief.’
‘I have observed,’ said the prince, ‘that he seems to be an
object of very singular interest to you, Evgenie Pavlovitch.
Why is it?’
‘You may add that I have surely enough to think of, on

The Idiot