Page 650 - the-idiot

covered his face with his hands, and so remained for ten
minutes. Suddenly he put his hand in his coat-pocket and
hurriedly produced three letters.
But the door opened again, and out came Colia.
The prince actually felt glad that he had been interrupt-
ed,—and might return the letters to his pocket. He was glad
of the respite.
‘Well,’ said Colia, plunging in medias res, as he always
did, ‘here’s a go! What do you think of Hippolyte now?
Don’t respect him any longer, eh?’
‘Why not? But look here, Colia, I’m tired; besides, the
subject is too melancholy to begin upon again. How is he,
though?’
‘Asleep—he’ll sleep for a couple of hours yet. I quite un-
derstand—you haven’t slept—you walked about the park, I
know. Agitation—excitement—all that sort of thing—quite
natural, too!’
‘How do you know I walked in the park and didn’t sleep
at home?’
‘Vera just told me. She tried to persuade me not to come,
but I couldn’t help myself, just for one minute. I have been
having my turn at the bedside for the last two hours; Kostia
Lebedeff is there now. Burdovsky has gone. Now, lie down,
prince, make yourself comfortable, and sleep well! I’m aw-
fully impressed, you know.’
‘Naturally, all this—‘
‘No, no, I mean with the ‘explanation,’ especially that
part of it where he talks about Providence and a future life.
There is a gigantic thought there.’