Page 656 - the-idiot

been. I don’t suspect myself, though such cases have been
known.’
‘Oh! DO go on, Lebedeff! Don’t drag it out so.’
‘Well, there are three left, then—Keller firstly. He is a
drunkard to begin with, and a liberal (in the sense of other
people’s pockets), otherwise with more of the ancient knight
about him than of the modern liberal. He was with the sick
man at first, but came over afterwards because there was no
place to lie down in the room and the floor was so hard.’
‘You suspect him?’
‘I DID suspect him. When I woke up at half-past seven
and tore my hair in despair for my loss and carelessness, I
awoke the general, who was sleeping the sleep of innocence
near me. Taking into consideration the sudden disappear-
ance of Ferdishenko, which was suspicious in itself, we
decided to search Keller, who was lying there sleeping like
a top. Well, we searched his clothes thoroughly, and not a
farthing did we find; in fact, his pockets all had holes in
them. We found a dirty handkerchief, and a loveletter from
some scullery-maid. The general decided that he was in-
nocent. We awoke him for further inquiries, and had the
greatest difficulty in making him understand what was up.
He opened his mouth and stared—he looked so stupid and
so absurdly innocent. It wasn’t Keller.’
‘Oh, I’m so glad!’ said the prince, joyfully. ‘I was so
afraid.’
‘Afraid! Then you had some grounds for supposing he
might be the culprit?’ said Lebedeff, frowning.
‘Oh no—not a bit! It was foolish of me to say I was afraid!