Page 665 - the-idiot

case, where could you have heard the same report? It was
the inspiration of the moment with him, you understand,
so who could have told YOU? It is an important question,
you see!’
‘It was Colia told me, and his father told HIM at about six
this morning. They met at the threshold, when Colia was
leaving the room for something or other.’ The prince told
Lebedeff all that Colia had made known to himself, in de-
tail.
‘There now, that’s what we may call SCENT!’ said Leb-
edeff, rubbing his hands and laughing silently. ‘I thought it
must be so, you see. The general interrupted his innocent
slumbers, at six o’clock, in order to go and wake his beloved
son, and warn him of the dreadful danger of companionship
with Ferdishenko. Dear me! what a dreadfully dangerous
man Ferdishenko must be, and what touching paternal so-
licitude, on the part of his excellency, ha! ha! ha!’
‘Listen, Lebedeff,’ began the prince, quite overwhelmed;
‘DO act quietly—don’t make a scandal, Lebedeff, I ask you—
I entreat you! No one must know—NO ONE, mind! In that
case only, I will help you.’
‘Be assured, most honourable, most worthy of princ-
es—be assured that the whole matter shall be buried within
my heart!’ cried Lebedeff, in a paroxysm of exaltation. ‘I’d
give every drop of my blood... Illustrious prince, I am a
poor wretch in soul and spirit, but ask the veriest scoundrel
whether he would prefer to deal with one like himself, or
with a noble-hearted man like you, and there is no doubt as
to his choice! He’ll answer that he prefers the noble-hearted

The Idiot