Page 675 - the-idiot

word. Are you happy now? Today, this moment? Have you
just been with her? What did she say?’
She did not rise from her knees; she would not listen to
him; she put her questions hurriedly, as though she were
pursued.
‘I am going away tomorrow, as you bade me—I won’t
write—so that this is the last time I shall see you, the last
time! This is really the LAST TIME!’
‘Oh, be calm—be calm! Get up!’ he entreated, in despair.
She gazed thirstily at him and clutched his hands.
‘Good-bye!’ she said at last, and rose and left him, very
quickly.
The prince noticed that Rogojin had suddenly appeared
at her side, and had taken her arm and was leading her
away.
‘Wait a minute, prince,’ shouted the latter, as he went. ‘I
shall be back in five minutes.’
He reappeared in five minutes as he had said. The prince
was waiting for him.
‘I’ve put her in the carriage,’ he said; ‘it has been waiting
round the corner there since ten o’clock. She expected that
you would be with THEM all the evening. I told her exactly
what you wrote me. She won’t write to the girl any more, she
promises; and tomorrow she will be off, as you wish. She de-
sired to see you for the last time, although you refused, so
we’ve been sitting and waiting on that bench till you should
pass on your way home.’
‘Did she bring you with her of her own accord?’
‘Of course she did!’ said Rogojin, showing his teeth; ‘and

The Idiot