Page 687 - the-idiot

or else go myself,’ he added, probably remembering that he
could not well turn people out of a house which was not his
own.
‘You must make allowances,’ murmured Varia.
‘Make allowances? For whom? Him—the old black-
guard? No, no, Varia—that won’t do! It won’t do, I tell you!
And look at the swagger of the man! He’s all to blame him-
self, and yet he puts on so much ‘side’ that you’d think—my
word!—‘It’s too much trouble to go through the gate, you
must break the fence for me!’ That’s the sort of air he puts
on; but what’s the matter with you, Varia? What a curious
expression you have!’
‘I’m all right,’ said Varia, in a tone that sounded as though
she were all wrong.
Gania looked more intently at her.
‘You’ve been THERE?’ he asked, suddenly.
‘Yes.’
‘Did you find out anything?’
‘Nothing unexpected. I discovered that it’s all true. My
husband was wiser than either of us. Just as he suspected
from the beginning, so it has fallen out. Where is he?’
‘Out. Well—what has happened?—go on.’
‘The prince is formally engaged to her—that’s settled. The
elder sisters told me about it. Aglaya has agreed. They don’t
attempt to conceal it any longer; you know how mysterious
and secret they have all been up to now. Adelaida’s wedding
is put off again, so that both can be married on one day.
Isn’t that delightfully romantic? Somebody ought to write
a poem on it. Sit down and write an ode instead of tearing

The Idiot