Page 693 - the-idiot

be a wild sort of a girl, but she is far nobler than any of us, a
thousand times nobler!’
‘Well—come! there’s nothing to get cross about,’ said Ga-
nia.
‘All I’m afraid of is—mother. I’m afraid this scandal
about father may come to her ears; perhaps it has already. I
am dreadfully afraid.’
‘It undoubtedly has already!’ observed Gania.
Varia had risen from her place and had started to go up-
stairs to her mother; but at this observation of Gania’s she
turned and gazed at him attentively.
‘Who could have told her?’
‘Hippolyte, probably. He would think it the most delight-
ful amusement in the world to tell her of it the instant he
moved over here; I haven’t a doubt of it.’
‘But how could he know anything of it? Tell me that. Leb-
edeff and the prince determined to tell no one—even Colia
knows nothing.’
‘What, Hippolyte? He found it out himself, of course.
Why, you have no idea what a cunning little animal he is;
dirty little gossip! He has the most extraordinary nose for
smelling out other people’s secrets, or anything approach-
ing to scandal. Believe it or not, but I’m pretty sure he has
got round Aglaya. If he hasn’t, he soon will. Rogojin is inti-
mate with him, too. How the prince doesn’t notice it, I can’t
understand. The little wretch considers me his enemy now
and does his best to catch me tripping. What on earth does
it matter to him, when he’s dying? However, you’ll see; I
shall catch HIM tripping yet, and not he me.’

The Idiot