Page 699 - the-idiot

shame you.’
He jumped up from his chair in a fit of uncontrollable
rage. Gania was very angry too.
‘Honour, indeed!’ said the latter, with contempt.
‘What do you say, sir?’ growled the general, taking a step
towards him.
‘I say that I have but to open my mouth, and you—‘
Gania began, but did not finish. The two—father and
son—stood before one another, both unspeakably agitated,
especially Gania.
‘Gania, Gania, reflect!’ cried his mother, hurriedly.
‘It’s all nonsense on both sides,’ snapped out Varia. ‘Let
them alone, mother.’
‘It’s only for mother’s sake that I spare him,’ said Gania,
tragically.
‘Speak!’ said the general, beside himself with rage and
excitement; ‘speak—under the penalty of a father’s curse
‘Oh, father’s curse be hanged—you don’t frighten me that
way!’ said Gania. ‘Whose fault is it that you have been as
mad as a March hare all this week? It is just a week—you
see, I count the days. Take care now; don’t provoke me too
much, or I’ll tell all. Why did you go to the Epanchins’ yes-
terday—tell me that? And you call yourself an old man, too,
with grey hair, and father of a family! H’m—nice sort of a
father.’
‘Be quiet, Gania,’ cried Colia. ‘Shut up, you fool!’
‘Yes, but how have I offended him?’ repeated Hippolyte,
still in the same jeering voice. ‘ Why does he call me a
screw? You all heard it. He came to me himself and began

The Idiot