Page 717 - the-idiot

prince for the last three days.
He sat down on the edge of his chair, smiling and mak-
ing faces, and rubbing his hands, and looking as though he
were in delighted expectation of hearing some important
communication, which had been long guessed by all.
The prince was instantly covered with confusion; for it
appeared to be plain that everyone expected something of
him—that everyone looked at him as though anxious to
congratulate him, and greeted him with hints, and smiles,
and knowing looks.
Keller, for instance, had run into the house three times
of late, ‘just for a moment,’ and each time with the air of de-
siring to offer his congratulations. Colia, too, in spite of his
melancholy, had once or twice begun sentences in much the
same strain of suggestion or insinuation.
The prince, however, immediately began, with some
show of annoyance, to question Lebedeff categorically, as
to the general’s present condition, and his opinion thereon.
He described the morning’s interview in a few words.
‘Everyone has his worries, prince, especially in these
strange and troublous times of ours,’ Lebedeff replied, drily,
and with the air of a man disappointed of his reasonable
expectations.
‘Dear me, what a philosopher you are!’ laughed the
prince.
Philosophy is necessary, sir—very necessary—in our day.
It is too much neglected. As for me, much esteemed prince,
I am sensible of having experienced the honour of your con-
fidence in a certain matter up to a certain point, but never

1 The Idiot