Page 72 - the-idiot

In his heart passion and hate seemed to hold divided
sway, and although he had at last given his consent to marry
the woman (as he said), under the stress of circumstances,
yet he promised himself that he would ‘take it out of her,’
after marriage.
Nastasia seemed to Totski to have divined all this, and
to be preparing something on her own account, which
frightened him to such an extent that he did not dare com-
municate his views even to the general. But at times he
would pluck up his courage and be full of hope and good
spirits again, acting, in fact, as weak men do act in such cir-
cumstances.
However, both the friends felt that the thing looked rosy
indeed when one day Nastasia informed them that she
would give her final answer on the evening of her birthday,
which anniversary was due in a very short time.
A strange rumour began to circulate, meanwhile; no less
than that the respectable and highly respected General Ep-
anchin was himself so fascinated by Nastasia Philipovna
that his feeling for her amounted almost to passion. What
he thought to gain by Gania’s marriage to the girl it was
difficult to imagine. Possibly he counted on Gania’s com-
plaisance; for Totski had long suspected that there existed
some secret understanding between the general and his
secretary. At all events the fact was known that he had pre-
pared a magnificent present of pearls for Nastasia’s birthday,
and that he was looking forward to the occasion when he
should present his gift with the greatest excitement and im-
patience. The day before her birthday he was in a fever of

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