Page 76 - the-idiot

vra, stand behind him while he eats. Is he quiet when he has
these fits? He doesn’t show violence, does he?’
‘On the contrary, he seems to be very well brought up.
His manners are excellent—but here he is himself. Here you
are, prince—let me introduce you, the last of the Muishkins,
a relative of your own, my dear, or at least of the same name.
Receive him kindly, please. They’ll bring in lunch directly,
prince; you must stop and have some, but you must excuse
me. I’m in a hurry, I must be off—‘
‘We all know where YOU must be off to!’ said Mrs. Ep-
anchin, in a meaning voice.
‘Yes, yes—I must hurry away, I’m late! Look here, dears,
let him write you something in your albums; you’ve no idea
what a wonderful caligraphist he is, wonderful talent! He
has just written out ‘Abbot Pafnute signed this’ for me. Well,
au revoir!’
‘Stop a minute; where are you off to? Who is this abbot?’
cried Mrs. Epanchin to her retreating husband in a tone of
excited annoyance.
‘Yes, my dear, it was an old abbot of that name-I must be
off to see the count, he’s waiting for me, I’m late—Good-bye!
Au revoir, prince!’—and the general bolted at full speed.
‘Oh, yes—I know what count you’re going to see!’ re-
marked his wife in a cutting manner, as she turned her
angry eyes on the prince. ‘Now then, what’s all this about?—
What abbot—Who’s Pafnute?’ she added, brusquely.
‘Mamma!’ said Alexandra, shocked at her rudeness.
Aglaya stamped her foot.
‘Nonsense! Let me alone!’ said the angry mother. ‘Now