Page 780 - the-idiot

In the first place he began about some letter; the name
of Aglaya Ivanovna came in. Then suddenly he broke off
and began to accuse the prince of something; he was appar-
ently offended with him. At first he declared that the prince
had trusted him with his confidences as to ‘a certain person’
(Nastasia Philipovna), but that of late his friendship had
been thrust back into his bosom, and his innocent ques-
tion as to ‘approaching family changes’ had been curtly put
aside, which Lebedeff declared, with tipsy tears, he could
not bear; especially as he knew so much already both from
Rogojin and Nastasia Philipovna and her friend, and from
Varvara Ardalionovna, and even from Aglaya Ivanovna,
through his daughter Vera. ‘And who told Lizabetha Pro-
kofievna something in secret, by letter? Who told her all
about the movements of a certain person called Nastasia
Philipovna? Who was the anonymous person, eh? Tell me!’
‘Surely not you?’ cried the prince.
‘Just so,’ said Lebedeff, with dignity; ‘and only this very
morning I have sent up a letter to the noble lady, stating
that I have a matter of great importance to communicate.
She received the letter; I know she got it; and she received
ME, too.’
‘Have you just seen Lizabetha Prokofievna?’ asked the
prince, scarcely believing his ears.
‘Yes, I saw her, and got the said slap in the face as men-
tioned. She chucked the letter back to me unopened, and
kicked me out of the house, morally, not physically, al-
though not far off it.’
‘What letter do you mean she returned unopened?’