Page 792 - the-idiot

ing to boast of, and her literary knowledge very doubtful.
Literary patronage was, however, with her as much a mania
as was the love of gorgeous clothes. Many books and trans-
lations were dedicated to her by her proteges, and a few of
these talented individuals had published some of their own
letters to her, upon very weighty subjects.
This, then, was the society that the prince accepted at
once as true coin, as pure gold without alloy.
It so happened, however, that on this particular evening
all these good people were in excellent humour and highly
pleased with themselves. Every one of them felt that they
were doing the Epanchins the greatest possible honour by
their presence. But alas! the prince never suspected any
such subtleties! For instance, he had no suspicion of the fact
that the Epanchins, having in their mind so important a
step as the marriage of their daughter, would never think
of presuming to take it without having previously ‘shown
off’ the proposed husband to the dignitary—the recognized
patron of the family. The latter, too, though he would prob-
ably have received news of a great disaster to the Epanchin
family with perfect composure, would nevertheless have
considered it a personal offence if they had dared to marry
their daughter without his advice, or we might almost say,
his leave.
The amiable and undoubtedly witty Prince N. could not
but feel that he was as a sun, risen for one night only to shine
upon the Epanchin drawing-room. He accounted them
immeasurably his inferiors, and it was this feeling which
caused his special amiability and delightful ease and grace

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