Page 828 - the-idiot

course. I was beginning to be afraid that Mr. Gania—might
have the preference!’
‘May I ask you, Hippolyte, not to talk of this subject? And
not to use such expressions?’
‘Especially as you know all, eh?’
‘You are wrong. I know scarcely anything, and Aglaya
Ivanovna is aware that I know nothing. I knew nothing
whatever about this meeting. You say there was a meeting.
Very well; let’s leave it so—‘
‘Why, what do you mean? You said you knew, and now
suddenly you know nothing! You say ‘very well; let’s leave it
so.’ But I say, don’t be so confiding, especially as you know
nothing. You are confiding simply BECAUSE you know
nothing. But do you know what these good people have in
their minds’ eye—Gania and his sister? Perhaps you are
suspicious? Well, well, I’ll drop the subject!’ he added, hast-
ily, observing the prince’s impatient gesture. ‘But I’ve come
to you on my own business; I wish to make you a clear ex-
planation. What a nuisance it is that one cannot die without
explanations! I have made such a quantity of them already.
Do you wish to hear what I have to say?’
‘Speak away, I am listening.’
‘Very well, but I’ll change my mind, and begin about Ga-
nia. Just fancy to begin with, if you can, that I, too, was given
an appointment at the green bench today! However, I won’t
deceive you; I asked for the appointment. I said I had a secret
to disclose. I don’t know whether I came there too early, I
think I must have; but scarcely had I sat down beside Aglaya
Ivanovna than I saw Gavrila Ardalionovitch and his sister