Page 882 - the-idiot

gar crowd like blazing coals. The spectators’ cries were
redoubled, and became more exultant and triumphant ev-
ery moment. The door of the carriage was open, and Keller
had given his hand to the bride to help her in, when sud-
denly with a loud cry she rushed from him, straight into the
surging crowd. Her friends about her were stupefied with
amazement; the crowd parted as she rushed through it, and
suddenly, at a distance of five or six yards from the carriage,
appeared Rogojin. It was his look that had caught her eyes.
Nastasia rushed to him like a madwoman, and seized
both his hands.
‘Save me!’ she cried. ‘Take me away, anywhere you like,
quick!’
Rogojin seized her in his arms and almost carried her to
the carriage. Then, in a flash, he tore a hundred-rouble note
out of his pocket and held it to the coachman.
‘To the station, quick! If you catch the train you shall
have another. Quick!’
He leaped into the carriage after Nastasia and banged the
door. The coachman did not hesitate a moment; he whipped
up the horses, and they were oft.
‘One more second and I should have stopped him,’ said
Keller, afterwards. In fact, he and Burdovsky jumped into
another carriage and set off in pursuit; but it struck them
as they drove along that it was not much use trying to bring
Nastasia back by force.
‘Besides,’ said Burdovsky,’ the prince would not like it,
would he?’ So they gave up the pursuit.
Rogojin and Nastasia Philipovna reached the station just

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