Page 892 - the-idiot

‘I shall wait; he may come back this evening.’
‘He may not be home for a week.’
‘Then, at all events, he DID sleep here, did he?’
‘Well—he did sleep here, yes.’
All this was suspicious and unsatisfactory. Very likely
the porter had received new instructions during the inter-
val of the prince’s absence; his manner was so different now.
He had been obliging—now he was as obstinate and silent
as a mule. However, the prince decided to call again in a
couple of hours, and after that to watch the house, in case
of need. His hope was that he might yet find Nastasia at the
address which he had just received. To that address he now
set off at full speed.
But alas! at the German lady’s house they did not even
appear to understand what he wanted. After a while, by
means of certain hints, he was able to gather that Nasta-
sia must have had a quarrel with her friend two or three
weeks ago, since which date the latter had neither heard
nor seen anything of her. He was given to understand that
the subject of Nastasia’s present whereabouts was not of the
slightest interest to her; and that Nastasia might marry all
the princes in the world for all she cared! So Muishkin took
his leave hurriedly. It struck him now that she might have
gone away to Moscow just as she had done the last time, and
that Rogojin had perhaps gone after her, or even WITH her.
If only he could find some trace!
However, he must take his room at the hotel; and he start-
ed off in that direction. Having engaged his room, he was
asked by the waiter whether he would take dinner; replying

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