Page 894 - the-idiot

ments. He observed an open book on the table, Madam
Bovary, and requested the leave of the lady of the house to
take it with him. He had turned down the leaf at the open
page, and pocketed it before they could explain that it was a
library book. He had then seated himself by the open win-
dow, and seeing a card-table, he asked who played cards.
He was informed that Nastasia used to play with Rogojin
every evening, either at ‘preference’ or ‘little fool,’ or ‘whist”;
that this had been their practice since her last return from
Pavlofsk; that she had taken to this amusement because she
did not like to see Rogojin sitting silent and dull for whole
evenings at a time; that the day after Nastasia had made a
remark to this effect, Rogojin had whipped a pack of cards
out of his pocket. Nastasia had laughed, but soon they be-
gan playing. The prince asked where were the cards, but was
told that Rogojin used to bring a new pack every day, and
always carried it away in his pocket.
The good ladies recommended the prince to try knock-
ing at Rogojin’s once more—not at once, but in the evening
Meanwhile, the mother would go to Pavlofsk to inquire at
Dana Alexeyevna’s whether anything had been heard of
Nastasia there. The prince was to come back at ten o’clock
and meet her, to hear her news and arrange plans for the
morrow.
In spite of the kindly-meant consolations of his new
friends, the prince walked to his hotel in inexpressible an-
guish of spirit, through the hot, dusty streets, aimlessly
staring at the faces of those who passed him. Arrived at his
destination, he determined to rest awhile in his room be-