Page 179 - the-idiot

ly, now. They all call me a blackguard because of her, and I
have got into the way of thinking myself one. That’s what is
so bad about the business.’
‘I for one shall never think you a blackguard again,’ said
the prince. ‘I confess I had a poor opinion of you at first, but
I have been so joyfully surprised about you just now; it’s a
good lesson for me. I shall never judge again without a thor-
ough trial. I see now that you are riot only not a blackguard,
but are not even quite spoiled. I see that you are quite an
ordinary man, not original in the least degree, but rather
weak.’
Gania laughed sarcastically, but said nothing. The prince,
seeing that he did not quite like the last remark, blushed,
and was silent too.
‘Has my father asked you for money?’ asked Gania, sud-
denly.
‘No.’
‘Don’t give it to him if he does. Fancy, he was a decent,
respectable man once! He was received in the best society;
he was not always the liar he is now. Of course, wine is at
the bottom of it all; but he is a good deal worse than an in-
nocent liar now. Do you know that he keeps a mistress? I
can’t understand how mother is so long-sufferring. Did he
tell you the story of the siege of Kars? Or perhaps the one
about his grey horse that talked? He loves, to enlarge on
these absurd histories.’ And Gania burst into a fit of laugh-
ter. Suddenly he turned to the prince and asked: ‘Why are
you looking at me like that?’
‘I am surprised to see you laugh in that way, like a child.

1 The Idiot