Page 367 - the-idiot

cere admiration. ‘Whose is it? ‘
‘Pushkin’s, mama, of course! Don’t disgrace us all by
showing your ignorance,’ said Adelaida.
‘As soon as we reach home give it to me to read.’
‘I don’t think we have a copy of Pushkin in the house.’
‘There are a couple of torn volumes somewhere; they
have been lying about from time immemorial,’ added Al-
exandra.
‘Send Feodor or Alexey up by the very first train to buy a
copy, then.—Aglaya, come here—kiss me, dear, you recited
beautifully! but,’ she added in a whisper, ‘if you were sincere
I am sorry for you. If it was a joke, I do not approve of the
feelings which prompted you to do it, and in any case you
would have done far better not to recite it at all. Do you un-
derstand?—Now come along, young woman; we’ve sat here
too long. I’ll speak to you about this another time.’
Meanwhile the prince took the opportunity of greet-
ing General Epanchin, and the general introduced Evgenie
Pavlovitch to him.
‘I caught him up on the way to your house,’ explained the
general. ‘He had heard that we were all here.’
‘Yes, and I heard that you were here, too,’ added Evge-
nie Pavlovitch; ‘and since I had long promised myself the
pleasure of seeking not only your acquaintance but your
friendship, I did not wish to waste time, but came straight
on. I am sorry to hear that you are unwell.’
‘Oh, but I’m quite well now, thank you, and very glad to
make your acquaintance. Prince S. has often spoken to me
about you,’ said Muishkin, and for an instant the two men

The Idiot