Page 424 - the-idiot

on just now in the company of such people as myself and
my friends, who are not of your class, but that you should
let these ... young ladies listen to such a scandalous affair,
though no doubt novel-reading has taught them all there is
to know. I may be mistaken; I hardly know what I am say-
ing; but surely no one but you would have stayed to please
a whippersnapper (yes, a whippersnapper; I admit it) to
spend the evening and take part in everything—only to be
ashamed of it tomorrow. (I know I express myself badly.) I
admire and appreciate it all extremely, though the expres-
sion on the face of his excellency, your husband, shows that
he thinks it very improper. He-he!’ He burst out laughing,
and was seized with a fit of coughing which lasted for two
minutes and prevented him from speaking.
‘He has lost his breath now!’ said Lizabetha Prokofievna
coldly, looking at him with more curiosity than pity: ‘Come,
my dear boy, that is quite enough—let us make an end of
this.’
Ivan Fedorovitch, now quite out of patience, interrupted
suddenly. ‘Let me remark in my turn, sir,’ he said in tones of
deep annoyance, ‘that my wife is here as the guest of Prince
Lef Nicolaievitch, our friend and neighbour, and that in
any case, young man, it is not for you to pass judgment on
the conduct of Lizabetha Prokofievna, or to make remarks
aloud in my presence concerning what feelings you think
may be read in my face. Yes, my wife stayed here,’ continued
the general, with increasing irritation, ‘more out of amaze-
ment than anything else. Everyone can understand that a
collection of such strange young men would attract the at-