Page 438 - the-idiot

beautiful white horses. Having passed some ten yards be-
yond the house, the carriage suddenly drew up, and one of
the two ladies seated in it turned sharp round as though she
had just caught sight of some acquaintance whom she par-
ticularly wished to see.
‘Evgenie Pavlovitch! Is that you?’ cried a clear, sweet
voice, which caused the prince, and perhaps someone else,
to tremble. ‘Well, I AM glad I’ve found you at last! I’ve sent
to town for you twice today myself! My messengers have
been searching for you everywhere!’
Evgenie Pavlovitch stood on the steps like one struck by
lightning. Mrs. Epanchin stood still too, but not with the
petrified expression of Evgenie. She gazed haughtily at the
audacious person who had addressed her companion, and
then turned a look of astonishment upon Evgenie himself.
‘There’s news!’ continued the clear voice. ‘You need not
be anxious about Kupferof’s IOU’s—Rogojin has bought
them up. I persuaded him to!—I dare say we shall settle Bis-
cup too, so it’s all right, you see! Au revoir, tomorrow! And
don’t worry!’ The carriage moved on, and disappeared.
‘The woman’s mad!’ cried Evgenie, at last, crimson with
anger, and looking confusedly around. ‘I don’t know what
she’s talking about! What IOU’s? Who is she?’ Mrs. Ep-
anchin continued to watch his face for a couple of seconds;
then she marched briskly and haughtily away towards her
own house, the rest following her.
A minute afterwards, Evgenie Pavlovitch reappeared on
the terrace, in great agitation.
‘Prince,’ he said, ‘tell me the truth; do you know what all