The Idiot | Page 6

dog."
"I suppose you angered him somehow?" asked the prince, looking at
the millionaire with considerable curiosity But though there may have
been something remarkable in the fact that this man was heir to
millions of roubles there was something about him which surprised and
interested the prince more than that. Rogojin, too, seemed to have taken
up the conversation with unusual alacrity it appeared that he was still in
a considerable state of excitement, if not absolutely feverish, and was in
real need of someone to talk to for the mere sake of talking, as
safety-valve to his agitation.
As for his red-nosed neighbour, the latter--since the information as to
the identity of Rogojin--hung over him, seemed to be living on the
honey of his words and in the breath of his nostrils, catching at every
syllable as though it were a pearl of great price.
"Oh, yes; I angered him--I certainly did anger him," replied Rogojin.
"But what puts me out so is my brother. Of course my mother couldn't
do anything--she's too old--and whatever brother Senka says is law for
her! But why couldn't he let me know? He sent a telegram, they say.
What's the good of a telegram? It frightened my aunt so that she sent it
back to the office unopened, and there it's been ever since! It's only
thanks to Konief that I heard at all; he wrote me all about it. He says
my brother cut off the gold tassels from my father's coffin, at night
because they're worth a lot of money!' says he. Why, I can get him sent
off to Siberia for that alone, if I like; it's sacrilege. Here,
you--scarecrow!" he added, addressing the clerk at his side, "is it

sacrilege or not, by law?'
"Sacrilege, certainly--certainly sacrilege," said the latter.
"And it's Siberia for sacrilege, isn't it?"
"Undoubtedly so; Siberia, of course!"
"They will think that I'm still ill," continued Rogojin to the prince, "but
I sloped off quietly, seedy as I was, took the train and came away. Aha,
brother Senka, you'll have to open your gates and let me in, my boy! I
know he told tales about me to my father--I know that well enough but
I certainly did rile my father about Nastasia Philipovna that's very sure,
and that was my own doing."
"Nastasia Philipovna?" said the clerk, as though trying to think out
something.
"Come, you know nothing about HER," said Rogojin, impatiently.
"And supposing I do know something?" observed the other,
triumphantly.
"Bosh! there are plenty of Nastasia Philipovnas. And what an
impertinent beast you are!" he added angrily. "I thought some creature
like you would hang on to me as soon as I got hold of my money. "
"Oh, but I do know, as it happens," said the clerk in an aggravating
manner. "Lebedeff knows all about her. You are pleased to reproach
me, your excellency, but what if I prove that I am right after all?
Nastasia Phillpovna's family name is Barashkoff--I know, you see-and
she is a very well known lady, indeed, and comes of a good family, too.
She is connected with one Totski, Afanasy Ivanovitch, a man of
considerable property, a director of companies, and so on, and a great
friend of General Epanchin, who is interested in the same matters as he
is."
"My eyes!" said Rogojin, really surprised at last. "The devil take the

fellow, how does he know that?"
"Why, he knows everything--Lebedeff knows everything! I was a
month or two with Lihachof after his father died, your excellency, and
while he was knocking about--he's in the debtor's prison now--I was
with him, and he couldn't do a thing without Lebedeff; and I got to
know Nastasia Philipovna and several people at that time."
"Nastasia Philipovna? Why, you don't mean to say that she and
Lihachof--" cried Rogojin, turning quite pale.
"No, no, no, no, no! Nothing of the sort, I assure you!" said Lebedeff,
hastily. "Oh dear no, not for the world! Totski's the only man with any
chance there. Oh, no! He takes her to his box at the opera at the French
theatre of an evening, and the officers and people all look at her and say,
'By Jove, there's the famous Nastasia Philipovna!' but no one ever gets
any further than that, for there is nothing more to say."
"Yes, it's quite true," said Rogojin, frowning gloomily; "so Zaleshoff
told me. I was walking about the Nefsky one fine day, prince, in my
father's old coat, when she suddenly came out of a shop and stepped
into her carriage. I swear I was all of a blaze at once. Then I met
Zaleshoff--looking like a hair-dresser's assistant, got up as fine as I
don't know who, while I looked like