The Idiot | Page 9

a peep into the mind of this excellent
fellow who "knew his place" so well! The fact is that, in spite of his
knowledge of the world and his really remarkable abilities, he always
liked to appear to be carrying out other people's ideas rather than his

own. And also, his luck seldom failed him, even at cards, for which he
had a passion that he did not attempt to conceal. He played for high
stakes, and moved, altogether, in very varied society.
As to age, General Epanchin was in the very prime of life; that is, about
fifty-five years of age,--the flowering time of existence, when real
enjoyment of life begins. His healthy appearance, good colour, sound,
though discoloured teeth, sturdy figure, preoccupied air during business
hours, and jolly good humour during his game at cards in the evening,
all bore witness to his success in life, and combined to make existence
a bed of roses to his excellency. The general was lord of a flourishing
family, consisting of his wife and three grown-up daughters. He had
married young, while still a lieutenant, his wife being a girl of about his
own age, who possessed neither beauty nor education, and who brought
him no more than fifty souls of landed property, which little estate
served, however, as a nest-egg for far more important accumulations.
The general never regretted his early marriage, or regarded it as a
foolish youthful escapade; and he so respected and feared his wife that
he was very near loving her. Mrs. Epanchin came of the princely stock
of Muishkin, which if not a brilliant, was, at all events, a decidedly
ancient family; and she was extremely proud of her descent.
With a few exceptions, the worthy couple had lived through their long
union very happily. While still young the wife had been able to make
important friends among the aristocracy, partly by virtue of her family
descent, and partly by her own exertions; while, in after life, thanks to
their wealth and to the position of her husband in the service, she took
her place among the higher circles as by right.
During these last few years all three of the general's daughters-
Alexandra, Adelaida, and Aglaya--had grown up and matured. Of
course they were only Epanchins, but their mother's family was noble;
they might expect considerable fortunes; their father had hopes of
attaining to very high rank indeed in his country's service-all of which
was satisfactory. All three of the girls were decidedly pretty, even the
eldest, Alexandra, who was just twenty-five years old. The middle
daughter was now twenty-three, while the youngest, Aglaya, was

twenty. This youngest girl was absolutely a beauty, and had begun of
late to attract considerable attention in society. But this was not all, for
every one of the three was clever, well educated, and accomplished.
It was a matter of general knowledge that the three girls were very fond
of one another, and supported each other in every way; it was even said
that the two elder ones had made certain sacrifices for the sake of the
idol of the household, Aglaya. In society they not only disliked
asserting themselves, but were actually retiring. Certainly no one could
blame them for being too arrogant or haughty, and yet everybody was
well aware that they were proud and quite understood their own value.
The eldest was musical, while the second was a clever artist, which fact
she had concealed until lately. In a word, the world spoke well of the
girls; but they were not without their enemies, and occasionally people
talked with horror of the number of books they had read.
They were in no hurry to marry. They liked good society, but were not
too keen about it. All this was the more remarkable, because everyone
was well aware of the hopes and aims of their parents.
It was about eleven o'clock in the forenoon when the prince rang the
bell at General Epanchin's door. The general lived on the first floor or
flat of the house, as modest a lodging as his position permitted. A
liveried servant opened the door, and the prince was obliged to enter
into long explanations with this gentleman, who, from the first glance,
looked at him and his bundle with grave suspicion. At last, however, on
the repeated positive assurance that he really was Prince Muishkin, and
must absolutely see the general on business, the bewildered domestic
showed him into a little ante-chamber leading to a waiting-room that
adjoined the general's study, there handing him over to another servant,
whose duty it was to be in this ante-chamber all the morning, and
announce visitors to the general. This second individual wore a dress
coat, and was some forty years of age; he was