"I knew yesterday that Gavrila Ardalionovitch--" began the prince, and paused
in evident confusion, though Hippolyte had shown annoyance at his betraying no
surprise.
"You are wrong. I know scarcely anything, and Aglaya Ivanovna is aware that I
know nothing. I knew nothing whatever about this meeting. You say there was a
meeting. Very well; let's leave it so--"
"Why, what do you mean? You said you knew, and now suddenly you know nothing!
You say 'very well; let's leave it so.' But I say, don't be so confiding,
especially as you know nothing. You are confiding simply BECAUSE you know
nothing. But do you know what these good people have in their minds' eye--Gania
and his sister? Perhaps you are suspicious? Well, well, I'll drop the subject!"
he added, hastily, observing the prince's impatient gesture. "But I've come to
you on my own business; I wish to make you a clear explanation. What a nuisance
it is that one cannot die without explanations! I have made such a quantity of
them already. Do you wish to hear what I have to say?"
"Very well, but I'll change my mind, and begin about Gania. Just fancy to
begin with, if you can, that I, too, was given an appointment at the green bench
today! However, I won't deceive you; I asked for the appointment. I said I had a
secret to disclose. I don't know whether I came there too early, I think I must
have; but scarcely had I sat down beside Aglaya Ivanovna than I saw Gavrila
Ardalionovitch and his sister Varia coming along, arm in arm, just as though
they were enjoying a morning walk together. Both of them seemed very much
astonished, not to say disturbed, at seeing me; they evidently had not expected
the pleasure. Aglaya Ivanovna blushed up, and was actually a little confused. I
don't know whether it was merely because I was there, or whether Gania's beauty
was too much for her! But anyway, she turned crimson, and then finished up the
business in a very funny manner. She jumped up from her seat, bowed back to
Gania, smiled to Varia, and suddenly observed: 'I only came here to express my
gratitude for all your kind wishes on my behalf, and to say that if I find I
need your services, believe me--' Here she bowed them away, as it were, and they
both marched off again, looking very foolish. Gania evidently could not make
head nor tail of the matter, and turned as red as a lobster; but Varia
understood at once that they must get away as quickly as they could, so she
dragged Gania away; she is a great deal cleverer than he is. As for myself, I
went there to arrange a meeting to be held between Aglaya Ivanovna and Nastasia
Philipovna."
"Aha! I think you are growing less cool, my friend, and are beginning to be a
trifle surprised, aren't you? I'm glad that you are not above ordinary human
feelings, for once. I'll console you a little now, after your consternation. See
what I get for serving a young and high-souled maiden! This morning I received a
slap in the face from the lady!"
"Yes--not a physical one! I don't suppose anyone--even a woman-- would raise
a hand against me now. Even Gania would hesitate! I did think at one time
yesterday, that he would fly at me, though. I bet anything that I know what you
are thinking of now! You are thinking: 'Of course one can't strike the little
wretch, but one could suffocate him with a pillow, or a wet towel, when he is
asleep! One OUGHT to get rid of him somehow.' I can see in your face that you
are thinking that at this very second."
"I've heard so. Well, we'll leave that question just now. Why am I a
scandal-monger? Why did she call me a scandal-monger? And mind, AFTER she had
heard every word I had to tell her, and had asked all sorts of questions
besides--but such is the way of women. For HER sake I entered into relations
with Rogojin--an interesting man! At HER request I arranged a personal interview
between herself and Nastasia Philipovna. Could she have been angry because I
hinted that she was enjoying Nastasia Philipovna's 'leavings'? Why, I have been
impressing it upon her all this while for her own good. Two letters have I
written her in that strain, and I began straight off today about its being
humiliating for her. Besides, the word 'leavings' is not my invention. At all
events, they all used it at Gania's, and she used it herself. So why am I a
scandal-monger? I see--I see you are tremendously amused, at this moment!
Probably you are laughing at me and fitting those silly lines to my case--
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