The servant, though of course he could not have expressed all this as the prince did, still clearly entered into it and was greatly conciliated, as was evident from the increased amiability of his expression. If you are really very anxious for a smoke, he remarked, I think it might possibly be managed, if you are very quick about it. You see they might come out and inquire for you, and you wouldnt be on the spot. You see that door there? Go in there and youll find a little room on the right; you can smoke there, only open the window, because I ought not to allow it really, and . But there was no time, after all.
A young fellow entered the ante-room at this moment, with a bundle of papers in his hand. The footman hastened to help him take off his overcoat. The new arrival glanced at the prince out of the corners of his eyes.
This gentleman declares, Gavrila Ardalionovitch, began the man, confidentially and almost familiarly, that he is Prince Muishkin and a relative of Madame Epanchins. He has just arrived from abroad, with nothing but a bundle by way of luggage .
The prince did not hear the rest, because at this point the servant continued his communication in a whisper.
Gavrila Ardalionovitch listened attentively, and gazed at the prince with great curiosity. At last he motioned the man aside and stepped hurriedly towards the prince.
Are you Prince Muishkin? he asked, with the greatest courtesy and amiability.
He was a remarkably handsome young fellow of some twenty-eight summers, fair and of middle height; he wore a small beard, and his face was most intelligent. Yet his smile, in spite of its sweetness, was a little thin, if I may so call it, and showed his teeth too evenly; his gaze though decidedly good-humoured and ingenuous, was a trifle too inquisitive and intent to be altogether agreeable.
Probably when he is alone he looks quite different, and hardly smiles at all! thought the prince.
He explained about himself in a few words, very much the same as he had told the footman and Rogojin beforehand.
Gavrila Ardalionovitch meanwhile seemed to be trying to recall something.
Was it not you, then, who sent a letter a year or less ago from Switzerland, I think it was to Elizabetha Prokofievna (Mrs. Epanchin)?
It was.
Oh, then, of course they will remember who you are. You wish to see the general? Ill tell him at once he will be free in a minute; but you you had better wait in the ante-chamber, hadnt you? Why is he here? he added, severely, to the man.
It was.
Oh, then, of course they will remember who you are. You wish to see the general? Ill tell him at once he will be free in a minute; but you you had better wait in the ante-chamber, hadnt you? Why is he here? he added, severely, to the man.
I tell you, sir, he wished it himself!
At this moment the study door opened, and a military man, with a portfolio under his arm, came out talking loudly, and after bidding good-bye to someone inside, took his departure.
You there, Gania? cried a voice from the study, come in here, will you?
Gavrila Ardalionovitch nodded to the prince and entered the room hastily.
A couple of minutes later the door opened again and the affable voice of Gania cried:
Come in please, prince!
III
General Ivan Fedorovitch Epanchin was standing In the middle of the room, and gazed with great curiosity at the prince as he entered. He even advanced a couple of steps to meet him.
The prince came forward and introduced himself.
Quite so, replied the general, and what can I do for you?
Oh, I have no special business; my principal object was to make your acquaintance. I should not like to disturb you. I do not know your times and arrangements here, you see, but I have only just arrived. I came straight from the station. I am come direct from Switzerland.
The general very nearly smiled, but thought better of it and kept his smile back. Then he reflected, blinked his eyes, stared at his guest once more from head to foot; then abruptly motioned him to a chair, sat down himself, and waited with some impatience for the prince to speak.
Gania stood at his table in the far corner of the room, turning over papers.
I have not much time for making acquaintances, as a rule, said the general, but as, of course, you have your object in coming, I
I felt sure you would think I had some object in view when I resolved to pay you this visit, the prince interrupted; but I give you my word, beyond the pleasure of making your acquaintance I had no personal object whatever.
The pleasure is, of course, mutual; but life is not all pleasure, as you are aware. There is such a thing as business, and I really do not see what possible reason there can be, or what we have in common to
Oh, there is no reason, of course, and I suppose there is nothing in common between us, or very little; for if I am Prince Muishkin, and your wife happens to be a member of my house, that can hardly be called a reason. I quite understand that. And yet that was my whole motive for coming. You see I have not been in Russia for four years, and knew very little about anything when I left. I had been very ill for a long time, and I feel now the need of a few good friends. In fact, I have a certain question upon which I much need advice, and do not know whom to go to for it. I thought of your family when I was passing through Berlin. they are almost relations, I said to myself, so Ill begin with them; perhaps we may get on with each other, I with them and they with me, if they are kind people; and I have heard that you are very kind people!
Oh, thank you, thank you, Im sure, replied the general, considerably taken aback. May I ask where you have taken up your quarters?
Nowhere, as yet.
What, straight from the station to my house? And how about your luggage?
I only had a small bundle, containing linen, with me, nothing more. I can carry it in my hand, easily. There will be plenty of time to take a room in some hotel by the evening.
Oh, then you DO intend to take a room?
Of course.
To judge from your words, you came straight to my house with the intention of staying there.
That could only have been on your invitation. I confess, however, that I should not have stayed here even if you had invited me, not for any particular reason, but because it is well, contrary to my practice and nature, somehow.
Oh, indeed! Then it is perhaps as well that I neither DID invite you, nor DO invite you now. Excuse me, prince, but we had better make this matter clear, once for all. We have just agreed that with regard to our relationship there is not much to be said, though, of course, it would have been very delightful to us to feel that such relationship did actually exist; therefore, perhaps
Therefore, perhaps I had better get up and go away? said the prince, laughing merrily as he rose from his place; just as merrily as though the circumstances were by no means strained or difficult. And I give you my word, general, that though I know nothing whatever of manners and customs of society, and how people live and all that, yet I felt quite sure that this visit of mine would end exactly as it has ended now. Oh, well, I suppose its all right; especially as my letter was not answered. Well, good-bye, and forgive me for having disturbed you!
The princes expression was so good-natured at this moment, and so entirely free from even a suspicion of unpleasant feeling was the smile with which he looked at the general as he spoke, that the latter suddenly paused, and appeared to gaze at his guest from quite a new point of view, all in an instant.
Do you know, prince, he said, in quite a different tone, I do not know you at all, yet, and after all, Elizabetha Prokofievna would very likely be pleased to have a peep at a man of her own name. Wait a little, if you dont mind, and if you have time to spare?
Oh, I assure you Ive lots of time, my time is entirely my own! And the prince immediately replaced his soft, round hat on the table. I confess, I thought Elizabetha Prokofievna would very likely remember that I had written her a letter. Just now your servant outside there was dreadfully suspicious that I had come to beg of you. I noticed that! Probably he has very strict instructions on that score; but I assure you I did not come to beg. I came to make some friends. But I am rather bothered at having disturbed you; thats all I care about.
Look here, prince, said the general, with a cordial smile, if you really are the sort of man you appear to be, it may be a source of great pleasure to us to make your better acquaintance; but, you see, I am a very busy man, and have to be perpetually sitting here and signing papers, or off to see his excellency, or to my department, or somewhere; so that though I should be glad to see more of people, nice people you see, I however, I am sure you are so well brought up that you will see at once, and but how old are you, prince?
Twenty-six.
No? I thought you very much younger.
Yes, they say I have a young face. As to disturbing you I shall soon learn to avoid doing that, for I hate disturbing people. Besides, you and I are so differently constituted, I should think, that there must be very little in common between us. Not that I will ever believe there is NOTHING in common between any two people, as some declare is the case. I am sure people make a great mistake in sorting each other into groups, by appearances; but I am boring you, I see, you
Just two words: have you any means at all? Or perhaps you may be intending to undertake some sort of employment? Excuse my questioning you, but
Oh, my dear sir, I esteem and understand your kindness in putting the question. No; at present I have no means whatever, and no employment either, but I hope to find some. I was living on other people abroad. Schneider, the professor who treated me and taught me, too, in Switzerland, gave me just enough money for my journey, so that now I have but a few copecks left. There certainly is one question upon which I am anxious to have advice, but
Tell me, how do you intend to live now, and what are your plans? interrupted the general.
I wish to work, somehow or other.
Oh yes, but then, you see, you are a philosopher. Have you any talents, or ability in any direction that is, any that would bring in money and bread? Excuse me again
Oh, dont apologize. No, I dont think I have either talents or special abilities of any kind; on the contrary. I have always been an invalid and unable to learn much. As for bread, I should think
The general interrupted once more with questions; while the prince again replied with the narrative we have heard before. It appeared that the general had known Pavlicheff; but why the latter had taken an interest in the prince, that young gentleman could not explain; probably by virtue of the old friendship with his father, he thought.