Chapter 3

           

           Thefactwasthatuptothelastmomenthehadneverexpectedsuchanending;hehadbeenoverbearingtothelastdegree,neverdreamingthattwodestituteanddefencelesswomencouldescapefromhiscontrol.Thisconvictionwasstrengthenedbyhisvanityandconceit,aconceittothepointoffatuity.PyotrPetrovitch,whohadmadehiswayupfrominsignificance,wasmorbidlygiventoself-admiration,hadthehighestopinionofhisintelligenceandcapacities,andsometimesevengloatedinsolitudeoverhisimageintheglass.Butwhathelovedandvaluedaboveallwasthemoneyhehadamassedbyhislabour,andbyallsortsofdevices:thatmoneymadehimtheequalofallwhohadbeenhissuperiors.

           WhenhehadbitterlyremindedDouniathathehaddecidedtotakeherinspiteofevilreport,PyotrPetrovitchhadspokenwithperfectsincerityandhad,indeed,feltgenuinelyindignantatsuch“blackingratitude.”Andyet,whenhemadeDouniahisoffer,hewasfullyawareofthegroundlessnessofallthegossip.ThestoryhadbeeneverywherecontradictedbyMarfaPetrovna,andwasbythendisbelievedbyallthetownspeople,whowerewarminDounia’adefence.Andhewouldnothavedeniedthatheknewallthatatthetime.YethestillthoughthighlyofhisownresolutioninliftingDouniatohislevelandregardeditassomethingheroic.InspeakingofittoDounia,hehadletoutthesecretfeelinghecherishedandadmired,andhecouldnotunderstandthatothersshouldfailtoadmireittoo.

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