Идиот

           Andwhowouldtakemewithoutanything?AskGania,there,whetherhewould.Why,evenFerdishenkowouldn’thaveme!”

           “No,Ferdishenkowouldnot;heisacandidfellow,NastasiaPhilipovna,”saidthatworthy.“Buttheprincewould.Yousitheremakingcomplaints,butjustlookattheprince.I’vebeenobservinghimforalongwhile.”

           NastasiaPhilipovnalookedkeenlyroundattheprince.

           “Isthattrue?”sheasked.

           “Quitetrue,”whisperedtheprince.

           “You’lltakemeasIam,withnothing?”

           “Iwill,NastasiaPhilipovna.”

           “Here’saprettybusiness!”criedthegeneral.“However,itmighthavebeenexpectedofhim.”

           TheprincecontinuedtoregardNastasiawithasorrowful,butintentandpiercing,gaze.

           “Here’sanotheralternativeforme,”saidNastasia,turningoncemoretotheactress;“andhedoesitoutofpurekindnessofheart.Iknowhim.I’vefoundabenefactor.Perhaps,though,whattheysayabouthimmaybetrue—thathe’san—weknowwhat.Andwhatshallyouliveon,ifyouarereallysomadlyinlovewithRogojin’smistress,thatyouarereadytomarryher—eh?”

           “Itakeyouasagood,honestwoman,NastasiaPhilipovna—notasRogojin’smistress.”

           “Who?I?—goodandhonest?”

           “Yes,you.”

           “Oh,yougetthoseideasoutofnovels,youknow.Timesarechangednow,dearprince;theworldseesthingsastheyreallyare.