Идиот

Chapter 8

           Theirchildrenaresometimescongenitalidiots,liketheheroofourstory;sometimestheyarefoundinthedockattheAssizes,wheretheyaregenerallyacquittedbythejuryforedifyingmotives;sometimestheydistinguishthemselvesbyoneofthoseburningscandalsthatamazethepublicandaddanotherblottothestainedrecordofourage.Sixmonthsagothatis,lastwinterthisparticularscionreturnedtoRussia,wearinggaiterslikeaforeigner,andshiveringwithcoldinanoldscantily-linedcloak.HehadcomefromSwitzerland,wherehehadjustundergoneasuccessfulcourseoftreatmentforidiocy(sic!).CertainlyFortunefavouredhim,for,apartfromtheinterestingmaladyofwhichhewascuredinSwitzerland(cantherebeacureforidiocy?)hisstoryprovesthetruthoftheRussianproverbthat‘happinessistherightofcertainclasses!’Judgeforyourselves.Oursubjectwasaninfantinarmswhenhelosthisfather,anofficerwhodiedjustashewasabouttobecourt-martialledforgamblingawaythefundsofhiscompany,andperhapsalsoforfloggingasubordinatetoexcess(rememberthegoodolddays,gentlemen).TheorphanwasbroughtupbythecharityofaveryrichRussianlandowner.Inthegoodolddays,thisman,whomwewillcallP,ownedfourthousandsoulsasserfs(soulsasserfs!canyouunderstandsuchanexpression,gentlemen?Icannot;itmustbelookedupinadictionarybeforeonecanunderstandit;thesethingsofabygonedayarealreadyunintelligibletous).

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