Chapter 10

           AftermoisteninghislipswiththeteawhichVeraLebedeffbroughthim,Hippolytesetthecupdownonthetable,andglancedround.Heseemedconfusedandalmostataloss.

           “Justlook,LizabethaProkofievna,”hebegan,withakindoffeverishhaste;“thesechinacupsaresupposedtobeextremelyvaluable.Lebedeffalwayskeepsthemlockedupinhischina-cupboard;theywerepartofhiswife’sdowry.Yethehasbroughtthemouttonight—inyourhonour,ofcourse!Heissopleased—”Hewasabouttoaddsomethingelse,butcouldnotfindthewords.

           “There,heisfeelingembarrassed;Iexpectedasmuch,”whisperedEvgeniePavlovitchsuddenlyintheprince’sear.“Itisabadsign;whatdoyouthink?Now,outofspite,hewillcomeoutwithsomethingsooutrageousthatevenLizabethaProkofievnawillnotbeabletostandit.”

           Muishkinlookedathiminquiringly.

           “Youdonotcareifhedoes?”addedEvgeniePavlovitch.“NeitherdoI;infact,Ishouldbeglad,merelyasaproperpunishmentforourdearLizabethaProkofievna.Iamveryanxiousthatsheshouldgetit,withoutdelay,andIshallstaytillshedoes.Youseemfeverish.”

           “Nevermind;by-and-by;yes,Iamnotfeelingwell,”saidtheprinceimpatiently,hardlylistening.HehadjustheardHippolytementionhisownname.

           “Youdon’tbelieveit?”saidtheinvalid,withanervouslaugh.“Idon’twonder,buttheprincewillhavenodifficultyinbelievingit;hewillnotbeatallsurprised.