Chapter 11

           TheangeroftheEpanchinfamilywasunappeasedforthreedays.Asusualtheprincereproachedhimself,andhadexpectedpunishment,buthewasinwardlyconvincedthatLizabethaProkofievnacouldnotbeseriouslyangrywithhim,andthatsheprobablywasmoreangrywithherself.Hewaspainfullysurprised,therefore,whenthreedayspassedwithnowordfromher.Otherthingsalsotroubledandperplexedhim,andoneofthesegrewmoreimportantinhiseyesasthedayswentby.Hehadbeguntoblamehimselffortwooppositetendencies—ontheonehandtoextreme,almost“senseless,”confidenceinhisfellows,ontheothertoa“vile,gloomysuspiciousness.”

           BytheendofthethirddaytheincidentoftheeccentricladyandEvgeniePavlovitchhadattainedenormousandmysteriousproportionsinhismind.Hesorrowfullyaskedhimselfwhetherhehadbeenthecauseofthisnew“monstrosity,”orwasit...butherefrainedfromsayingwhoelsemightbeinfault.AsforthelettersN.P.B.,helookedonthatasaharmlessjoke,amerechildishpieceofmischief—sochildishthathefeltitwouldbeshameful,almostdishonourable,toattachanyimportancetoit.

           Thedayafterthesescandalousevents,however,theprincehadthehonourofreceivingavisitfromAdelaidaandherfiance,PrinceS.Theycame,ostensibly,toinquireafterhishealth.