Ідіот

Chapter 8

           Theirchildrenaresometimescongenitalidiots,liketheheroofourstory;sometimestheyarefoundinthedockattheAssizes,wheretheyaregenerallyacquittedbythejuryforedifyingmotives;sometimestheydistinguishthemselvesbyoneofthoseburningscandalsthatamazethepublicandaddanotherblottothestainedrecordofourage.Sixmonthsago—thatis,lastwinter—thisparticularscionreturnedtoRussia,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).

Налаштування
Фон сторінки
Розмір шрифту
Міжрядковий інтервал
Фразові дієслова
Показати / Приховати меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Сторінка 397 з 965