Read Online The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
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capable of when they’re in a state of complete intoxication! ... Hmm! ... I hope there won’t be an “incident”!’ the general concluded reflectively.
‘Are you worried about the million?’ Ganya grinned.
‘You’re not, of course?’
‘How did he seem to you, Prince?’ Ganya said, suddenly addressing him. ‘What is he, a serious man or just a ruffian? Your personal opinion?’
Something strange took place in Ganya as he asked this question. It was as though some new and strange idea began to burn in his brain, glittering impatiently in his eyes. As for the general, who was seriously and genuinely troubled, he also gave the prince a sidelong glance, but as though he did not expect much from his reply.
‘I don’t know how to put it,’ the prince replied, ‘but it seemed to me that there was a lot of passion in him, and even a kind of morbid passion. And he also seems to be quite ill. It may very well be that he’ll take to his bed again in his first few days in St Petersburg, especially if he starts drinking.’
‘Really? Was that what you thought?’
‘Yes, I did.’
‘And in any case, that kind of scandal could take place this very evening, never mind in a few days’ time. Perhaps something will happen tonight,’ Ganya said, smiling crookedly at the general.
‘Hmm! ... Of course ... In a way it all depends on what passes through her head,’ said the general.
‘And after all, you know what she can be like sometimes, don’t you?’
‘What on earth are you trying to say?’ the general blurted out again, having now reached an extreme point of agitation. ‘Listen, Ganya, please don’t contradict her too much today and try, you know, to be ... in short, to get along with her ... Hmm! ... Why are you twisting your mouth like that? Listen, Gavrila Ardalionovich, this may be a good opportunity, a very good opportunity, to say to you now: why are we going to all this trouble? You understand that as far as my personal advantage, which is involved here, goes, it has long ago been secured; one way or another, I shall resolve this matter in my favour. Totsky has taken his decision and will stand by it, of that I am quite certain. And so if I desire anything now, it is only your own good interests. Judge for yourself; what’s the matter, don’t you trust me? Besides, you’re a man ... a man ... in a word, an intelligent man and I have placed my trust in you ... and in the present situation that’s ... that’s ...’
‘That’s the main thing,’ Ganya said, completing the sentence, once again helping the flabbergasted general, and twisting his lips into the most poisonous smile, which he no longer tried to conceal. With his inflamed gaze he stared the general straight in the face, as if in his eyes he wanted him to read everything he was thinking. The general turned crimson with anger, and blazed up.
‘Well yes, intelligence is the main thing!’ he assented, looking sharply at Ganya. ‘And you’re a ridiculous fellow, Gavrila Ardalionych! I mean, I can’t help noticing that you’re simply glad of this merchant chap as a way out for yourself. Well, this is where intelligence should have been used right from the start; this is where you should have understood and ... and dealt honestly and plainly with both sides, or else ... given advance warning so as not to compromise others, particularly as there was enough time to do so, and there remains enough time even now (the general raised his eyebrows meaningfully), even though it’s only a few hours ... Do you understand? Do you? Are you willing to go through withit or not? If not, say so, and - that will be all right! No one is holding you back, Gavrila Ardalionych, no one is luring you into a trap, if a trap is what you see here.’
‘I’m willing to go through with it,’ Ganya said in a low but firm voice, dropping his gaze and lapsing into gloomy silence.
The general was satisfied. The general had lost his temper, but evidently
‘Are you worried about the million?’ Ganya grinned.
‘You’re not, of course?’
‘How did he seem to you, Prince?’ Ganya said, suddenly addressing him. ‘What is he, a serious man or just a ruffian? Your personal opinion?’
Something strange took place in Ganya as he asked this question. It was as though some new and strange idea began to burn in his brain, glittering impatiently in his eyes. As for the general, who was seriously and genuinely troubled, he also gave the prince a sidelong glance, but as though he did not expect much from his reply.
‘I don’t know how to put it,’ the prince replied, ‘but it seemed to me that there was a lot of passion in him, and even a kind of morbid passion. And he also seems to be quite ill. It may very well be that he’ll take to his bed again in his first few days in St Petersburg, especially if he starts drinking.’
‘Really? Was that what you thought?’
‘Yes, I did.’
‘And in any case, that kind of scandal could take place this very evening, never mind in a few days’ time. Perhaps something will happen tonight,’ Ganya said, smiling crookedly at the general.
‘Hmm! ... Of course ... In a way it all depends on what passes through her head,’ said the general.
‘And after all, you know what she can be like sometimes, don’t you?’
‘What on earth are you trying to say?’ the general blurted out again, having now reached an extreme point of agitation. ‘Listen, Ganya, please don’t contradict her too much today and try, you know, to be ... in short, to get along with her ... Hmm! ... Why are you twisting your mouth like that? Listen, Gavrila Ardalionovich, this may be a good opportunity, a very good opportunity, to say to you now: why are we going to all this trouble? You understand that as far as my personal advantage, which is involved here, goes, it has long ago been secured; one way or another, I shall resolve this matter in my favour. Totsky has taken his decision and will stand by it, of that I am quite certain. And so if I desire anything now, it is only your own good interests. Judge for yourself; what’s the matter, don’t you trust me? Besides, you’re a man ... a man ... in a word, an intelligent man and I have placed my trust in you ... and in the present situation that’s ... that’s ...’
‘That’s the main thing,’ Ganya said, completing the sentence, once again helping the flabbergasted general, and twisting his lips into the most poisonous smile, which he no longer tried to conceal. With his inflamed gaze he stared the general straight in the face, as if in his eyes he wanted him to read everything he was thinking. The general turned crimson with anger, and blazed up.
‘Well yes, intelligence is the main thing!’ he assented, looking sharply at Ganya. ‘And you’re a ridiculous fellow, Gavrila Ardalionych! I mean, I can’t help noticing that you’re simply glad of this merchant chap as a way out for yourself. Well, this is where intelligence should have been used right from the start; this is where you should have understood and ... and dealt honestly and plainly with both sides, or else ... given advance warning so as not to compromise others, particularly as there was enough time to do so, and there remains enough time even now (the general raised his eyebrows meaningfully), even though it’s only a few hours ... Do you understand? Do you? Are you willing to go through withit or not? If not, say so, and - that will be all right! No one is holding you back, Gavrila Ardalionych, no one is luring you into a trap, if a trap is what you see here.’
‘I’m willing to go through with it,’ Ganya said in a low but firm voice, dropping his gaze and lapsing into gloomy silence.
The general was satisfied. The general had lost his temper, but evidently
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