The Idiot Page 21

the general’s words.

  “I should think so indeed!” cried the latter. “The court-martial came tono decision. It was a mysterious, an impossible business, one might say!Captain Larionoff, commander of the company, had died; his commandwas handed over to the prince for the moment. Very well. This soldier,Kolpakoff, stole some leather from one of his comrades, intending tosell it, and spent the money on drink. Well! The prince--you understandthat what follows took place in the presence of the sergeant-major, anda corporal--the prince rated Kolpakoff soundly, and threatened to havehim flogged. Well, Kolpakoff went back to the barracks, lay down ona camp bedstead, and in a quarter of an hour was dead: you quiteunderstand? It was, as I said, a strange, almost impossible, affair.In due course Kolpakoff was buried; the prince wrote his report, thedeceased’s name was removed from the roll. All as it should be, is itnot? But exactly three months later at the inspection of the brigade,the man Kolpakoff was found in the third company of the second battalionof infantry, Novozemlianski division, just as if nothing had happened!”

  “What?” said the prince, much astonished.

  “It did not occur--it’s a mistake!” said Nina Alexandrovna quickly,looking, at the prince rather anxiously. “_Mon mari se trompe_,” sheadded, speaking in French.

  “My dear, ‘_se trompe_’ is easily said. Do you remember any case at alllike it? Everybody was at their wits’ end. I should be the first to say‘_qu’on se trompe_,’ but unfortunately I was an eye-witness, and was alsoon the commission of inquiry. Everything proved that it was really he,the very same soldier Kolpakoff who had been given the usual militaryfuneral to the sound of the drum. It is of course a most curiouscase--nearly an impossible one. I recognize that... but--”

  “Father, your dinner is ready,” said Varvara at this point, putting herhead in at the door.

  “Very glad, I’m particularly hungry. Yes, yes, a strangecoincidence--almost a psychological--”

  “Your soup’ll be cold; do come.”

  “Coming, coming,” said the general. “Son of my old friend--” he washeard muttering as he went down the passage.

  “You will have to excuse very much in my husband, if you stay with us,” said Nina Alexandrovna; “but he will not disturb you often. He dinesalone. Everyone has his little peculiarities, you know, and some peopleperhaps have more than those who are most pointed at and laughed at.One thing I must beg of you--if my husband applies to you for paymentfor board and lodging, tell him that you have already paid me. Of courseanything paid by you to the general would be as fully settled as ifpaid to me, so far as you are concerned; but I wish it to be so, if youplease, for convenience’ sake. What is it, Varia?”

  Varia had quietly entered the room, and was holding out the portrait ofNastasia Philipovna to her mother.

  Nina Alexandrovna started, and examined the photograph intently, gazingat it long and sadly. At last she looked up inquiringly at Varia.

  “It’s a present from herself to him,” said Varia; “the question is to befinally decided this evening.”

  “This evening!” repeated her mother in a tone of despair, but softly,as though to herself. “Then it’s all settled, of course, and there’s nohope left to us. She has anticipated her answer by the present of herportrait. Did he show it you himself?” she added, in some surprise.

  “You know we have hardly spoken to each other for a whole month. Ptitsintold me all about it; and the photo was lying under the table, and Ipicked it up.”

  “Prince,” asked Nina Alexandrovna, “I wanted to inquire whether you haveknown my son long? I think he said that you had only arrived today fromsomewhere.”

  The prince gave a short narrative of what we have heard before, leavingout the greater part. The two ladies listened intently.

  “I did not ask about Gania out of curiosity,” said the elder, at last.“I wish to know how much you know about him, because he said just nowthat we need not stand on ceremony with you. What, exactly, does thatmean?”

  At this moment Gania and Ptitsin entered the room together, and NinaAlexandrovna immediately became silent again. The prince remained seatednext to her, but Varia moved to the other end of the room; the portraitof Nastasia Philipovna remained lying as before on the work-table. Ganiaobserved it there, and with a frown of annoyance snatched it up andthrew it across to his writing-table, which stood at the other end ofthe room.

  “Is it today, Gania?” asked Nina Alexandrovna, at last.

  “Is what today?” cried the former. Then suddenly recollecting himself,he turned sharply on the prince. “Oh,” he growled, “I see, you are here,that explains it! Is it a disease, or what, that you can’t hold yourtongue? Look here, understand once for all, prince--”

  “I am to blame in this, Gania--no one else,” said Ptitsin.

  Gania glanced inquiringly at the speaker.

  “It’s better so, you know, Gania--especially as, from one point of view,the matter may be considered as settled,” said Ptitsin; and sittingdown a little way from the table he began to study a paper covered withpencil writing.

  Gania stood and frowned, he expected a family scene. He never thought ofapologizing to the prince, however.

  “If it’s all settled, Gania, then of course Mr. Ptitsin is right,” saidNina Alexandrovna. “Don’t frown. You need not worry yourself, Gania;I shall ask you no questions. You need not tell me anything you don’tlike. I assure you I have quite submitted to your will.” She said allthis, knitting away the while as though perfectly calm and composed.

  Gania was surprised, but cautiously kept silence and looked at hismother, hoping that she would express herself more clearly. NinaAlexandrovna observed his cautiousness and added, with a bitter smile:

  “You are still suspicious, I see, and do not believe me; but you maybe quite at your ease. There shall be no more tears, nor questions--notfrom my side, at all events. All I wish is that you may be happy, youknow that. I have submitted to my fate; but my heart will always bewith you, whether we remain united, or whether we part. Of course I onlyanswer for myself--you can hardly expect your sister--”

  “My sister again,” cried Gania, looking at her with contempt and almosthate. “Look here, mother, I have already given you my word that I shallalways respect you fully and absolutely, and so shall everyone else inthis house, be it who it may, who shall cross this threshold.”

  Gania was so much relieved that he gazed at his mother almostaffectionately.

  “I was not at all afraid for myself, Gania, as you know well. It was notfor my own sake that I have been so anxious and worried all this time!They say it is all to be settled to-day. What is to be settled?”

  “She has promised to tell me tonight at her own house whether sheconsents or not,” replied Gania.

  “We have been silent on this subject for three weeks,” said his mother,“and it was better so; and now I will only ask you one question. How canshe give her consent and make you a present of her portrait when you donot love her? How can such a--such a--”

  “Practised hand--eh?”

  “I was not going to express myself so. But how could you so blind her?”

  Nina Alexandrovna’s question betrayed intense annoyance. Gania waited amoment and then said, without taking the trouble to conceal the irony ofhis tone:

  “There you are, mother, you are always like that. You begin by promisingthat there are to be no reproaches or insinuations or questions, andhere you are beginning them at once. We had better drop the subject--wehad, really. I shall never leave you, mother; any other man would cutand run from such a sister as this. See how she is looking at me at thismoment! Besides, how do you know that I am blinding Nastasia Philipovna?As for Varia, I don’t care--she can do just as she pleases. There,that’s quite enough!”

  Gania’s irritation increased with every word he uttered, as he walked upand down the room. These conversations always touched the family soresbefore long.

  “I have said already that the moment she comes in I go out, and I shallkeep my wor
d,” remarked Varia.

  “Out of obstinacy” shouted Gania. “You haven’t married, either, thanksto your obstinacy. Oh, you needn’t frown at me, Varvara! You can go atonce for all I care; I am sick enough of your company. What, you aregoing to leave us are you, too?” he cried, turning to the prince, whowas rising from his chair.

  Gania’s voice was full of the most uncontrolled and uncontrollableirritation.

  The prince turned at the door to say something, but perceiving inGania’s expression that there was but that one drop wanting to make thecup overflow, he changed his mind and left the room without a word.A few minutes later he was aware from the noisy voices in the drawingroom, that the conversation had become more quarrelsome than ever afterhis departure.

  He crossed the salon and the entrance-hall, so as to pass down thecorridor into his own room. As he came near the front door he heardsomeone outside vainly endeavouring to ring the bell, which wasevidently broken, and only shook a little, without emitting any sound.

  The prince took down the chain and opened the door. He started back inamazement--for there stood Nastasia Philipovna.