The Idiot, Fyodor Dostoevsky

8/6/2019 The Idiot, Fyodor Dostoevsky

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he Idiot

Part I


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I

wars n Nvmbr, urng a aw, a nnclck n mrnng, a ran n Warsaw an Prs-burg ralway was appracng lar cy a ull sp.T mrnng was s amp an msy a was nly w

gra culy a ay succ n brakng; an was mpssbl sngus anyng mr an a wyars away rm carrag wnws.

Sm passngrs by s parcular ran wr r-urnng rm abra; bu r-class carrags wr bs ll, cy w nsgncan prsns varus c-

cupans an grs, pck up a rn sansnarr wn. All m sm wary, an ms ma slpy ys an a svrng xprssn, wl r cm-plxns gnrally appar av akn n clur g us.

Wn ay awn, w passngrs n n r-class carrags un mslvs pps ac r. B

wr yung llws, b wr rar prly rss, ba rmarkabl acs, an b wr vnly anxus sar a cnvrsan. I y a bu knwn wy, a s par-cular mmn, y wr b rmarkabl prsns, ywul unubly av wnr a srang cancwc a s m wn pps n anr n a r-class carrag Warsaw Ralway Cmpany.


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he Idiot

On m was a yung llw abu wny-svn,n all, w black curlng ar, an small, gry, ry ys.

Hs ns was bra an a, an a g ck bns;s n lps wr cnsanly cmprss n an mpun,rncal mg alms b call a malcussml; bus ra was g an wll rm, an an r ag al uglnss lwr par s ac. Aspcal aur s pysgnmy was s a-lk pallr,wc gav wl man an nscrbably maca

apparanc n sp s ar lk, an a sam ma sr passna an surng xprssn wc narmnz w s mpun, sarcasc sml an kn,sl-sas barng. H wr a larg urr rar asra-canvrca, wc a kp m warm all ng, wls ngbur a bn blg bar ull svry

a Russan Nvmbr ng nrly unprpar. Hs wslvlss manl w a larg cap sr clakn ss upn ravllrs urng wnr mns n Sw-zrlan r Nr Ialywas by n mans aap lng cl jurny rug Russa, rm Eykunn S.Prsburg.

T warr s clak was a yung llw, als abu

wny-sx r wny-svn yars ag, slgly abv ml g, vry ar, w a n, pn an vry lgclur bar; s ys wr larg an blu, an a an n-n lk abu m, y a avy xprssn wc smppl arm b a pculary. as wll as vnc, anplpc subjc. Hs ac was cly a plasan n rall a; rn, bu qu clurlss, xcp r crcum-


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sanc a a s mmn was blu w cl. H la bunl ma up an l a slk ankrc a

apparnly cnan all s ravllng warrb, an wrck ss an gars, s wl apparanc bng vry un-Russan.

Hs black-ar ngbur nspc s pculars,avng nng br , an a lng rmark, wa ru njymn scmrs rs wc cmmn classs s n sw:

Cl?Vry, sa s ngbur, raly. an s s a aw, .

Fancy a bn a ar rs! I nvr ug wulb s cl n l cunry. Iv grwn qu u way .

Wa, bn abra, I supps?

Ys, srag rm Swzrlan.Wug! my gnss! T black-ar yung llwwsl, an n laug.

T cnvrsan prc. T ranss ar-ar yung man n clak answr all s ppsngburs qusns was surprsng. H sm avn suspcn any mprnnc r napprpranss n

ac suc qusns bng pu m. Rplyng m, ma knwn nqurr a cranly abn lng absn rm Russa, mr an ur yars; a a bn sn abra r s al; a a surrm sm srang nrvus malaya kn plpsy,w cnvulsv spasms. Hs nrlcur burs u laug-ng svral ms a s answrs; an mr an vr, wn


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he Idiot

qusn, wr a bn cur? panrpl:

N, y n cur m.Hy! as ! Yu sump up yur mny r nng,

an w blv n s llws, r! rmark black-ar nvual, sarcascally.

Gspl ru, sr, Gspl ru! xclam anr pas-sngr, a sabbly rss man abu ry, w lklk a clrk, an pssss a r ns an a vry blcy ac.

Gspl ru! All y s g l ur g Russanmny r, gras, an r nng.

O, bu yur qu wrng n my parcular nsanc,sa Swss pan, quly. O curs I can argu mar, bcaus I knw nly my wn cas; bu my crgav m mnyan a vry ll pay my jur-

ny back, bss avng kp m a s wn xpns, wlr, r narly w yars.Wy? Was r n n ls pay r yu? ask

blackar n.NMr. Pavlc, w a bn supprng m r,

a cupl yars ag. I wr Mrs. Gnral Epancna m (s s a san rlav mn), bu s n

answr my lr. An s vnually I cam back.An wr av yu cm ?Ta swr am I gng say? II rally n qu

knw y, IB lsnrs laug agan.I supps yur wl s-up s n a bunl, n?

ask rs.


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I b anyng s! xclam r-ns passngr,w xrm sasacn, an a as prcus ll n

luggag van!ug curs pvry s n crmw mus rmmbr a!

I appar a was n as y a surms. Tyung llw asn am ac w wnrulranss.

Yur bunl as sm mpranc, wvr, cnnu clrk, wn y a laug r ll ( was bsrvabl

a subjc r mr jn n laugr wn saw m laugng); r ug I ar say s n suull rrcs r an lus rjug rm yur cs-um an garssll yu can a yur pssssnssuc a valuabl prpry as a rlan lk Mrs. Gnral Ep-ancn, n yur bunl bcms a sgncan bjc a

nc. Ta s, curs, yu rally ar a rlav Mrs.Epancns, an av n ma a ll rrr rugwll,absnc mn, wc s vry cmmn uman bngs;r, sayrug a luxuran ancy?

O, yu ar rg agan, sa ar-ar ravllr,r I rally am ALMOS wrng wn I say s an I arrla. S s arly a rlan a all; s ll, n ac, a I

was n n las surprs av n answr my lr.I xpc as muc.

Hm! yu spn yur psag r nng, n. Hm!yu ar can, wvran a s cmmnabl. Hm!Mrs. Epancn ys! a ms mnn prsn. I knw r.As r Mr. Pavlc, w suppr yu n Swzrlan,I knw m a las, was Ncla Anrvc


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he Idiot

a nam? A n llw wasan a a prpry urusan suls n s ay.

Ys, Ncla Anrvca was s nam, an yung llw lk arnsly an w cursy a all-knwng gnlman w r ns.

Ts sr caracr s m w pry rqunly n acran class. Ty ar ppl w knw vrynas, y knw wr a man s mply, wa s salary s,wm knws, wm marr, wa mny s w

a, w ar s cusns, an scn cusns, c., c.Ts mn gnrally av abu a unr puns a yar lv n, an y spn r wl m an alns n amassng s syl knwlg, wc y rucrras sanar a scnc.

Durng lar par cnvrsan black-

ar yung man a bcm vry mpan. H saru wnw, an g, an vnly lng r n jurny. H was vry absn; wul appar lsn-an ar nng; an wul laug a su-n, vnly w n a wa was laugng abu.

Excus m, sa r-ns man yung llww bunl, rar sunly; wm av I nur

b alkng ?Prnc L Nclavc Muskn, rpl lar,

w prc ranss.Prnc Muskn? L Nclavc? Hm! I n knw,

Im sur! I may say I av nvr ar suc a prsn, sa clrk, ugully. A las, nam, I am, s s-rcal. Karamsn mus mnn amly nam, curs,


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n s srybu as an nvualn nvr ars anyPrnc Muskn nwaays.

O curs n, rpl prnc; r ar nn, xcpmysl. I blv I am las an nly n. As my ra-rs, y av always bn a pr l; my wn ar was asublunan n army. I n knw w Mrs. Epancncms n Muskn amly, bu s s scn rm Prncss Muskn, an s, , s las r ln.

An yu larn scnc an all a, w yur prs-

sr vr r? ask black-ar passngr.O ysI larn a ll, buIv nvr larn anyng wavr, sa r.O, bu I larn vry ll, yu knw! a prnc,

as ug xcusng msl. Ty cul n ac m vrymuc n accun my llnss.

D yu knw Rgjns? ask s qusnr,abruply.N, I nn a all! I arly knw anyn n Russa.

Wy, s a yur nam?Ys, I am Rgjn, Parn Rgjn.Parn Rgjn? ar mn n yu blng

s vry Rgjns, praps bgan clrk, w a vry

prcpbl ncras cvly n s n.Yss vry ns, nrrup Rgjn, mpanly,

an w scan cursy. I may rmark a a n ncakn any nc blcy-ac passngr, an ar arss all s rmarks rc prnc.

Dar ms pssbl? bsrv clrk, wl sac assum an xprssn gra rnc an srvl-


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he Idiot10

y n abslu alarm: wa, a sn a vry SmnRgjn rary nurabl cznw a

mn r s ag an l w mlln an a al rubls?An w YOU knw a l w mlln an a al

rubls? ask Rgjn, sanully, an n gnng smuc as lk a r. Hwvr, s ru nug amy ar a mn ag, an a r am I rurnngrm Psk, a mn ar, w arly a b my .Tyv ra m lk a g! Iv bn ll vr a Psk

wl m, an n a ln, nr arng mny, av Ircv rm my mr r my cnun brr!

An nw yull av a mlln rubls, a lasg-nss gracus m! xclam clrk, rubbng s ans.

Fv wks snc, I was jus lk yursl, cnnuRgjn, arssng prnc, w nng bu a bunl

an cls I wr. I ran away rm my ar an cam Psk my auns us, wr I cav n a nc wvr, an wn an wl I was away. All nur my rspc ars mmrybu uncmmnly narlykll m, all sam. Gv yu my wr, prnc, I ancu an run n, wn I , av murr m lka g.

I supps yu angr m smw? ask prnc,lkng a mllnar w cnsrabl cursy Buug r may av bn smng rmarkabl n ac a s man was r mllns rubls r wassmng abu m wc surprs an nrs prnc mr an a. Rgjn, , sm av aknup cnvrsan w unusual alacry appar a


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was sll n a cnsrabl sa xcmn, n abs-luly vrs, an was n ral n smn alk r

mr sak alkng, as say-valv s agan.As r s r-ns ngbur, larsnc n-

rman as ny Rgjnung vr m,sm b lvng n ny s wrs an n bra s nsrls, cacng a vry syllabl as ug wr a parl gra prc.

O, ys; I angr mI cranly angr m, r-

pl Rgjn. Bu wa pus m u s s my brr. Ocurs my mr culn anyngss lanwavr brr Snka says s law r r! Bu wy culn l m knw? H sn a lgram, y say. Was g a lgram? I rgn my aun s a s sn back c unpn, an r s bn vr snc!

Is nly anks Kn a I ar a all; wr m allabu . H says my brr cu gl assls rmmy ars cn, a ng bcaus yr wr a l mny! says . Wy, I can g m sn Sbra ra aln, I lk; s sacrlg. Hr, yuscarcrw! a, arssng clrk a s s, s sacrlg r n,by law?

Sacrlg, cranlycranly sacrlg, sa lar.An s Sbra r sacrlg, sn ?Unubly s; Sbra, curs!Ty wll nk a Im sll ll, cnnu Rgjn

prnc, bu I slp quly, sy as I was, k ran an cam away. Aa, brr Snka, yull av pn yur gas an l m n, my by! I knw l als


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he Idiot1

abu m my arI knw a wll nug bu I cr-anly rl my ar abu Nasasa Plpvna as

vry sur, an a was my wn ng.Nasasa Plpvna? sa clrk, as ug ryng

nk u smng.Cm, yu knw nng abu HER, sa Rgjn, m-

panly.An suppsng I knw smng? bsrv -

r, rumpanly.

Bs! r ar plny Nasasa Plpvnas. An waan mprnn bas yu ar! a angrly. I ugsm craur lk yu wul ang n m as sn as I gl my mny.

O, bu I knw, as appns, sa clrk n anaggravang mannr. Lb knws all abu r. Yu

ar plas rprac m, yur xcllncy, bu wa Iprv a I am rg ar all? Nasasa Pllpvnas amlynam s BaraskI knw, yu s-an s s a vry wllknwn lay, n, an cms a g amly, . Ss cnnc w n sk, Aanasy Ivanvc, a man cnsrabl prpry, a rcr cmpans, an s n,an a gra rn Gnral Epancn, w s nrs n

sam mars as s.My ys! sa Rgjn, rally surprs a las. T vl

ak llw, w s knw a?Wy, knws vryngLb knws vryng!

I was a mn r w w Lac ar s ar ,yur xcllncy, an wl was knckng abus n brs prsn nwI was w m, an culn


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a ng wu Lb; an I g knw NasasaPlpvna an svral ppl a a m.

Nasasa Plpvna? Wy, yu n man say as an Lac cr Rgjn, urnng qu pal.

N, n, n, n, n! Nng sr, I assur yu! saLb, asly. O ar n, n r wrl! sks nly man w any canc r. O, n! H aks r sbx a pra a Frnc ar an vnng, an crs an ppl all lk a r an say, By Jv, rs

amus Nasasa Plpvna! bu n n vr gs anyurr an a, r r s nng mr say.

Ys, s qu ru, sa Rgjn, rwnng glmly; sZals l m. I was walkng abu Nsky n nay, prnc, n my ars l ca, wn s sunly camu a sp an spp n r carrag. I swar I was all

a blaz a nc. Tn I m Zalslkng lk a ar-rssrs asssan, g up as n as I n knw w, wlI lk lk a nkr. Dn ar yursl, my by, sa; ss n r suc as yu; ss a prncss, s s, an rnam s Nasasa Plpvna Barask, an s lvs wsk, w wss g r r bcaus s grwngrar lyv r san wans marry a cran

bauy, lvls wman n all Prsburg. An n l m a I cul s Nasasa Plpvna a pra-us a vnng, I lk, an scrb wc was rbx. Wll, I lk s my ar allwng any us g ar; snr av kll us, any ay. Hwvr,I wn r an ur r s an saw Nasasa Plpvna, anI nvr slp a wnk all ng ar. Nx mrnng my ar


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he Idiot1

appn gv m w gvrnmn lan bns sll,wr narly v usan rubls ac. Sll m, sa

, an n ak svn usan v unr rubls c, gv m casr, an brng m back rs n usan, wu lkng n anywr n way; lk sarp, I sall b wang r yu. Wll, I sl bns, bu I n ak svn usan rubls c; I wn srag Engls sp an cs apar arrngs, w a amn sz a nu n ac.

Ty cs ur unr rubls mr an I a, s I gavmy nam, an y rus m. W arrngs I wn anc Zalss. Cm n! I sa, cm n NasasaPlpvnas, an w wn wu mr a. I ll yuI an a nn wa was abu m r br m r b-lw my all way; I saw nng wavr. W wn

srag n r rawng-rm, an n s cam u us.I n say rg u w I was, bu Zals sa: Frm

Parn Rgjn, n mmry s rs mng w yuysray; b s kn as accp s!

S pn parcl, lk a arrngs, anlaug.

Tank yur rn Mr. Rgjn r s kn ann,says s, an bw an wn . Wy n I rn sp? T wrs all was, ug, a basZals g all cr ! I was sr an abmnablyrss, an s an sar n r ac an nvr sa awr, bcaus I was sy, lk an ass! An r was all n asn, pma an rss u, w a smar n,


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bwng an scrapng; an I b anyng s k m rm all wl!

Lk r nw, I sa, wn w cam u, nn yurnrrnc r ar s- yu unrsan? H laug:An w ar yu gng sl up w yur ar? says. I ug I mg as wll jump n Nva a ncwu gng m rs; bu sruck m a I wuln,ar all, an I wn m lng lk n amn.

My gnss! svr clrk. An s ar,

a, r prncs nsrucn, an s ar wulav gvn a man a ck r wrl r n rublsany ayn spak n usan!

T prnc bsrv Rgjn w gra cursy; sm palr an vr a s mmn.

Wa yu knw abu ? cr lar. Wll,

my ar larn wl sry a nc, an Zalsblabb all vr wn bss. S k m upsarsan lck m up, an swr a m r an ur. Ts s nlya ras, says ; wa a b ll ng cms, an Ill cmback an alk yu agan.

Wll, wa yu nk? T l llw wn srag Nasasa Plpvna, uc r w s ra,

an bgan blubbrng an bscng r n s kns gv m back amns. S ar awl s brug bx an w u a m. Tr, s says, ak yur ar-rngs, yu wrc l msr; alug y ar n msarr an r valu m nw a I knw wa musav cs Parn g m! Gv Parn my cmplmns,s says, an ank m vry muc! Wll, I manwl a


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he Idiot1

brrw wny-v rubls rm a rn, an I wn Psk my auns. T l wman r lcur m s

a I l us an wn n a rnkng ur run publc-uss plac. I was n a g vr wn I g Psk, an by ngall I was lyng lrus n srssmwr r r!

O! wll mak Nasasa Plpvna sng anr sngnw! gggl Lb, rubbng s ans w gl. Hy,my by, wll g r sm prpr arrngs nw! Wll g

r suc arrngs aLk r, cr Rgjn, szng m rcly by

arm, lk r, yu s muc as nam Nasasa Plpv-na agan, Ill an yur as sur as yu s r!

Aa! by all mans! yu an my yu wn urnm away rm yur scy. Yull bn m yu, w yur

las, r vr. Ha, a! r w ar a san, ug.Sur nug, ran was jus samng n as spk.Tug Rgjn a clar a l Psk scrly,

a larg cllcn rns a assmbl gr m, an s w prus wavng as an sung.

Wy, rs Zals r, ! mur, gazng a scn w a sr rumpan bu unplasan sml.

Tn sunly urn prnc: Prnc, I n knwwy I av akn a ancy yu; praps bcaus I m yujus wn I . Bu n, can b a, r I m s llw (nng a Lb) , an I av n akn a ancy m by any mans. Cm s m, prnc; wll ak s gars yurs an rss yu up n a smar ur ca, bs w can buy. Yu sall av a rss ca, bs qualy,


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w wasca, anyng yu lk, an yur pck sall bull mny. Cm, an yu sall g w m Nasasa

Plpvnas. Nw n wll yu cm r n?Accp, accp, Prnc L Nclavc sa Lb

slmnly; n l slp! Accp, quck!Prnc Muskn rs an src u s an cur-

usly, wl rpl w sm craly:I wll cm w gras plasur, an ank yu

vry muc r akng a ancy m. I ar say I may vn

cm ay I av m, r I ll yu rankly a I lk yuvry muc . I lk yu spcally wn yu l us abu amn arrngs; bu I lk yu br a as wll,ug yu av suc a ark-clu sr ac. Tanks

vry muc r r cls an a ur ca; I cranlysall rqur b cls an ca vry sn. As r mny,

I av arly a cpck abu m a s mmn.Yu sall av ls mny; by vnng I sall avplny; s cm alng!

Tas ru nug, ll av ls br vnng! pun Lb.

Bu, lk r, ar yu a gra an w las? Lsknw a rs? ask Rgjn.

O n, n! sa prnc; I culn, yu knwmyllnssI arly vr saw a sul.

Hm! wllr, yu llw-yu can cm alng wm nw yu lk! cr Rgjn Lb, an s yall l carrag.

Lb a s sr. H wn w nsy grup Rgjns rns wars Vznsnsky, wl


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he Idiot1

prncs ru lay wars Laynaya. I was amp anw. T prnc ask s way passrs-by, an nng

a was a cupl mls r s rm s snan, rmn ak a rsky.


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1

II

Gnral Epancn lv n s wn us nar L-aynaya. Bss s larg rsncv-sxs wc was l n as an lgngs- gnral was wn-r anr nrmus us n Savaya brngng n

vn mr rn an rs. Bss s uss aa lgul ll sa jus u wn, an sm sr acry n anr par cy. Gnral Epancn, as v-ryn knw, a a g al w cran gvrnmnmnpls; was als a vc, an an mpran n, nmany rc publc cmpans varus scrpns; n ac,

njy rpuan bng a wll- man busyabs, many s, an afun mans. H a ma m-sl nspnsabl n svral quarrs, amngs rs n sparmn gvrnmn; an y was a knwn aca Fr Ivanvc Epancn was a man n ucanwavr, an a absluly rsn rm ranks.

Ts las ac cul, curs, rc nng bu cr

upn gnral; an y, ug unqusnably a saga-cus man, a s wn ll waknsss-vry xcusablns,n wc was a slk any allusn abv crcumsanc. H was unubly clvr. Fr n-sanc, ma a pn nvr assrng msl wn wul gan mr by kpng n backgrun; an n cn-squnc many xal prsnags valu m prncpally


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he Idiot0

r s umly an smplcy, an bcaus knw splac. An y s g ppl cul nly av a a

pp n mn s xclln llw w knw splac s wll! T ac s a, n sp s knwlg wrl an s rally rmarkabl abls, always lk appar b carryng u r ppls as rar ans wn. An als, s luck slm al m, vn a cars,r wc a a passn a n amp cn-cal. H play r g saks, an mv, algr, n

vry var scy.As ag, Gnral Epancn was n vry prm l;

a s, abu y-v yars ag, wrng m xsnc, wn ral njymn l bgns. Hs alyapparanc, g clur, sun, ug sclur ,sury gur, prccup ar urng busnss urs, an

jlly g umur urng s gam a cars n vnng,all br wnss s succss n l, an cmbn makxsnc a b rss s xcllncy. T gnral waslr a ursng amly, cnssng s w an rgrwn-up augrs. H a marr yung, wl sll alunan, s w bng a grl abu s wn ag, wpssss nr bauy nr ucan, an w brug

m n mr an y suls lan prpry, wc llsa srv, wvr, as a ns-gg r ar mr mpranaccumulans. T gnral nvr rgr s arly mar-rag, r rgar as a ls yuul scapa; an s rspc an ar s w a was vry nar lvngr. Mrs. Epancn cam prncly sck Muskn,wc n a brllan, was, a all vns, a cly an-


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cn amly; an s was xrmly pru r scn.W a w xcpns, wry cupl a lv

rug r lng unn vry apply. Wl sll yung w a bn abl mak mpran rns amng arscracy, parly by vru r amly scn, an par-ly by r wn xrns; wl, n ar l, anks rwal an psn r usban n srvc, sk r plac amng gr crcls as by rg.

Durng s las w yars all r gnrals

augrsAlxanra, Alaa, an Aglayaa grwn upan maur. O curs y wr nly Epancns, bu rmrs amly was nbl; y mg xpc cnsrablruns; r ar a ps aanng vry grank n n s cunrys srvc-all wc was sas-acry. All r grls wr cly pry, vn

ls, Alxanra, w was jus wny-v yars l. Tml augr was nw wny-r, wl yung-s, Aglaya, was wny. Ts yungs grl was abslulya bauy, an a bgun la arac cnsrabl a-nn n scy. Bu s was n all, r vry n r was clvr, wll uca, an accmpls.

I was a mar gnral knwlg a r grls

wr vry n n anr, an suppr ac -r n vry way; was vn sa a w lr nsa ma cran sacrcs r sak l usl, Aglaya. In scy y n nly slk assr-ng mslvs, bu wr acually rrng. Cranly n ncul blam m r bng arrgan r augy, any vryby was wll awar a y wr pru an


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he Idiot

qu unrs r wn valu. T ls was muscal,wl scn was a clvr ars, wc ac s a cn-

cal unl laly. In a wr, wrl spk wll grls; bu y wr n wu r nms, an cca-snally ppl alk w rrr numbr bksy a ra.

Ty wr n n urry marry. Ty lk g sc-y, bu wr n kn abu . All s was mrrmarkabl, bcaus vryn was wll awar ps

an ams r parns.I was abu lvn clck n rnn wn

prnc rang bll a Gnral Epancns r. T gn-ral lv n rs r r a us, as ms algng as s psn prm. A lvr srvan pn r, an prnc was blg nr n lng x-

planans w s gnlman, w, rm rs glanc,lk a m an s bunl w grav suspcn. A las,wvr, n rpa psv assuranc a rallywas Prnc Muskn, an mus absluly s gnraln busnss, bwlr msc sw m n all an-cambr lang a wang-rm a ajn gnrals suy, r anng m vr anr sr-

van, ws uy was b n s an-cambr all mrnng, an annunc vsrs gnral. Ts sc-n nvual wr a rss ca, an was sm ry yars ag; was gnrals spcal suy srvan, an wllawar s wn mpranc.

Wa n nx rm, plas; an lav yur bunlr, sa r-kpr, as sa wn cmrably n


23/911

s wn asy-car n an-cambr. H lk a prnc n svr surprs as lar sl msl n an-

r car alngs, w s bunl n s kns.I yu n mn, I wul rar s r w yu, sa

prnc; I sul prr sng n r.O, bu yu can say r. Yu ar a vsra gus, s

spak. Is gnral msl yu ws s?T man vnly cul n ak n a suc a

sabbylkng vsr, an a c ask nc mr.

YsI av busnss bgan prnc.I n ask yu wa yur busnss may b, all I av

s annunc yu; an unlss scrary cms nr I cann a.

T mans suspcns sm ncras mr an mr.T prnc was unlk usual run aly vsrs;

an alug gnral cranly rcv, n busnss,all srs an cnns mn, y n sp s ac srvan l gra ubs n subjc s parcular

vsr. T prsnc scrary as an nrmarywas, jug, ssnal n s cas.

Surly yuar rm abra? nqur a las, n acnus sr way. H a bgun s snnc nnng

say, Surly yu ar n Prnc Muskn, ar yu?Ys, srag rm ran! D n yu nn say,

Surly yu ar n Prnc Muskn? jus nw, bu r-ran u plnss ?

Hm! grun asns srvan.I assur yu I am n cvng yu; yu sall n av

answr r m. As my bng rss lk s, an car-


24/911

he Idiot

ryng a bunl, rs nng surprsng n a acs, my crcumsancs ar n parcularly rsy a s m-

mn.Hm!n, Im n ara a, yu s; I av an-

nunc yu, as all. T scrary wll b u rcly-as, unlss yuys, as rubunlss yucm, yumus allw m ask yuyuv n cm bg, avyu?

O ar n, yu can b prcly asy n a scr. I

av qu anr mar n an.Yu mus xcus my askng, yu knw. Yur apparanc

l m nkbu jus wa r scrary; gnrals busy nw, bu scrary s sur cm u.

Owll, lk r, I av sm m wa, wulyu mn llng m, s r any plac abu wr I cul

av a smk? I av my pp an bacc w m.SMOKE? sa man, n sck bu sanul sur-prs, blnkng s ys a prnc as ug cul nblv s snss. N, sr, yu cann smk r, an Iwnr yu ar n asam vry suggsn. Ha, a!a cl a a, I clar!

O, I n man n s rm! I knw I can smk

r, curs. I ajurn sm r rm, wrvryu lk sw m . Yu s, Im us smkng a gal, an nw I avn a a pu r r urs; wvr,

jus as yu lk.Nw w n ar am I annunc a man lk a?

mur srvan. In rs plac, yuv n rg nr a all; yu ug b n wang-rm, bcaus


25/911

yur a sr vsra gus, n acan I sall cac r s. Lk r, yu nn ak up yu ab w

us? a, glancng nc mr a prncs bunl,wc vnly gav m n pac.

N, I n nk s. I n nk I sul say vn y wr nv m. Iv smply cm mak r ac-quananc, an nng mr.

Mak r acquananc? ask man, n amaz-mn, an w rubl suspcn. Tn wy yu say

yu a busnss w gnral?O wll, vry ll busnss. Tr s n ll mar

sm avc I am gng ask m r; bu my prncpalbjc s smply nruc mysl, bcaus I am PrncMuskn, an Maam Epancn s las r branc us, an bss rsl an m r ar n r

Muskns l.Wayur a rlan n, ar yu? ask sr-van, s bwlr a bgan l qu alarm.

Wll, arly s. I yu src a pn, w ar rlans, curs, bu s san a n cann rally ak cg-nzanc . I nc wr yur msrss rm abra,bu s n rply. Hwvr, I av ug rg

mak acquananc w r n my arrval. I am llng yuall s n rr as yur mn, r I s yu ar sllar rm cmrabl n my accun. All yu av s annunc m as Prnc Muskn, an bjc my

vs wll b plan nug. I I am rcvvry g; n, wll, vry g agan. Bu y ar sur rcv m, Isul nk; Maam Epancn wll naurally b curus


26/911

he Idiot

s nly rmanng rprsnav r amly. Svalus r Muskn scn vry gly, I am rgly n-

rm.T prncs cnvrsan was arlss an cnng a

gr, an srvan cul n lp lng a as rm vsr cmmn srvng-man s sa ngs wasgly mprpr. Hs cnclusn was a n w ngsmus b xplanan r a s was a bggngmpsr, r a prnc, prnc wr, was smply

a l, wu slgs ambn; r a snsbl prncw any ambn wul cranly n wa abu n an-rms w srvans, an alk s wn prva aars lks. In r cas, w was annunc s sngular

vsr?I rally nk I mus rqus yu sp n nx

rm! sa, w all nssnc cul musr.Wy? I I a bn sng r nw, I sul n ava ppruny makng s prsnal xplanans.I s yu ar sll unasy abu m an kp yng my clakan bunl. Dn yu nk yu mg g n yursl nw,wu wang r scrary cm u?

N, n! I can annunc a vsr lk yursl w-

u scrary. Bss gnral sa was n bsurb s w Clnl C. Gavrla Araln-

vc gs n wu annuncng.W may a b? a clrk?Wa? Gavrla Aralnvc? O n; blngs n

cmpans. Lk r, a all vns pu yur bunlwn, r.


27/911

Ys, I wll I may; ancan I ak my clakO curs; yu can g n HERE w n, anyw.

T prnc rs an k s manl, rvalng a nanug mrnng csuma ll wrn, bu wll ma. Hwr a sl wac can an rm s can r ung aslvr Gnva wac. Fl prnc mg b, sll, gn-rals srvan l a was n crrc r m cnnu cnvrs us w a vsr, n sp ac a prnc plas m smw.

An wa m ay s lay rcv? larask, rsang msl n s l plac.

O, as n n my prvnc! I blv s rcvs aany m; pns upn vsrs. T rssmakr gsn a lvn. Gavrla Aralnvc s allw muc arlran r ppl, ; s vn am arly lunc

nw an n.I s muc warmr n rms r an s abra as sasn, bsrv prnc; bu s muc warmrr u rs. As r ussa Russan can lv nm n wnr unl gs accusm m.

Dn y a m a all?Wll, y a m a ll; bu uss an svs

ar s rn urs.Hm! wr yu lng away?Fur yars! an I was n sam plac narly all

m,n n vllag.Yu mus av rgn Russa, an yu?Ys, n I aa g al; an, wul yu blv

, I n wnr a mysl r n avng rgn w


28/911

he Idiot

spak Russan? Evn nw, as I alk yu, I kp sayng mysl w wll I am spakng . Praps a s parly

wy I am s alkav s mrnng. I assur yu, vr sncysray vnng I av a srngs sr g nan n alkng Russan.

Hm! ys; yu lv n Prsburg n rmr yars?Ts g unky, n sp s cnscnus scrupls,

rally cul n rss cnnung suc a vry gnl anagrabl cnvrsan.

In Prsburg? O n! arly a all, an nw y say smuc s cang n plac a vn s w knw wll ar blg rlarn wa y knw. Ty alk ag al abu nw law curs, an cangs r,n y?

Hm! ys, as ru nug. Wll nw, w s law

vr r, y amnsr mr jusly an r?O, I n knw abu a! Iv ar muc a s gabu ur lgal amnsran, . Tr s n capal pun-smn r r n ng.

Is r vr r?YsI saw an xcun n Franca Lyns. Scnr

k m vr w m s .

Wa, y ang llw?N, y cu ppls as n Franc.Wa llw ?yll?O ns wrk an nsan. Ty pu a man n-

s a ram an a sr bra kn alls by macnry-y call ng a gulln- alls w arul rc anwg- a sprngs s quckly a yu can wnk


29/911

yur y n bwn. Bu all prparans ar s raul.Wn y annunc snnc, yu knw, an prpar

crmnal an s ans, an car m sca-las arul par busnss. T ppl allcrw runvn wmnug y n a all apprv wmn lkng n.

N, s n a ng r wmn.O curs n curs n!ba! T crmnal was

a n nllgn arlss man; L Grs was s nam; an I

may ll yublv r n, as yu lka wn aman spp upn scal CRIED, n, was as w as a b papr. Isn a raul a a sul av cr cr! Wvr ar a grwnman cryng rm arn a cl, bu a man w nvra cr bra grwn man ry-v yars. Imagn

wa mus av bn gng n n a mans mn a suc ammn; wa raul cnvulsns s wl spr musav nur; s an urag n sul as wa s.Bcaus s sa u sal n kll, s b kll b-caus murr sm n ls? N, s n rg, s anmpssbl ry. I assur yu, I saw sg a mn agan s ancng br my ys s mmn. I ram

, n.T prnc a grwn anma as spk, an a ng

clur suus s pal ac, ug s way alkngwas as qu as vr. T srvan llw s wrs wsympac nrs. Clarly was n a all anxus brng cnvrsan an n. W knws? Praps was a man magnan an w sm capacy r


30/911

he Idiot0

ug.Wll, a all vns s a g ng a rs n pan

wn pr llws a s , rmark.D yu knw, ug, cr prnc warmly, yu

ma a rmark nw, an vryn says sam ng,an macn s sgn w purps avngpan, s gulln I man; bu a ug cam n mya n: wa b a ba plan ar all? Yu may lauga my a, prapsbu I cul n lp s ccurrng

m all sam. Nw w rack an rurs an snyu sur rrbl pan curs; bu n yur r-ur s bly pan nly (alug n ub yu av plny a) unl yu . Bu HERE I sul magn msrrbl par wl punsmn s, n bly pana allbu cran knwlg a n an ur,n n

n mnus, n n al a mnu, n nws vry IN-SANyur sul mus qu yur by an a yu wlln lngr b a man an a s s cran, CERAIN!Tas pn crany . Jus a nsan wnyu plac yur a n blck an ar rn gravr yur ana quarr a scn s msawul all.

Ts s n my wn anascal pnnmany pplav ug sam; bu I l s ply a Ill ll yuwa I nk. I blv a xcu a man r murr s puns m mmasurably mr raully an s quva-ln s crm. A murr by snnc s ar mr raulan a murr cmm by a crmnal. T man w saack by rbbrs a ng, n a ark w, r anywr,


31/911

unubly ps an ps a may y scap unl vry mmn s a. Tr ar plny nsanc-

s a man runnng away, r mplrng r mrcya allvns png n n sm grvn ar s ra wascu. Bu n cas an xcun, a las pav-ng wc s s mmasurably lss raul ,sakn away rm wrc an CERAINY subsun s plac! Tr s s snnc, an w a rrblcrany a cann pssbly scap awc, I

cnsr, mus b ms raul angus n wrl.Yu may plac a slr br a cannns mu n bal,an r upn man wll sll p. Bu ra asam slr s a-snnc, an wll r g mar burs n ars. W ars say a any man can su-r s wu gng ma? N, n! s an abus, a sam,

s unncssarywy sul suc a ng xs? Dub-lss r may b mn w av bn snnc, w avsur s mnal angus r a wl an n av bnrprv; praps suc mn may av bn abl rlar lngs arwars. Our Lr Crs spk s an-gus an ra. N! n! n! N man sul b ra s,n man, n man!

T srvan, ug curs cul n av x-prss all s as prnc , sll clarly nr n an was graly cncla, as was vn rm n-cras amably s xprssn. I yu ar rally vryanxus r a smk, rmark, I nk mg ps-sbly b manag, yu ar vry quck abu . Yu sy mg cm u an nqur r yu, an yu wuln


32/911

he Idiot

b n sp. Yu s a r r? G n r anyull n a ll rm n rg; yu can smk r,

nly pn wnw, bcaus I ug n allw rally,an. Bu r was n m, ar all.

A yung llw nr an-rm a s mmn,w a bunl paprs n s an. T man asn lp m ak s vrca. T nw arrval glanc a prnc u crnrs s ys.

Ts gnlman clars, Gavrla Aralnvc, bgan

man, cnnally an alms amlarly, a sPrnc Muskn an a rlav Maam Epancns. Has jus arrv rm abra, w nng bu a bunl byway luggag.

T prnc n ar rs, bcaus a s pn srvan cnnu s cmmuncan n a wspr.

Gavrla Aralnvc lsn anvly, an gaz a prnc w gra cursy. A las mn manas an spp urrly wars prnc.

Ar yu Prnc Muskn? ask, w grascursy an amably.

H was a rmarkably ansm yung llw smwny-g summrs, ar an ml g; wr a

small bar, an s ac was ms nllgn. Y s sml,n sp s swnss, was a ll n, I may s call ,an sw s vnly; s gaz ug clyg-umur an ngnuus, was a r nqusvan nn b algr agrabl.

Prbably wn s aln lks qu rn, anarly smls a all! ug prnc.


33/911

H xplan abu msl n a w wrs, vry muc sam as a l man an Rgjn br-

an.Gavrla Aralnvc manwl sm b ryng

rcall smng.Was n yu, n, w sn a lr a yar r lss ag

rm Swzrlan, I nk was Elzaba Prkvna(Mrs. Epancn)?

I was.

O, n, curs y wll rmmbr w yu ar.Yu ws s gnral? Ill ll m a nc wll br n a mnu; bu yuyu a br wa n an-cambr,an yu? Wy s r? a, svrly, man.

I ll yu, sr, ws msl!

A s mmn suy r pn, an a mlaryman, w a prl unr s arm, cam u alkng lu-ly, an ar bng g-by smn ns, k sparur.

Yu r, Gana? cr a vc rm suy, cm nr, wll yu?

Gavrla Aralnvc n prnc an n-

r rm asly.A cupl mnus lar r pn agan an

aabl vc Gana cr:Cm n plas, prnc!


34/911


35/911

; bu I gv yu my wr, byn plasur makngyur acquananc I a n prsnal bjc wavr.

T plasur s, curs, muual; bu l s n all pla-sur, as yu ar awar. Tr s suc a ng as busnss, anI rally n s wa pssbl rasn r can b, r waw av n cmmn

O, r s n rasn, curs, an I supps r snng n cmmn bwn us, r vry ll; r I amPrnc Muskn, an yur w appns b a mmbr

my us, a can arly b call a rasn. I qu unr-san a. An y a was my wl mv r cmng.Yu s I av n bn n Russa r ur yars, an knwvry ll abu anyng wn I l. I a bn vry ll ra lng m, an I l nw n a w g rns.In ac, I av a cran qusn upn wc I muc n

avc, an n knw wm g r . I ug yur amly wn I was passng rug Brln. Ty aralms rlans, I sa mysl, s Ill bgn w m;praps w may g n w ac r, I w m any w m, y ar kn ppl; an I av ar ayu ar vry kn ppl!

O, ank yu, ank yu, Im sur, rpl gnral,

cnsrably akn aback. May I ask wr yu av aknup yur quarrs?

Nwr, as y.Wa, srag rm san my us? An w

abu yur luggag?I nly a a small bunl, cnanng lnn, w m,

nng mr. I can carry n my an, asly. Tr wll


36/911

he Idiot

b plny m ak a rm n sm l by v-nng.

O, n yu DO nn ak a rm?O curs. jug rm yur wrs, yu cam srag my

us w nnn sayng r.Ta cul nly av bn n yur nvan. I cnss,

wvr, a I sul n av say r vn yu anv m, n r any parcular rasn, bu bcaus s

wll, cnrary my pracc an naur, smw.O, n! Tn s praps as wll a I nr DID

nv yu, nr DO nv yu nw. Excus m, prnc, buw a br mak s mar clar, nc r all. W avjus agr a w rgar ur rlansp r s nmuc b sa, ug, curs, wul av bn vry

lgul us l a suc rlansp acuallyxs; rr, prapsTrr, praps I a br g up an g away? sa

prnc, laugng mrrly as rs rm s plac; jusas mrrly as ug crcumsancs wr by n manssran r cul. An I gv yu my wr, gnral, aug I knw nng wavr mannrs an cusms

scy, an w ppl lv an all a, y I l qusur a s vs mn wul n xacly as as nnw. O, wll, I supps s all rg; spcally as my lrwas n answr. Wll, g-by, an rgv m r av-ng surb yu!

T prncs xprssn was s g-naur a smmn, an s nrly r rm vn a suspcn un-


37/911

plasan lng was sml w wc lk a gnral as spk, a lar sunly paus, an ap-

par gaz a s gus rm qu a nw pn vw,all n an nsan.

D yu knw, prnc, sa, n qu a rn n, I n knw yu a all, y, an ar all, Elzaba Prk-vna wul vry lkly b plas av a pp a a man r wn nam. Wa a ll, yu n mn, an yuav m spar?

O, I assur yu Iv ls m, my m s nrly mywn! An prnc mmaly rplac s s, runa n abl. I cnss, I ug Elzaba Prk-vna wul vry lkly rmmbr a I a wrn ra lr. Jus nw yur srvanus rwas ra-ully suspcus a I a cm bg yu. I nc a!

Prbably as vry src nsrucns n a scr; buI assur yu I n cm bg. I cam mak smrns. Bu I am rar br a avng surb yu;as all I car abu.

Lk r, prnc, sa gnral, w a cral sml, yu rally ar sr man yu appar b, mayb a surc gra plasur us mak yur br ac-

quananc; bu, yu s, I am a vry busy man, an av b prpually sng r an sgnng paprs, r ss xcllncy, r my parmn, r smwr; s aug I sul b gla s mr ppl, nc p-plyu s, Iwvr, I am sur yu ar s wll brugup a yu wll s a nc, an bu w l ar yu,prnc?


38/911

he Idiot

wny-sx.N? I ug yu vry muc yungr.

Ys, y say I av a yung ac. As surbng yuI sall sn larn av ng a, r I a surbngppl. Bss, yu an I ar s rnly cnsu, Isul nk, a r mus b vry ll n cmmn b-wn us. N a I wll vr blv r s NOHING ncmmn bwn any w ppl, as sm clar s cas. I am sur ppl mak a gra msak n srng ac

r n grups, by apparancs; bu I am brng yu, Is, yu

Jus w wrs: av yu any mans a all? Or prapsyu may b nnng unrak sm sr mply-mn? Excus my qusnng yu, bu

O, my ar sr, I sm an unrsan yur knnss

n pung qusn. N; a prsn I av n mans wa-vr, an n mplymn r, bu I p n sm. Iwas lvng n r ppl abra. Scnr, prssrw ra m an aug m, , n Swzrlan, gavm jus nug mny r my jurny, s a nw I avbu a w cpcks l. Tr cranly s n qusn upnwc I am anxus av avc, bu

ll m, w yu nn lv nw, an wa aryur plans? nrrup gnral.

I ws wrk, smw r r.O ys, bu n, yu s, yu ar a plspr. Hav

yu any alns, r ably n any rcna s, any awul brng n mny an bra? Excus m agan

O, n aplgz. N, I n nk I av r al-


39/911

ns r spcal abls any kn; n cnrary. I avalways bn an nval an unabl larn muc. As r

bra, I sul nkT gnral nrrup nc mr w qusns; wl

prnc agan rpl w narrav w av arbr. I appar a gnral a knwn Pavlc;bu wy lar a akn an nrs n prnc, ayung gnlman cul n xplan; prbably by vru l rnsp w s ar, ug.

T prnc a bn l an rpan wn qu a llcl, an Pavlc a nrus m an l lay, arlav s wn, lvng n cunry, cl nng rs ar an xrcs cunry l. H was uca,rs by a gvrnss, an arwars by a ur, bu cul nrmmbr muc abu s m s l. Hs s wr s

rqun n, a y ma alms an m (prnc us xprssn msl). Pavlc am Prssr Scnr n Brln, an lar a pr-sua m sn by Swzrlan, Scnrssablsmn r, r cur s plpsy, an, vyars br s m, prnc was sn . Bu Pavl-c a w r r yars snc, an Scnr a

msl suppr yung llw, rm a ay s, as wn xpns. Alug a n qu cur m, a graly mprv s cnn; an nw, a las, a prncs wn sr, an bcaus a cran mar wccam ars lar, Scnr a spac yung man Russa.

T gnral was muc asns.


40/911

he Idiot0

Tn yu av n n, absluly NO n n Russa? ask.

N n, a prsn; bu I p mak rns; an nI av a lr rm

A all vns, pu n gnral, n lsnng nws abu lr, a all vns, yu mus av larnSOMEHING, an yur malay wul n prvn yurunrakng sm asy wrk, n n parmns, rnsanc?

O ar n, n! As r a suan, I sul muc lk n n r I am anxus scvr wa I rally am r. I av larn a g al n las ur yars, an, b-ss, I ra a gra many Russan bks.

Russan bks, n ? Tn, curs, yu can raan wr qu crrcly?

O ar, ys!Capal! An yur anwrng?A, r I am REALLY aln! I may say l am a ral

calgraps. L m wr yu smng, jus sw yu,sa prnc, w sm xcmn.

W plasur! In ac, s vry ncssary. I lk yurranss, prnc; n ac, I mus sayI-I-lk yu vry wll,

algr, sa gnral.Wa lgul wrng marals yu av r, suc

a l pncls an ngs, an wa bauul papr! Is acarmng rm algr. I knw a pcur, s a Swss

vw. Im sur ars pan rm naur, an a Iav sn vry plac

Qu lkly, ug I bug r. Gana, gv


41/911

prnc sm papr. Hr ar pns an papr; nw n, aks abl. Was s? gnral cnnu Gana,

w a a mmn akn a larg pgrap u sprl, an swn s snr. Halla! Nasasa Pl-pvna! D s sn yu rsl? Hrsl? nqur,w muc cursy an gra anman.

S gav m jus nw, wn I call n cngraular. I ask r r lng ag. I n knw wr sman r a n a I a cm mpy-an, wu

a prsn r r bray, r wa, a Gana, w anunplasan sml.

O, nnsns, nnsns, sa gnral, w csn. Wa xrarnary as yu av, Gana! As s wuln; as n r way a all. Bss, wa cul yu gvr, wu avng usans a yur spsal? Yu mg

av gvn r yur prra, wvr. Has s vr askyu r ?N, n y. Vry lkly s nvr wll. I supps yu

avn rgn abu ng, av yu, Ivan Fr-vc? Yu wr n s spcally nv, yu knw.

O n, I rmmbr all rg, an I sall g, curs. Isul nk s! Ss wny-v yars l ay! An, yu

knw, Gana, yu mus b ray r gra ngs; s asprms b mysl an Aanasy Ivanvc a s wllgv a c answr ng, ys r n. S b prpar!

Gana sunly bcam s ll a as a s ac grwpalr an vr.

Ar yu sur s sa a? ask, an s vcsm quvr as spk.


42/911

he Idiot

Ys, s prms. W b wrr r s a s gavn; bu s ws us ll yu nng abu unl

ay. T gnral wac Ganas cnusn nnly, an

clarly n lk .Rmmbr, Ivan Frvc, sa Gana, n gra aga-

n, a I was b r , unl r csn; an avn n I was av my ys r n r.

Wy, n yu, arn yu bgan gnral, n

alarm.O, n msunrsanBu, my ar llw, wa ar yu ng, wa yu

man?O, Im n rjcng r. I may av xprss mysl

baly, bu I n man a.

Rjc r! I sul nk n! sa gnral w an-nyanc, an apparnly n n las anxus cncal. Wy, my ar llw, s n a qusn yur rjcngr, s wr yu ar prpar rcv r cnsn

jyully, an w prpr sasacn. Hw ar ngs g-ng n a m?

A m? O, I can as I lk r, curs; nly my

ar wll mak a l msl, as usual. H s raply b-cmng a gnral nusanc. I n vr alk m nw, buI l m n ck, sa nug. I swar a n bnr my mr, I sul av swn m way u, lngag. My mr s always cryng, curs, an my ssrsulks. I a ll m a las a I nn b masr my wn sny, an a I xpc b by a m.


43/911

A las, I gav my ssr unrsan as muc, an mymr was prsn.

Wll, I mus say, I cann unrsan ! sa gn-ral, sruggng s sulrs an rppng s ans. Yurmmbr yur mr, Nna Alxanrvna, a ay scam an sa r an gran-an wn I ask r wawas mar, s says, O, s suc a DISHONOUR us! snur! Su an nnsns! I sul lk knww can rprac Nasasa Plpvna, r w can say a

wr any kn agans r. D s man bcaus Nas-asa a bn lvng w sk? Wa nnsns s! Yuwul n l r cm nar yur augrs, says Nna Al-xanrvna. Wa nx, I wnr? I n s w s canal unrsan

Hr wn psn? prmp Gana. S s unr-

san. Dn b anny w r. I av warn r n ml n r ppls aars. Hwvr, alug rscmparav pac a m a prsn, srm wll brak anyng s nally sl ng.

T prnc ar wl rgng cnvrsa-n, as sa a abl, wrng. H ns a las, anbrug rsul s labur gnrals sk.

S s s Nasasa Plpvna, sa, lkng an-vly an curusly a prra. Hw wnrullybauul! mmaly a, w warm. T pc-ur was cranly a an unusually lvly wman. Swas pgrap n a black slk rss smpl sgn, rar was vnly ark an planly arrang, r ys wrp an ugul, xprssn r ac passna,


44/911

he Idiot

bu pru. S was rar n, praps, an a ll pal.B Gana an gnral gaz a prnc n amaz-

mn.Hw yu knw s Nasasa Plpvna? ask

gnral; yu surly n knw r alray, yu? Ys, I ! I av nly bn n ay n Russa, bu I av

ar gra bauy! An prnc prc narra s mng w Rgjn n ran an wl lars sry.

Trs nws! sa gnral n sm xcmn, arlsnng sry w ngrss ann.

O, curs s nng bu umbug! cr Gana, all surb, wvr. Is all umbug; yung mr-can was plas nulg n a ll nncn rcran!I av ar smng Rgjn!

Ys, s av I! rpl gnral. Nasasa Plpvnal us all abu arrngs a vry ay. Bu nw squ a rn mar. Yu s llw rally as a ml-ln rubls, an s passnaly n lv. T wlsry smlls passn, an w all knw wa s class gnry s capabl wn naua. I am muc ara sm sagrabl scanal, I am n!

Yu ar ara mlln, I supps, sa Gana,grnnng an swng s .

An yu ar NO, I prsum, ?Hw srk yu, prnc? ask Gana, sunly.

D sm b a srus sr a man, r jus a cm-mn rwy llw? Wa was yur wn pnn abu mar?


45/911

Wl Gana pu s qusn, a nw a sunlyas n s bran, an blaz u, mpanly, n s

ys. T gnral, w was rally aga an surb,lk a prnc , bu n sm xpc mucrm s rply.

I rally n qu knw w ll yu, rpl prnc, bu cranly sm m a man wasull passn, an n, praps, qu aly passn. Hsm b sll ar rm wll. Vry lkly wll b n b

agan n a ay r w, spcally lvs as.N! yu nk s? sa gnral, cacng a

a.Ys, I nk s!Ys, bu sr scanal I rrr may appn a

any mmn. I may b s vry vnng, rmark Gana

gnral, w a sml.O curs; qu s. In a cas all pns upn was gng n n r bran a s mmn.

Yu knw kn prsn s s a ms.Hw? Wa kn prsn s s? cr gnral, ar-

rv a lms s panc. Lk r, Gana, nyu g annyng r ng Wa yu ar s b as

agrabl wars r as vr yu can. Wll, wa ar yusmlng a? Yu mus unrsan, Gana, a I av n n-rs wavr n spakng lk s. Wcvr way qusn s sl, wll b my avanag. Nng wllmv sk rm s rslun, s I run n rsk. I r sanyng I sr, yu mus knw a s yur bn nly.Can yu rus m? Yu ar a snsbl llw, an I av


46/911

he Idiot

bn cunng n yu; r, n s mar, a, aYs, as c ng, sa Gana, lpng gn-

ral u s culs agan, an curlng s lps n annvnm sml, wc n amp cncal. Hgaz w s vr ys srag n s gn-ral, as ug wr anxus a lar mg ras ugs.

T gnral grw purpl w angr.Ys, curs s c ng! cr, lkng

sarply a Gana. Wa a vry curus man yu ar, Gana!Yu acually sm b GLAD ar s mllnarllws arrvaljus as ug yu ws r an xcus g u wl ng. Ts s an aar n wc yuug ac nsly w b ss, an gv u warnng, av cmprmsng rs. Bu, vn nw, r s sll

m. D yu unrsan m? I ws knw wr yusr s arrangmn r wr yu n? I n, says,an-an wlcm! N n s ryng rc yu n snar, Gavrla Aralnvc, yu s a snar n mar, a las.

I sr , murmur Gana, sly bu rmly, lwr-ng s ys; an rlaps n glmy slnc.

T gnral was sas. H a xc msl, anwas vnly nw rgrng a a gn s ar. Hurn prnc, an sunly sagrabl ug lars prsnc sruck m, an crany a mus av ar vry wr cnvrsan. Bu la as n anr mmn; nly n n glanc a prnc s a n a quarr r was nng ar.


47/911

O! cr gnral, cacng sg prncsspcmn calgrapy, wc lar a nw an

m r nspcn. Wy, s s smply bauul; lk aa, Gana, rs ral aln r!

On a s ck wrng-papr prnc a wrnn mval caracrs lgn:

T gnl Abb Panu sgn s.Tr, xplan prnc, w gra lg an an-

man, r, as abbs ral sgnaurrm a

manuscrp urn cnury. All s l abbsan bsps us wr ms bauully, w suc asan s muc car an lgnc. Hav yu n cpy Pg-n, gnral? I yu a n I cul sw yu anr yp.Sp a br yu av larg run wrng cmmnn Franc urng gn cnury. Sm lrs

ar sap qu rnly rm s nw n us. I was wrng currn n, an mply by publc wrrs gn-rally. I cp s rm n m, an yu can s wg s. Lk a wll-run a an . I av r ransla Frnc caracr n Russan lrsa -cul ng , bu I nk I av succ arly. Hr sa n snnc, wrn n a g, rgnal anZal r-

umps vr all. Ta s scrp Russan War Oc.Ta s w cal cumns arss mpran pr-snags sul b wrn. T lrs ar run, ypblack, an syl smwa rmarkabl. A syls wuln allw s rnamns, r amps a urssjuslk a s unns als!bu as sncn anrally pcs sul wrr. H wul lk gv


48/911

he Idiot

play s magnan, an llw nspran sgnus, bu a slr s nly a as n guar-rm, an

pn sps al-way, a slav scpln. Hw lgul!T rs m I m an xampl s anwrng, I waspsvly asns, an wr yu nk I canc n ? In Swzrlan, all placs! Nw a s an rnaryEngls an. I can arly b mprv, s s rn anxqusalms prcn. Ts s an xampl anrkn, a mxur syls. T cpy was gvn m by a Frnc

cmmrcal ravllr. I s un n Engls, bu wnsrks ar a ll blackr, an mr mark. N-c a val as sm slg mcan s mrrun. Ts wrng allws r urss; nw a urss a angrus ng! Is us rqurs suc as, bu, suc-cssul, wa a sncn gvs wl! I rsuls n

an ncmparabl ypn all n lv w!Dar m! Hw yu av gn n all rnmnsan als qusn! Wy, my ar llw, yu arn a calgraps, yu ar an ars! E, Gana ?

Wnrul! sa Gana. An knws , a,w a sarcasc sml.

Yu may sml,bu rs a carr n s, sa

gnral. Yu n knw wa a gra prsnag I sallsw s , prnc. Wy, yu can cmman a suana ry-v rubls pr mn sar w. Hwvr, sal-pas wlv, cnclu, lkng a s wac; s busnss, prnc, r I mus b sng wrk an salln s yu agan ay. S wn a mnu. I av l yua I cann rcv yu mysl vry n, bu I sul lk


49/911

b sm asssanc yu, sm small asssanc, a kn a wul gv yu sasacn. I sall n yu a

plac n n Sa parmns, an asy placbuyu wll rqur b accura. Nw, as yur plansn us, r rar n amly Gana rmy yungrn, wm I p yu wll knw brs mr anssr av prpar w r r rms r lgrs, anl m gly rcmmn yung llws, w baran ananc. I am sur Nna Alxanrvna wll ak yu

n n my rcmmnan. Tr yu wll b cmrablan wll akn car ; r I n nk, prnc, a yuar sr man b l mrcy Fa n a wnlk Prsburg. Nna Alxanrvna, Ganas mr, anVarvara Alxanrvna, ar las r wm I av g-s pssbl sm an rspc. Nna Alxanrvna s

w Gnral Araln Alxanrvc, my l brr narms, w wm, I rgr say, n accun cran cr-cumsancs, I am n lngr acquan. I gv yu all snrman, prnc, n rr mak clar yu a Iam prsnally rcmmnng yu s amly, an an s ng, I am mr r lss akng upn mysl answrr yu. T rms ar ms rasnabl, an I rus a yur

salary wll vry srly prv amply sucn r yur x-pnur. O curs pck-mny s a ncssy, nly all; n b angry, prnc, I srngly rcmmn yu av carryng mny n yur pck. Bu as yur purss qu mpy a prsn mmn, yu mus allw m prss s wny-v rubls upn yur accpanc, assmng bgn w. O curs w wll sl s ll


50/911

he Idiot0

mar anr m, an yu ar uprg, ns manyu lk, I ancpa vry ll rubl bwn us n a

scr. akng s muc nrs n yu as yu may prcvI , I am n wu my bjc, an yu sall knw ng m. Yu s, I am prcly can w yu. I p,Gana, yu av nng say agans prncs akngup s ab n yur us?

O, n cnrary! my mr wll b vry gla, saGana, curusly an knly.

I nk nly n yur rms s ngag as y, s n?Ta llw Fr-Fr

Frsnk.YsI n lk a Frsnk. I can unrsan

wy Nasasa Plpvna ncurags m s. Is rally rcusn, as says?

O ar n, s all a jk. N mr cusn an I am.Wll, wa yu nk arrangmn, prnc?Tank yu, gnral; yu av bav vry knly m;

all mr s snc I n ask yu lp m. I nsay a u pr. I cranly n knw wr laymy a ng. Rgjn ask m cm s us, curs, bu

Rgjn? N, n, my g llw. I sul srngly rc-mmn yu, parnally,r, yu prr , as a rn,rg all abu Rgjn, an, n ac, sck amlyn wc yu ar abu nr.

Tank yu, bgan prnc; an snc yu ar s vrykn r s jus n mar wc I

Yu mus rally xcus m, nrrup gnral,


51/911

bu I psvly avn anr mmn nw. I sall jusll Elzaba Prkvna abu yu, an s wss

rcv yu a ncas I sall avs rI srngly rc-mmn yu ngraa yursl w r a rsppruny, r my w may b gras srvc yu n many ways. I s cann rcv yu nw, yu musb cnn wa ll anr m. Manwl yu, Gana,

jus lk vr s accuns, wll yu? W musn rg ns a mar

T gnral l rm, an prnc nvr succ- n bracng busnss wc a n an, ug a navur s ur ms.

Gana l a cgar an r n prnc. Tlar accp r, bu n alk, bng unwllng surb Ganas wrk. H cmmnc xamn suy

an s cnns. Bu Gana arly s muc as glanc a paprs lyng br m; was absn an ug-ul, an s sml an gnral apparanc sruck prncsll mr sagrably nw a w wr l aln -gr.

Sunly Gana apprac ur r w was a mmn sanng vr Nasasa Plpvnas prra, gaz-

ng a .D yu amr a sr wman, prnc? ask,

lkng nnly a m. H sm av sm spcalbjc n qusn.

Is a wnrul ac, sa prnc, an I l sur ar sny s n by any mans an rnary, unvnuln. Hr ac s smlng nug, bu s mus av sur


52/911

he Idiot

rrbly asn s? Hr ys sw s w bnsr, ll pns unr r ys, jus wr ck

bgns. Is a pru ac , rrbly pru! An II cansay wr s s g an kn, r n. O, s b bug! Ta wul mak all wll!

An wul yu marry a wman lk a, nw? cn-nu Gana, nvr akng s xc ys prncsac.

I cann marry a all, sa lar. I am an nval.

Wul Rgjn marry r, yu nk?Wy n? Cranly wul, I sul nk. H wul

marry r mrrw!marry r mrrw an murrr n a wk!

Harly a prnc ur las wr wn Ga-na gav suc a arul sur a prnc alms cr

u.Was mar? sa , szng Ganas an.Yur gnss! Hs xcllncy bgs yur prsnc n r

xcllncys aparmns! annunc man, appar-ng a r.

T prnc mmaly llw man u rm.


53/911

IV

ALL r Mss Epancns wr n, alygrls, wllgrwn, w g sulrs an buss, ansrngalms masculnans; an, curs, wall abv arbus, y njy capal apps,

wc y wr n n las asam.Elzaba Prkvna smms nrm grls

a y wr a ll can n s mar, bu n sp r uwar rnc r mr s r yungwmn, n slmn cnclav, a lng agr my unqusnng bnc wc y a bn n ab

accrng r; an Mrs. Gnral Epancn a jug br say nng abu , ug, curs, s waswll awar ac.

I s ru a r naur smms rbll agans scas rasn, an a s grw yarly mr caprcusan mpan; bu avng a rspcul an wll-scplnusban unr r umb a all ms, s un pssbl,

as a rul, mpy any ll accumulans spln upns a, an rr armny amly was kpuly balanc, an ngs wn as smly as amly ma-rs can.

Mrs. Epancn a a ar app rsl, an gnrallyk r sar capal m-ay lunc wc was al-ways srv r grls, an wc was narly as g as


54/911

he Idiot

a nnr. T yung las us av a cup c acbr s mal, a n clck, wl sll n b. Ts was

a avur an unalrabl arrangmn w m. A al-pas wlv, abl was la n small nng-rm,an ccasnally gnral msl appar a amlygarng, a m.

Bss a an c, cs, ny, bur, pan-caks varus kns ( lay us lv s bs),culs, an s n, r was gnrally srng b sup, an

r subsanal lcacs.On parcular mrnng n wc ur sry as

pn, amly a assmbl n nng-rm, anwr wang gnrals apparanc, lar avngprms cm s ay. I a bn n mmn la, wul av bn sn r a nc; bu urn up punc-

ually.As cam rwar ws s w g-mrnng ankss r ans, as s cusm was, bsrv smngn r lk wc b ll. H ug knw ra-sn, an a xpc , bu sll, was n algrcmrabl. Hs augrs avanc kss m, , anug y n lk xacly angry, r was sm-

ng srang n r xprssn as wll.T gnral was, wng cran crcumsancs, a ll

ncln b suspcus a m, an nlssly nr-vus; bu, as an xprnc ar an usban, jug br ak masurs a nc prc msl rmany angrs r mg b n ar.

Hwvr, I p I sall n nrr w prpr s-


55/911

qunc my narrav muc, I vrg r a mmna s pn, n rr xplan muual rlans b-

wn Gnral Epancns amly an rs acng a parn s sry, a m wn w ak up ra r sny. I av alray sa a gnral, ug was a man lwly rgn, an pr ucan, was,r all a, an xprnc an aln usban an ar.Amng r ngs, cnsr unsrabl urrys augrs marmnal alar an wrry m

muc w assurancs s parnal wss r rappnss, as s cusm amng parns many grwn-up augrs. H vn succ n rangng s w n ss n s qusn, ug un a vry cul accmpls, bcaus unnaural; bu gnrals argu-mns wr cnclusv, an un upn bvus acs.

T gnral cnsr a grls as an g snssul b allw vlp an maur lbraly, ana parns uy sul mrly b kp wac, n r-r a n srang r unsrabl cc b ma; bu a slcn nc c, b ar an mr wrbun rm a mmn nr ar an sul n caus, an s a mar prgrss wu n-

ranc unl alar sul b apply rac.Bss s, was clar a Epancns psn

gan ac yar, w gmrcal accuracy, b as -nancal sly an scal wg; an, rr, lngr grls wa, br was r canc makng abrllan mac.

Bu agan, ams ncnrvrbl acs jus rcr,


56/911

he Idiot

n mr, qually sgncan, rs up cnrn am-ly; an s was, a ls augr, Alxanra, a

mprcpbly arrv a r wny- bray. Almsa sam mmn, Aanasy Ivanvc sk, a man mmns wal, g cnncns, an g sanng, an-nunc s nnn marryng. Aanasy Ivanvc wasa gnlman y-v yars ag, arscally g, an ms rn ass. H ws marry wll, an, mr-vr, was a kn amrr an jug bauy.

Nw, snc sk a, la, bn upn rms gracraly w Epancn, wc xclln rlans wr n-ns by ac a y wr, s spak, parnrsn svral nancal nrprss, s appn a r-mr nw pu n a rnly rqus gnral r cunslw rgar mpran sp ma. Mg

suggs, r nsanc, suc a ng as a marrag bwnmsl an n gnrals augrs?Evnly qu, plasan currn amly l

Epancns was abu unrg a cang.T unub bauy amly, par xcllnc,

was yungs, Aglaya, as arsa. Bu sk msl,ug an gs xrms yp, ralz a

a n canc r; Aglaya was clarly n r suc as .Praps ssrly lv an rnsp r grls

a mr r lss xaggra Aglayas cancs appnss.In r pnn, lars sny was n mrly b

vry appy; s was lv n a avn n ar. Aglayasusban was b a cmpnum all vrus, an all succss, n spak abulus wal. T w lr


57/911

ssrs a agr a all was b sacrc by m, n b, r Aglayas sak; r wry was b clssal an

unprcn.T gnral an s w wr awar s agrmn,

an, rr, wn sk suggs msl r n ssrs, parns ma n ub a n w l-r grls wul prbably accp r, snc sk wulcranly mak n culy as wry. T gnral valu prpsal vry gly. H knw l, an ralz wa

suc an r was wr.T answr ssrs cmmuncan was,

n cnclusv, a las cnslng an pul. I maknwn a ls, Alxanra, wul vry lkly b s-ps lsn a prpsal.

Alxanra was a g-naur grl, ug s a a

wll r wn. S was nllgn an kn-ar, an, s wr marry sk, s wul mak m a gw. S n car r a brllan marrag; s was m-nnly a wman calcula s an swn l any man; cly pry, n absluly ansm.Wa br cul sk ws?

S mar crp slwly rwar. T gnral an

sk a agr av any asy an rrvcabl sp.Alxanras parns a n vn bgun alk raugrs rly upn subjc, wn sunly, as wr,a ssnan cr was sruck am armny prcngs. Mrs. Epancn bgan sw sgns scn-n, an a was a srus mar. A cran crcumsanca crp n, a sagrabl an rublsm acr, wc


58/911

he Idiot

ran vrurn wl busnss.Ts crcumsanc a cm n xsnc gn

yars br. Cls an sa sks, n n cnral prvncs Russa, r lv, a a m, a prgnlman ws sa was wrcs scrpn.Ts gnlman was n n src r s prssnll-run; s nam was Barask, an, as rgars amlyan scn, was vasly suprr sk, bu s sawas mrgag las acr. On ay, wn a r-

n vr wn s a crr, c pasan s vllag llw m srly ar, w nws a sus a bn burn wn, an a s w a prsw , bu s clrn wr sa.

Evn Barask, nur srms vl runas was, cul n san s las srk. H wn ma

an srly ar n wn spal. Hs sa wassl r crrs; an ll grlsw m, svn an g yars ag rspcvly,wr ap bysk, w unrk r mannanc an ucan n knnss s ar. Ty wr brug up grw clrn s Grman bal. Vry sn, wv-r, r was nly n m lNasasa Plpvnar

r ll n wpngcug. sk, wwas lvng abra a s m, vry sn rg all abu cl; bu v yars ar, rurnng Russa, sruckm a wul lk lk vr s sa an s wmars wr gng r, an, arrv a s bals us, was n lng n scvrng a amng clrn lar r nw wl a ms lvly ll grl wlv,


59/911

sw an nllgn, an brg, an prmsng vlpbauy ms unusual qualy-as wc las sk was

an unub aury.H nly say a s cunry sca a w ays n s c-

casn, bu a m mak s arrangmns. Gracangs k plac n cls ucan; a g gvrn-ss was ngag, a Swss lay xprnc an culur. Frur yars s lay rs n us w ll Nasa,an n ucan was cnsr cmpl. T gv-

rnss k r parur, an anr lay cam wn c Nasa, by sks nsrucns. T cl was nwranspr anr sks sas n a san par cunry. Hr s un a lgul ll us, jusbul, an prpar r r rcpn w gra car anas; an r s k up r ab gr w lay

w a accmpan r rm r l m. In usr wr w xprnc mas, muscal nsrumns all srs, a carmng yung lays lbrary, pcurs, pan-bxs, a lapg, an vryng mak l agrabl.Wn a rng sk msl arrv, an rm am appar av akn a gra ancy s par wrl an cam wn ac summr, sayng w an

r mns a a m. S pass ur yars pacully anapply, n carmng surrunngs.

A n a m, an abu ur mns ar s-ks las vs ( a say bu a rng n s ccasn),a rpr rac Nasasa Plpvna a was abu b marr n S. Prsburg, a rc, mnn, an lv-ly wman. T rpr was nly parally ru, marrag


60/911

he Idiot0

prjc bng nly n an mbry cnn; bu a gracang nw cam vr Nasasa Plpvna. S sunly

splay unusual csn caracr; an wu was-ng m n ug, s l r cunry m an cam up S. Prsburg, srag sks us, all aln.

T lar, amaz a r cnuc, bgan xprss ssplasur; bu vry sn bcam awar a muscang s vc, syl, an vryng ls, w s yunglay; g l ms wr gn. An nrly nw an -

rn wman sa br m, bwn wm an grl a l n cunry las July r sm nng ncmmn.

In rs plac, s nw wman unrs a gal mr an was usual r yung ppl r ag; smuc n, a sk cul n lp wnrng wr

s a pck up r knwlg. Surly n rm ryung lays lbrary? I vn mbrac lgal mars, an wrl n gnral, a cnsrabl xn.

Hr caracr was absluly cang. N mr grls alrnans my an pulanc, arablnav, rvrs, ars, playulnss... I was annrly nw an r unknwn bng w nw sa an

laug a m, an nrm m s ac a s anvr a ans lng r m any kn, xcplang an cnmp cnmp wc a llwclsly upn r snsans surprs an bwlrmnar r rs acquananc w m.

Ts nw wman gav m urr unrsan aug was absluly sam r wm marr,


61/911

y s a c prvn s marragr n par-cular rasn, bu a s cs s, an bcaus s

ws amus rsl a s xpns r a was qur urn laug a ll nw!

Suc wr r wrsvry lkly s n gv rral rasn r s ccnrc cnuc; bu, a all vns, awas all xplanan s gn r.

Manwl, sk ug mar vr as wll ass scar as wul prm. Hs mans las a

rng, wvr, an a n a m s rslu-n was akn. T ac was, sk was a a m a man y yars ag; s psn was sl an rspcabl;s plac n scy a lng bn rmly x upn saunans; lv msl, s prsnal cmrs, ans psn br an all wrl, as vry rspcabl

gnlman sul!A sam m s grasp ngs n gnral snsw sk a nw a al w a bng wwas us pal rnary ruls ranalbavur, an w wul n nly ran msc buwul unubly carry u, an sp r n n.

Tr was vnly, cnclu, smng a wrk

r; sm srm mn, sm parxysm rmancangr, gnss knws agans wm r wa, sm nsa-abl cnmpn a wr, smng algr absuran mpssbl, bu a sam m ms angrus bm w by any rspcabl prsn w a psn n sc-y kp up.

Fr a man sks wal an sanng, wul,


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curs, av bn smpls pssbl mar ak spswc wul r m a nc rm all annyanc; wl

was bvusly mpssbl r Nasasa Plpvna armm n any way, r lgally r by srrng up a scanal,r, n cas lar angr, cul s asly rmvr a spr say. Hwvr, s argumns wulnly l g n cas Nasasa acng as rs mg nsuc an mrgncy. S was muc mr lkly vrsp buns rasnabl cnuc by sm xrarnary

ccnrcy.Hr sun jugmn sk s m n g

sa. H ralz a Nasasa Plpvna mus b wllawar a s cul nng by lgal mans njurm, an a r asng ys bray sm nrly -rn nnn.

Nasasa Plpvna was qu capabl runng r-sl, an vn prprang smng wc wul snr Sbra, r mr plasur njurng a man rwm s a vlp s numan a sns langan cnmp. H a sucn nsg unrsan as valu nng n wrlrsl las allan ma n amp cncal ac a was a cw-

ar n sm rspcs. Fr nsanc, a bn l a wul b sabb a alar, r publcly nsul, wul unubly av bn rgn; bu n s muca a bng murr, r wun, r nsul, asa ug a suc ngs wr appn wulb ma lk rculus n ys scy.

H knw wll a Nasasa rugly unrs m


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an wr wun m an w, an rr, as marrag was sll nly n mbry, sk c cn-

cla r by gvng up. Hs csn was srngn by ac a Nasasa Plpvna a curusly alr la. I wul b cul cncv w rn s waspyscally, a prsn m, grl a w yars ag.S was pry n bu nw! sk laug angrlywn ug w sr-sg a bn. In aysgn by rmmbr w a lk a r bauul

ys, w vn n a marvll a r ark mys-rus ps, an a r wnrng gaz wc sm sk an answr sm unknwn rl. Hr cmplxnals a alr. S was nw xcngly pal, bu, cur-usly, s cang nly ma r mr bauul. Lk msmn wrl, sk a rar sps suc a caply-

bug cnqus, bu la yars a bgun nkrnly abu . I a sruck m as lng ag as lassprng a ug b nng a g mac r Nas-asa; r nsanc, sm rspcabl an rasnabl yungllw srvng n a gvrnmn c n anr par cunry. Hw malcusly Nasasa laug a a suc a ng, nw!

Hwvr, appar sk a mg mak us r n anr way; an rmn sabls r n S.Prsburg, surrunng r w all cmrs an lux-urs a s wal cul cmman. In s way mggan glry n cran crcls.

Fv yars s Prsburg l wn by, an, curs,urng a m a gra al appn. sks psn


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he Idiot

was vry uncmrabl; avng unk nc, culn ally rgan s as. H was ara, n knw

wy, bu was smply ara Nasasa Plpvna. Fr rs w yars r s a suspc a s ws marry m rsl, an a nly r vany prvn rllng m s. H ug a s wan m appracr w a umbl prpsal rm s wn s, Bu sgra, an n nrly plasurabl amazmn, scv-r a s was by n mans cas, an a wr

r msl wul b rus. H cul n unr-san suc a sa ngs, an was blg cnclua was pr, pr an njur an magnavwman, wc a gn suc lngs a prrr s an nurs s cnmp an ar n slu raran mun gs r unaanabl splnur.

mak mars wrs, s was qu mprvus mrc-nary cnsrans, an cul n b brb n any way.Fnally, sk k cunnng mans ry brak s

cans an b r. H r mp r n varus ways ls r ar; nv prncs, ussars, scrars mbasss, ps, nvlss, vn Scalss, s r; bun n m all ma ans mprssn upn Nas-

asa. I was as ug s a a pbbl n plac a ar, asug r lngs an acns wr r up an w-r r vr.

S lv alms nrly aln; s ra, s su, slv musc. Hr prncpal acquanancs wr pr wm-n varus gras, a cupl acrsss, an amly a pr sclacr. Amng s ppl s was muc


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blv.S rcv ur r v rns smms, an v-

nng. sk n cam. Laly, , Gnral Epancn abn nabl w gra culy nruc msl nr crcl. Gana ma r acquananc als, an rswr Frsnk, an llbr, an wul-b wy, yungclrk, an Psn, a mnylnr ms an plsmannrs, w a rsn rm pvry. In ac, NasasaPlpvnas bauy bcam a ng knwn all wn;

bu n a sngl man cul bas anyng mr an swn amran r r; an s rpuan rs, an rw an culur an grac, all cnrm sk n plan a nw prpar.

An was a s mmn a Gnral Epancn bgan play s larg an mpran a par n sry.

Wn sk a apprac gnral w s r-qus r rnly cunsl as a marrag w n saugrs, a ma a ull an can cnssn. H asa a nn sp a n mans ban s r-m; vn Nasasa wr prms lav m nrlyaln n uur, wul n ( sa) blv an rus r;wrs wr n nug r m; mus av sl guaran-

s sm sr. S an gnral rmn rywa an amp appal r ar wul c. Havngarrv a Nasasas us n ay, w Epancn, skmmaly bgan spak nlrabl rmn s psn. H am a was blam r all, bucanly cnss a cul n brng msl lany rmrs r s rgnal gul wars rsl, bcaus


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he Idiot

was a man snsual passns wc wr nbrn annracabl, an a a n pwr vr msl n s

rspc; bu a ws, srusly, marry a las, ana wl a ms srabl scal unn wc cnmpla, was n r ans; n a wr, cns all r gnrsy ar.

Gnral Epancn k up s par an spk n caracr ar a amly; spk snsbly, an w-u wasng wrs vr any amp a snmnaly,

mrly rcr s ull amssn r rg b arbr sks sny a s mmn. H n pnu a a s augr, an vry lkly b sr augrs, nw ung upn r rply.

Nasasas qusn as wa y ws r ,sk cnss a a bn s rgn by r, v

yars ag, a cul nvr nw b nrly cmrablunl s rsl marr. H mmaly a a suca suggsn rm m wul, curs, b absur, unlssaccmpan by rmarks a mr pn naur. H vrywll knw, sa, a a cran yung gnlman gamly, namly, Gavrla Aralnvc Ivlgn, w wms was acquan, an wm s rcv a r us,

a lng lv r passnaly, an wul gv s l rsm rspns rm r. T yung llw a cnsss lv s m (sk) an a als am n arng s bnacr, Gnral Epancn. Lasly, cul n lp bng pnn a Nasasa mus b awar Ganas lv r r, an (sk) msk n, sa lk w sm avur upn , bng n lnly,


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an rar r r prsn l. Havng rmark wcul was r m, all ppl, spak r s

mars, sk cnclu by sayng a rus Nasa-sa Plpvna wul n lk w cnmp upn m nw xprss s sncr sr guaran r uurby a g svny-v usan rubls. H a a sum wul av bn l r all sam n s wll,an a rr s mus n cnsr g as n anyway an nmncan r r anyng, bu a r

was n rasn, ar all, wy a man sul n b allw nran a naural sr lgn s cnscnc, c.,c.; n ac, all a wul naurally b sa unr cr-cumsancs. sk was vry lqun all rug, an, ncnclusn, jus uc n ac a n a sul n wrl, n vn Gnral Epancn, a vr ar a wr

abu abv svny-v usan rubls, an as was rs m a vr gvn xprssn snnns n rspc m.

Nasasa Plpvnas rply s lng rgmarl asn-s b rns cnsrably.

N nly was r n rac r rmr rny, rl ar an nmy, an a raul laugr,

vry rcllcn wc sn a cl cll wn sksback s vry ay; bu s sm carm an rallygla av ppruny alkng srusly w mr nc n a way. S cnss a s a lng ws av a rank an r cnvrsan an ask r rn-ly avc, bu a pr a r prvn r; nw,wvr, a c was brkn, nng cul b mr


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he Idiot

wlcm r an s ppruny.Frs, w a sa sml, an n w a wnkl mr-

rmn n r ys, s am a suc a srm as a v yars ag was nw qu u qusn. S saa s a lng snc cang r vws ngs, anrcgnz a acs mus b akn n cnsran nsp lngs ar. Wa was n was nan n, an s cul n unrsan wy sk sulsll l alarm.

S nx urn Gnral Epancn an bsrv, mscurusly, a s a lng snc knwn s augrs,an a s a ar nn bu g rpr; a s alarn nk m w p an sncr rspc. Ta aln a s cul n any way srv m, wul b r b a pr an a surc ral appnss.

I was ru a s was lnly n r prsn l; ska jug r ugs arg. S lng rs, n lv, a las amly l an nw ps an bjcs, buas Gavrla Aralnvc, s cul n as y say muc.S ug mus b cas a lv r; s la s mg larn lv m, s cul b sur rmnss s aacmn rsl; bu was vry

yung, an was a cul qusn c. Wa sspcally lk abu m was a wrk, an suppr- s amly by s l.

S a ar a was pru an ambus; s aar muc a was nrsng s mr an ssr,s a ar m rm Mr. Psn, an wul muclk mak r acquananc, buanr qusn!


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wul y lk rcv r n r us? A all vns,ug s n rjc a s marrag, s -

sr n b urr. As r svny-v usanrubls, Mr. sk n n av un any culy rawkwarnss abu mar; s qu unrs

valu mny, an wul, curs, accp g. Sank m r s lcacy, wvr, bu saw n rasnwy Gavrla Aralnvc sul n knw abu .

S wul n marry lar, s sa, unl s l

prsua a nr n s par nr n par samly r xs any sr cncal suspcns as rsl. S n nn ask rgvnss r anyngn pas, wc ac s sr b knwn. S ncnsr rsl blam r anyng a a appn nrmr yars, an s ug a Gavrla Aralnvc

sul b nrm as rlans wc a xsbwn rsl an sk urng las v yars. I saccp s mny was n b cnsr as nm-ncan r r msrun as a yung grl, wc a nbn n any gr r wn aul, bu mrly as cmpnsa-n r r run l.

S bcam s xc an aga urng all s x-

planans an cnssns a Gnral Epancn wasgly gra, an cnsr mar sasac-rly arrang nc r all. Bu nc bn sk waswc sy, an lk r n snaks amng wrs.Hwvr, spcal pn wc w rns parc-ularly rus brng abu r bjc (namly, Ganasaracvnss r Nasasa Plpvna), s u mr an


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he Idiot0

mr prmnnly; purparlrs a cmmnc, angraually vn sk bgan blv n pssbly

succss.Br lng Nasasa an Gana a alk mar

vr. Vry ll was sar msy sm surunr ncn scussng suc a qusn. Bu srcgnz s lv, n unrsanng a s bunrsl nng wavr, an a s rsrv rg say n up vry ur marrag crmny.

Gana was av sam rg rusal a las m-mn.

I sn bcam clar Gana, ar scns wra anquarrllngs a msc ar, a s amly wr s-rusly pps mac, an a Nasasa was awar s ac was qually vn. S sa nng abu ,

ug aly xpc r s.Tr wr svral rumurs aa, br lng, wcups sks quanmy a g al, bu w wll n nwsp scrb m; mrly mnnng an nsanc rw. On was a Nasasa a nr n cls an scrrlans w Epancn grlsa ms unlkly rumur;anr was a Nasasa a lng sas rsl

ac a Gana was mrly marryng r r mny, ana s naur was glmy an gry, mpan an sl-s, an xrarnary gr; an a alug abn kn nug n s sr acv a cnqus br,y snc w rns a agr xpl s passn rr wn purpss, was clar nug a a bgun cnsr wl ng a nusanc an a ngmar.


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In s ar passn an a sm l vsway, an alug a a las gvn s cnsn marry

wman (as sa), unr srss crcumsancs,y prms msl a wul ak u r,ar marrag.

Nasasa sm sk av vn all s, an b prparng smng n r wn accun, wcrgn m suc an xn a n ar cm-munca s vws vn gnral. Bu a ms

wul pluck up s curag an b ull p an gsprs agan, acng, n ac, as wak mn ac n suc cr-cumsancs.

Hwvr, b rns l a ng lk rsyn wn n ay Nasasa nrm m a swul gv r nal answr n vnng r bray,

wc annvrsary was u n a vry sr m.A srang rumur bgan crcula, manwl; n lssan a rspcabl an gly rspc Gnral Ep-ancn was msl s ascna by Nasasa Plpvnaa s lng r r amun alms passn. Wa ug gan by Ganas marrag grl wascul magn. Pssbly cun n Ganas cm-

plasanc; r sk a lng suspc a r xssm scr unrsanng bwn gnral an sscrary. A all vns ac was knwn a a pr-par a magncn prsn parls r Nasasas bray,an a was lkng rwar ccasn wn sul prsn s g w gras xcmn an m-panc. T ay br r bray was n a vr


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he Idiot

agan.Mrs. Epancn, lng accusm r usbans n-

ls, a ar parls, an rumur xc rlvls cursy an nrs. T gnral rmark rsuspcns, an l a a gran xplanan mus srlyak placwc ac alarm m muc.

Ts s rasn wy was s unwllng ak lunc(n mrnng upn wc w k up s narrav)w rs s amly. Br prncs arrval

a ma up s mn pla busnss, an cu mal;wc smply man runnng away.

H was parcularly anxus a s n ay sul bpass spcally vnngwu unplasannssbwn msl an s amly; an jus a rg m-mn prnc urn upas ug Havn a sn

m n purps, sa gnral msl, as l suy sk u w s bsm.


73/911

V

Mrs. Gnral Epancn was a pru wman by naur.Wa mus r lngs av bn wn s ar aPrnc Muskn, las s an r ln, a arrv nbggars gus, a wrc , a rcpn caryall

wc als gnral gav u r grar c! Hwas anxus sal r nrs a rs swp, s as srac r ugs rm r mars narr m.

Mrs. Epancn was n ab lng rsl vrysrag, an sarng br r, wu spakng, n m-mns xcmn.

S was a n wman sam ag as r usban,w a slgly k ns, a g, narrw ra, ckar urnng a ll gry, an a sallw cmplxn. Hr yswr gry an wr a vry curus xprssn a ms. Sblv m b ms cva bl a nngcul alr.

Wa, rcv m! Nw, a nc? ask Mrs. Epancn,

gazng vaguly a r usban as s gng brr.

O, ar m, I assur yu r s n n san ncrmny w m, gnral xplan asly. H squ a cl, n say a pac-lkng craur. Has s sm sr, an as jus arrv rm Swzrlan,srag rm san, rss lk a Grman an w-


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he Idiot

u a arng n s pck. I gav m wny-v rubls g n w, an am gng n m sm asy plac n

n gvrnmn cs. I sul lk yu ply mwll w vcuals, my ars, r I sul nk musb vry ungry.

Yu asns m, sa lay, gazng as br. Fs,an ungry ! Wa sr s?

O, y n cm n rqunly, bss, s a rgularcl, ug sms b arly uca. I sul lk

yu, pssbl, my ars, gnral a, makng slw-ly r r, pu m rug s pacs a b, an swa s g r. I nk yu sul b kn m; s ag , yu knwwvr, jus as yu lk, cursbu s a sr rlan, rmmbr, an I ug mgnrs yu s yung llw, sng a s s s.

O, curs, mamma, w nn san n crmnyw m, w mus gv pr llw smng a a-r s jurny; spcally as as n las a wr g , sa Alxanra, ls grls.

Bss, s qu a cl; w can nran m w all -an-sk, n cas n, sa Alaa.

H-an-sk? Wa yu man? nqur Mrs. Ep-

ancn.O, sp prnng, mamma, cr Aglaya, n vxa-

n. Sn m up, ar; mr allws.T gnral rang bll an gav rrs a prnc

sul b swn n.Only n cnn a as a napkn unr s cn

a lunc, n, sa Mrs. Epancn, an l Fr, r Ma-


75/911

vra, san bn m wl as. Is qu wn ass s? H sn sw vlnc, s ?

On cnrary, sms b vry wll brug up.Hs mannrs ar xcllnbu r s msl. Hr yuar, prncl m nruc yu, las Muskns,a rlav yur wn, my ar, r a las sam nam.Rcv m knly, plas. Tyll brng n lunc rcly,prnc; yu mus sp an av sm, bu yu mus xcusm. Im n a urry, I mus b

W all knw wr YOU mus b ! sa Mrs. Ep-ancn, n a manng vc.

Ys, ysI mus urry away, Im la! Lk r, ars,l m wr yu smng n yur albums; yuv n awa a wnrul calgraps s, wnrul aln! Has jus wrn u Abb Panu sgn s r m. Wll,

au rvr!Sp a mnu; wr ar yu ? W s s abb?cr Mrs. Epancn r rrang usban n a n xc annyanc.

Ys, my ar, was an l abb a nam-I mus b s cun, s wang r m, Im laG-by!Au rvr, prnc!an gnral bl a ull sp.

O, ysI knw wa cun yur gng s! r-mark s w n a cung mannr, as s urn rangry ys n prnc. Nw n, was all s abu?Wa abbWs Panu? s a, brusquly.

Mamma! sa Alxanra, sck a r runss.Aglaya samp r .Nnsns! L m aln! sa angry mr. Nw


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he Idiot

n, prnc, s wn r, n, narr, cm narr lg! I wan av a g lk a yu. S, nw n, w

s s abb?Abb Panu, sa ur rn, srusly an w -

rnc.Panu, ys. An w was ?Mrs. Epancn pu s qusns asly an brusquly,

an wn prnc answr s n r a saglya ac wr sa.

T Abb Panu lv n urn cnury, b-gan prnc; was n carg n mnasrsn Vlga, abu wr ur prsn Ksrma gvrn-mn ls. H wn Orl an lp n gra marsn gng n n rlgus wrl; sgn an cr, an I av sn a prn s sgnaur; sruck m,

s I cp . Wn gnral ask m, n s suy, wr smng r m, sw my anwrng, I wrT Abb Panu sgn s, n xac anwrng abb. T gnral lk vry muc, an as wy rcall jus nw.

Aglaya, mak a n Panu, r w sall rg m.Hm! an wr s s sgnaur?

I nk was l n gnrals abl.L b sn r a nc!O, Ill wr yu a nw n n al a mnu, sa

prnc, yu lk!O curs, mamma! sa Alxanra. Bu ls av

lunc nw, w ar all ungry!Ys; cm alng, prnc, sa mr, ar yu vry


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ungry?Ys; I mus say a I am pry ungry, anks vry

muc.Hm! I lk s a yu knw yur mannrs; an yu

ar by n mans suc a prsn as gnral ug scrb yu. Cm alng; yu s r, pps m, scnnu, I ws b abl s yur ac. Alxanra,Alaa, lk ar prnc! H sn sm s vry ll,s ? I n nk rqurs a napkn unr s cn,

ar all; ar yu accusm avng n n, prnc?Frmrly, wn I was svn yars l r s. I blv I

wr n; bu nw I usually l my napkn n my knwn I a.

O curs, curs! An abu yur s?Fs? ask prnc, slgly surprs. I vry sl-

m av s nwaays. I n knw w may b r,ug; y say clma may b ba r m. H alks vry wll, yu knw! sa Mrs. Epancn, w

sll cnnu n a ac wr prnc spk. Irally n xpc a all; n ac, I supps was allsu an nnsns n gnrals par, as usual. Ea away,prnc, an ll m wr yu wr brn, an wr yu

wr brug up. I ws knw all abu yu, yu nrsm vry muc!

T prnc xprss s anks nc mr, an a-ng arly wl, rcmmnc narrav sl n Swzrlan, all wc w av ar br. Mrs.Epancn bcam mr an mr plas w r gus; grls, , lsn w cnsrabl ann. In alk-


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he Idiot

ng vr qusn rlansp urn u a prnc was vry wll up n mar an knw s pgr

by ar. I was un a scarcly any cnncn x-s bwn msl an Mrs. Epancn, bu alk, an ppruny cnvrsng abu r amly r, gra- lar xcngly, an s rs rm abl ngra g umur.

Ls all g my bur, s sa, an y sall brngsm c n r. Tas rm wr w all assmbl

an busy urslvs as w lk bs, s xplan. Alx-anra, my ls, r, plays pan, r ras r sws;Alaa pans lanscaps an prras (bu nvr ns-s any); an Aglaya ss an s nng. I n wrk muc, r. Hr w ar, nw; s wn, prnc, nar r an alk us. I wan ar yu rla smng. I

ws mak sur yu rs an n ll my l rn,Prncss Blknsk, abu yu. I ws yu knw all g ppl an nrs m. Nw n, bgn!

Mamma, s rar a srang rr, a! sa Alaa,w was ussng amng r pans an pan-bruss a asl. Aglaya an Alxanra a sl mslvs wl ans n a sa, vnly manng b lsnrs.

T prnc l a gnral ann was cncnraupn msl.

I sul rus say a wr I wr rr ll asry lk a! bsrv Aglaya.

Wy? was r srang abu ? H as a ngu.Wy suln ll us smng? I wan jug w-r s a g sry-llr; anyng yu lk, prnc-w


79/911

yu lk Swzrlan, wa was yur rs mprssn, any-ng. Yull s, ll bgn rcly an ll us all abu

bauully.T mprssn was rcbl prnc bgan.Tr, yu s, grls, sa mpan lay, as b-

gun, yu s.Wll, n, LE m alk, mamma, sa Alxanra.

Ts prnc s a gra umbug an by n mans an ,s wspr Aglaya.

O, I saw a a nc, rpl lar. I n nk a all nc m play a par. Wa s ws ganby , I wnr?

My rs mprssn was a vry srng n, rpa prnc. Wn y k m away rm Russa, I rmmbrI pass rug many Grman wns an lk u

wnws, bu n rubl s muc as ask qus-ns abu m. Ts was ar a lng srs s. I alwaysus all n a sr rp cnn ar suc a srs,an ls my mmry alms nrly; an ug I was nalgr wu rasn a suc ms, y I a n lg-cal pwr ug. Ts wul cnnu r r r urays, an n I wul rcvr mysl agan. I rmmbr my

mlancly was nlrabl; I l ncln cry; I sa anwnr an wnr uncmrably; cnscusnssa vryng was srang wg rrbly upn m; Icul unrsan a was all rgn an srang. I rc-llc I awk rm s sa r rs m a Basl, nvnng; bray a nky arus m, a nky n wn mark. I saw nky an was xrmly plas


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he Idiot0

w , an rm a mmn my a sm clar.A nky? Hw srang! Y s n srang. Anyn

us mg all n lv w a nky! I appn n my-lgcal ms, sa Maam Epancn, lkng wraullya r augrs, w a bgun laug. G n, prnc.

Snc a vnng I av bn spcally n nkys.I bgan ask qusns abu m, r I a nvr snn br; an I a nc cam cnclusn a smus b n ms usul anmalssrng, wllng,

pan, cap; an, anks s nky, I bgan lk wl cunry I was ravllng rug; an my mlan-cly pass away.

All s s vry srang an nrsng, sa Mrs. Ep-ancn. Nw ls lav nky an g n rmars. Wa ar yu laugng a, Aglaya? an yu ,

Alaa? T prnc l us s xprncs vry clvrly; saw nky msl, an wa av yu vr sn?YOU av nvr bn abra.

I av sn a nky ug, mamma! sa Aglaya.An Iv ar n! sa Alaa. All r grls

laug u lu, an prnc laug w m.Wll, s ba yu, sa mamma. Yu mus rgv

m, prnc; y ar g grls. I am vry n m,ug I n av b sclng m; y ar all as sllyan ma as marc ars.

O, wy suln y laug? sa prnc. Isuln av l canc g by n r plac, I knw.Bu I sck up r nky, all sam; s a pan,g-naur llw.


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Ar yu a pan man, prnc? I ask u cursy, saMrs. Epancn.

All laug agan.O, a wrc nky agan, I s! cr lay. I

assur yu, prnc, I was n guly lasInsnuan? O! I assur yu, I ak yur wr r .

An prnc cnnu laugng mrrly.I mus say s vry nc yu laug. I s yu rally

ar a kn-ar llw, sa Mrs. Epancn.

Im n always kn, ug.I am kn mysl, an ALWAYS kn , yu plas!

s rr, unxpcly; an a s my c aul, rn ug n b always kn. I am n angry ws grls an r ar; bu wrs s, I am alwayskns wn I am crss. I was vry angry jus br yu

cam, an Aglaya r ra m a lssnanks, Aglaya,arcm an kss mras nug s a,as Aglaya cam rwar an kss r lps an n ran. Nw n, g n, prnc. Praps yu can nk smng mr xcng an abu nky, ?

I mus say, agan, I can unrsan w yu can xpcanyn ll yu srs srag away, s, sa Alaa. I

knw I nvr cul!Ys, bu prnc can, bcaus s clvrclvrr

an yu ar by n r wny ms, yu lk. Tr, ass, prnc; an srusly, ls rp nky nwwals yu s abra, bss nky?

Ys, bu prnc l us abu nky vry clvrly,all sam, sa Alxanra. I av always bn ms n-


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he Idiot

rs ar w ppl g ma an g wll agan, ana sr ng. Espcally wn appns sunly.

Qu s, qu s! cr Mrs. Epancn, lg. I syu CAN b snsbl nw an n, Alxanra. Yu wrspakng Swzrlan, prnc?

Ys. W cam Lucrn, an I was akn u n a ba.I l w lvly was, bu lvlnss wg upn msmw r r, an ma m l mlancly.

Wy? ask Alxanra.

I n knw; I always l lk a wn I lk a baus naur r rs m; bu n, I was ll a am, curs!

O, bu I sul lk s ! sa Alaa; an I nknw WHEN w sall vr g abra. Iv bn w yarslkng u r a g subjc r a pcur. Iv n all I

knw. T Nr an Su I knw by ar, as ur pbsrvs. D lp m a subjc, prnc.O, bu I knw nng abu panng. I sms m

n nly as lk, an pan wa n ss.Bu I n knw HOW s!Nnsns, wa rubbs yu alk! mr sruck n.

N knw w s! Opn yur ys an lk! I yu can

s r, yu wn s abra r. ll us wa yu sawyursl, prnc!

Ys, as br, sa Alaa; prnc larn s abra.

O, I arly knw! Yu s, I nly wn rsr myal. I n knw wr I larn s, xacly. I was

vry appy, wvr, narly all m.


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he Idiot

a l may b gran nug vn n a prsn.I ra a las ms praswry ug n my manual,

wn I was wlv yars l, sa Aglaya.All s s pur plspy, sa Alaa. Yu ar a p-

lspr, prnc, an av cm r nsruc us n yurvws.

Praps yu ar rg, sa prnc, smlng. I nkI am a plspr, praps, an w knws, praps I ws ac my vws ngs s I m w?

Yur plspy s rar lk a an l wman wknw, w s rc an y s nng bu ry w lls can spn. S alks nng bu mny all ay. Yurgra plspcal a a gran l n a prsn an yurur appy yars n a Swss vllag ar lk s, rar,sa Aglaya.

As l n a prsn, curs r may b w pn-ns, sa prnc. I nc ar sry a man wlv wlv yars n a prsnI ar rm man m-sl. H was n prsns unr ramn w myprssr; a s, an aacks mlancly, n wul wp, an nc r cmm suc. HIS ln prsn was sa nug; s nly acquanancs wr sp-

rs an a r a grw us s grang-bu I nk Ia br ll yu anr man I m las yar. Trwas a vry srang aur n s cas, srang bcaus s xrmly rar ccurrnc. Ts man a nc bnbrug scal n cmpany w svral rs, ana a snnc a by sng pass upn mr sm plcal crm. wny mnus lar a bn


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rprv an sm r punsmn subsu; bu nrval bwn w snncs, wny mnus, r a

las a quarr an ur, a bn pass n cranya wn a w mnus mus . I was vry anxus ar m spak s mprssns urng a ra-ul m, an I svral ms nqur m as wa ug an l. H rmmbr vryng w msaccura an xrarnary sncnss, an clar a wul nvr rg a sngl a xprnc.

Abu wny pacs rm scal, wr as ar snnc, wr r pss, x n grun, wc asn crmnals ( wm rwr svral). T rs r crmnals wr akn pss, rss n lng w uncs, w w caps rawnvr r acs, s a y cul n s rs pn

a m. Tn a grup slrs k r san pp-s ac ps. My rn was g n ls, anrr wul av bn amng r l g up.A prs wn abu amng m w a crss: an r wasabu v mnus m l r m lv.

H sa a s v mnus sm m b ams nrmnabl pr, an nrmus wal m;

sm b lvng, n s mnus, s many lvs ar was n n as y nk a las mmn, sa ma svral arrangmns, vng up mn prnsn r sayng arwll s cmpanns,w mnus r a; n a cupl mr r nkng vrs wn l an carr an all abu msl; an anrmnu r a las lk arun. H rmmbr avng -


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he Idiot

v s m lk s qu wll. Wl sayng gby s rns rcllc askng n m sm vry

usual vryay qusn, an bng muc nrs n answr. Tn avng ba arwll, mbark upn sw mnus wc a all lkng n msl; knw bran wa was gng nk abu. Hws pu msl as quckly an clarly as pssbl,a r was , a lvng, nkng man, an a n rmnus wul b nby; r smby r smng,

n wa an wr? H ug wul c squsn nc r all n s las r mnus. A ll way r s a curc, an s gl spr glr n sun. H rmmbr sarng subbrnly a s spr, an a rays lg sparklng rm . H cul n ar s ysrm s rays lg; g a a s rays wr

s nw naur, an a n r mnus wul bcmn m, amalgama smw w m.T rpugnanc wa mus nsu alms mmaly,

an uncrany, wr raul, sa; bu wrs all was a, Wa sul I I wr n nw?Wa I wr rurn l agan? Wa an rny ays, an all mn! Hw I sul grug an cun up v-

ry mnu , s as was n a sngl nsan! H saa s ug wg s upn m an bcam suca rrbl burn upn s bran a cul n bar ,an ws y wul s m quckly an av nw .

T prnc paus an all wa, xpcng m g nagan an ns sry.


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Is a all? ask Aglaya.All? Ys, sa prnc, mrgng rm a mmnary

rvr.An wy yu ll us s?O, I appn rcall , as all! I n

cnvrsanYu prbably ws uc, prnc, sa Alxanra,

a mmns m cann b rckn by mny valu,an a smms v mnus ar wr prclss ra-

surs. All s s vry praswry; bu may I ask abus rn yurs, w l yu rrbl xprnc s l? H was rprv, yu say; n r wrs, y rsr m a rny ays. Wa w s rcs m? D kp carul accun s mnus?

O n, n! I ask m mysl. H sa a an lv a b as a nn, an a was many,an many a mnu.

Vry wll, n rs an xprmn, an ng sprv; n cann lv an cun ac mmn; say wayu lk, bu n CANNO.

Ta s ru, sa prnc, I av ug s mysl.

An y, wy suln n ?Yu nk, n, a yu cul lv mr wsly an

r ppl? sa Aglaya.I av a a a.An yu av sll?YsI av sll, prnc rpl.H a cnmpla Aglaya unl nw, w a plasan


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he Idiot

ug rar m sml, bu as las wrs ll rm slps bgan laug, an lk a r mrrly.

Yu ar n vry ms! sa s.Bu w brav yu ar! sa . Yu ar laugng, an

I a mans al mprss m s muc, a I ram arwars; ys, I ram s v mnus

H lk a s lsnrs agan w a sam srus,sarcng xprssn.

Yu ar n angry w m? ask sunly, an w

a kn nrvus urry, alug lk m sragn ac.

Wy sul w b angry? y cr.Only bcaus I sm b gvng yu a lcur, all

m!A s y laug arly.

Plas n b angry w m, cnnu prnc. Iknw vry wll a I av sn lss l an r p-pl, an av lss knwlg . I mus appar spaksrangly smms

H sa las wrs nrvusly.Yu say yu av bn appy, an a prvs yu av

lv, n lss, bu mr an r ppl. Wy mak all

s xcuss? nrrup Aglaya n a mckng n vc. Bss, yu n n mn abu lcurng us; yuav nng bas . W yur qusm, n cullv apply r a unr yars a las. On mg swyu xcun a ln, r sw yu ns ll ngr.Yu cul raw a mral rm r, an b qu sas.Ta sr xsnc s asy nug.


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I can unrsan wy yu always y n a mpr, saMrs. Epancn, w a bn lsnng cnvrsan

an xamnng acs spakrs n urn. I nunrsan wa yu man. Wa as yur ll ngr w ? T prnc alks wll, ug s n amusng.H bgan all rg, bu nw sms sa.

Nvr mn, mamma! Prnc, I ws yu a sn anxcun, sa Aglaya. I sul lk ask yu a qusnabu a, yu a.

I av sn an xcun, sa prnc.Yu av! cr Aglaya. I mg av guss . Tas a

ng crwn rs sry. I yu av sn an x-cun, w can yu say yu lv apply all wl?

Bu s r capal punsmn wr yu wr? askAlaa.

I saw a Lyns. Scnr k us r, an as sn asw arrv w cam n r a.Wll, an yu lk vry muc? Was vry yng

an nsrucv? ask Aglaya.N, I n lk a all, an was ll ar sng ; bu I

cnss I sar as ug my ys wr x sg. Icul n ar m away.

I, , sul av bn unabl ar my ys away,sa Aglaya.

Ty n a all apprv wmn gng s an x-cun r. T wmn w g ar cnmn r arwars n nwspaprs.

Ta s, by cnnng a s n a sg r wmny am a s a sg r mn. I cngraula m


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he Idiot0

n ucn. I supps yu qu agr w m,prnc?

ll us abu xcun, pu n Alaa.I wul muc rar n, jus nw, sa prnc, a

ll surb an rwnng slgly; Yu n sm wan ll us, sa Aglaya, w a

mckng ar. N, ng s, I was llng all abu xcun a

ll wl ag, an

Wm yu ll abu ?T man-srvan, wl I was wang s gnr-

al.Our man-srvan? xclam svral vcs a nc.Ys, n w was n nranc all, a grys,

rac man

T prnc s clarly a mcra, rmark Aglaya.Wll, yu cul ll Alksy abu , surly yu canll us .

I s wan ar abu , rpa Alaa.Jus nw, I cnss, bgan prnc, w mr an-

man, wn yu ask m r a subjc r a pcur, Icnss I a srus ugs gvng yu n. I ug

askng yu raw ac a crmnal, n mnu b-r all gulln, wl wrc man s sllsanng n scal, prparary placng s nck n blck.

Wa, s ac? nly s ac? ask Alaa. Tawul b a srang subjc n. An wa sr a pc-ur wul a mak?


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O, wy n? prnc nss, w sm warm.Wn I was n Basl I saw a pcur vry muc n a

sylI sul lk ll yu abu ; I wll sm m rr; sruck m vry rcbly.

O, yu sall ll us abu Basl pcur anr m;nw w mus av all abu xcun, sa Ala

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The Idiot, Fyodor Dostoevsky

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