白痴 英文版 The Idiot
陀思妥耶夫斯基 Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Idiot VIII. Page 2
With these last excited words, Lebedeff's nephew was silent.
"We demand, we demand, we demand, we do not beseech," splutteredBurdovsky, red as a lobster.
The speech of Lebedeff's nephew caused a certain stir among thecompany; murmurs arose, though with the exception of Lebedeff,who was still very much excited, everyone was careful not tointerfere in the matter. Strangely enough, Lebedeff, although onthe prince's side, seemed quite proud of his nephew's eloquence.Gratified vanity was visible in the glances he cast upon theassembled company.
"In my opinion, Mr. Doktorenko," said the prince, in rather a lowvoice, "you are quite right in at least half of what you say. Iwould go further and say that you are altogether right, and thatI quite agree with you, if there were not something lacking inyour speech. I cannot undertake to say precisely what it is, butyou have certainly omitted something, and you cannot be quitejust while there is something lacking. But let us put that asideand return to the point. Tell me what induced you to publish thisarticle. Every word of it is a calumny, and I think, gentlemen,that you have been guilty of a mean action."
"Allow me--"
"Sir--"
"What? What? What?" cried all the visitors at once, in violentagitation.
"As to the article," said Hippolyte in his croaking voice, "Ihave told you already that we none of us approve of it! There isthe writer," he added, pointing to the boxer, who sat beside him."I quite admit that he has written it in his old regimentalmanner, with an equal disregard for style and decency. I know heis a cross between a fool and an adventurer; I make no bonesabout telling him so to his face every day. But after all he ishalf justified; publicity is the lawful right of every man;consequently, Burdovsky is not excepted. Let him answer for hisown blunders. As to the objection which I made just now in thename of all, to the presence of your friends, I think I ought toexplain, gentlemen, that I only did so to assert our rights,though we really wished to have witnesses; we had agreedunanimously upon the point before we came in. We do not care whoyour witnesses may be, or whether they are your friends or not.As they cannot fail to recognize Burdovsky's right (seeing thatit is mathematically demonstrable), it is just as well that thewitnesses should be your friends. The truth will only be moreplainly evident."
"It is quite true; we had agreed upon that point," saidLebedeff's nephew, in confirmation.
"If that is the case, why did you begin by making such a fussabout it?" asked the astonished prince.
The boxer was dying to get in a few words; owing, no doubt, tothe presence of the ladies, he was becoming quite jovial.
"As to the article, prince," he said, "I admit that I wrote it,in spite of the severe criticism of my poor friend, in whom Ialways overlook many things because of his unfortunate state ofhealth. But I wrote and published it in the form of a letter, inthe paper of a friend. I showed it to no one but Burdovsky, and Idid not read it all through, even to him. He immediately gave mepermission to publish it, but you will admit that I might havedone so without his consent. Publicity is a noble, beneficent,and universal right. I hope, prince, that you are too progressiveto deny this?"
"I deny nothing, but you must confess that your article--"
"Is a bit thick, you mean? Well, in a way that is in the publicinterest; you will admit that yourself, and after all one cannotoverlook a blatant fact. So much the worse for the guiltyparties, but the public welfare must come before everything. Asto certain inaccuracies and figures of speech, so to speak, youwill also admit that the motive, aim, and intention, are thechief thing. It is a question, above all, of making a wholesomeexample; the individual case can be examined afterwards; and asto the style--well, the thing was meant to be humorous, so tospeak, and, after all, everybody writes like that; you must admitit yourself! Ha, ha!"
"But, gentlemen, I assure you that you are quite astray,"exclaimed the prince. "You have published this article upon thesupposition that I would never consent to satisfy Mr. Burdovsky.Acting on that conviction, you have tried to intimidate me bythis publication and to be revenged for my supposed refusal. Butwhat did you know of my intentions? It may be that I haveresolved to satisfy Mr. Burdovsky's claim. I now declare openly,in the presence of these witnesses, that I will do so."
"The noble and intelligent word of an intelligent and most nobleman, at last!" exclaimed the boxer.
"Good God!" exclaimed Lizabetha Prokofievna involuntarily.
"This is intolerable," growled the general.
"Allow me, gentlemen, allow me," urged the prince.
"I will explain matters to you. Five weeks ago I received a visitfrom Tchebaroff, your agent, Mr. Burdovsky. You have given a veryflattering description of him in your article, Mr. Keller," hecontinued, turning to the boxer with a smile, "but he did notplease me at all. I saw at once that Tchebaroff was the movingspirit in the matter, and, to speak frankly, I thought he mighthave induced you, Mr. Burdovsky, to make this claim, by takingadvantage of your simplicity."
"You have no right.... I am not simple," stammered Burdovsky,much agitated.
"You have no sort of right to suppose such things," saidLebedeff's nephew in a tone of authority.
"It is most offensive!" shrieked Hippolyte; "it is an insultingsuggestion, false, and most ill-timed."
said to himself, overcome with shame and regret.no right.... I am not simple," stammered Burdovsky.
"I beg your pardon, gentlemen; please excuse me," said theprince. "I thought absolute frankness on both sides would bebest, but have it your own way. I told Tchebaroff that, as I wasnot in Petersburg, I would commission a friend to look into thematter without delay, and that I would let you know, Mr.Burdovsky. Gentlemen, I have no hesitation in telling you that itwas the fact of Tchebaroff's intervention that made me suspect afraud. Oh! do not take offence at my words, gentlemen, forHeaven's sake do not be so touchy!" cried the prince, seeing thatBurdovsky was getting excited again, and that the rest werepreparing to protest. "If I say I suspected a fraud, there isnothing personal in that. I had never seen any of you then; I didnot even know your names; I only judged by Tchebaroff; I amspeaking quite generally--if you only knew how I have been 'done'since I came into my fortune!"
"You are shockingly naive, prince," said Lebedeff's nephew inmocking tones.
"Besides, though you are a prince and a millionaire, and eventhough you may really be simple and good-hearted, you can hardlybe outside the general law," Hippolyte declared loudly.
"Perhaps not; it is very possible," the prince agreed hastily,"though I do not know what general law you allude to. I will goon--only please do not take offence without good cause. I assureyou I do not mean to offend you in the least. Really, it isimpossible to speak three words sincerely without your flyinginto a rage! At first I was amazed when Tchebaroff told me thatPavlicheff had a son, and that he was in such a miserableposition. Pavlicheff was my benefactor, and my father's friend.Oh, Mr. Keller, why does your article impute things to my fatherwithout the slightest foundation? He never squandered the fundsof his company nor ill-treated his subordinates, I am absolutelycertain of it; I cannot imagine how you could bring yourself towrite such a calumny! But your assertions concerning Pavlicheffare absolutely intolerable! You do not scruple to make alibertine of that noble man; you call him a sensualist as coollyas if you were speaking the truth, and yet it would not bepossible to find a chaster man. He was even a scholar of note,and in correspondence with several celebrated scientists, andspent large sums in the interests of science. As to his kindheart and his good actions, you were right indeed when you saidthat I was almost an idiot at that time, and could hardlyunderstand anything--(I could speak and understand Russian,though),--but now I can appreciate what I remember--"
"Excuse me," interrupted Hippolyte, "is not this rathersentimental? You said you wished to come to the point; pleaseremember that it is after nine o'clock."
"Very well, gentlemen--very well," replied the prince. "At firstI received the news with mistrust, then I said to myself that Imight be mistaken, and that Pavlicheff might possibly have had ason. But I was absolutely amazed at the readiness with which theson had revealed the secret of his birth at the expense of hismother's honour. For Tchebaroff had already menaced me withpublicity in our interview. . . ."
"What nonsense!" Lebedeff's nephew interrupted violently.
"You have no right--you have no right!" cried Burdovsky.
"That seems to me all the more reason for sparing her," said theprince timidly.
"Prince, you are not only simple, but your simplicity is almostpast the limit," said Lebedeff's nephew, with a sarcastic smile.
"But what right had you?" said Hippolyte in a very strange tone.
"None--none whatever," agreed the prince hastily. "I admit youare right there, but it was involuntary, and I immediately saidto myself that my personal feelings had nothing to do with it,--that if I thought it right to satisfy the demands of Mr.Burdovsky, out of respect for the memory of Pavlicheff, I oughtto do so in any case, whether I esteemed Mr. Burdovsky or not. Ionly mentioned this, gentlemen, because it seemed so unnatural tome for a son to betray his mother's secret in such a way. Inshort, that is what convinced me that Tchebaroff must be a rogue,and that he had induced Mr. Burdovsky to attempt this fraud."
"But this is intolerable!" cried the visitors, some of themstarting to their feet.
"Gentlemen, I supposed from this that poor Mr. Burdovsky must bea simple-minded man, quite defenceless, and an easy tool in thehands of rogues. That is why I thought it my duty to try and helphim as 'Pavlicheff's son'; in the first place by rescuing himfrom the influence of Tchebaroff, and secondly by making myselfhis friend. I have resolved to give him ten thousand roubles;that is about the sum which I calculate that Pavlicheff must havespent on me."
"What, only ten thousand!" cried Hippolyte.
"Well, prince, your arithmetic is not up to much, or else you aremighty clever at it, though you affect the air of a simpleton,"said Lebedeff's nephew.
"I will not accept ten thousand roubles," said Burdovsky.
"Accept, Antip," whispered the boxer eagerly, leaning past theback of Hippolyte's chair to give his friend this piece ofadvice. "Take it for the present; we can see about more lateron."
"Look here, Mr. Muishkin," shouted Hippolyte, "please understandthat we are not fools, nor idiots, as your guests seem toimagine; these ladies who look upon us with such scorn, andespecially this fine gentleman" (pointing to Evgenie Pavlovitch)"whom I have not the honour of knowing, though I think I haveheard some talk about him--"
"Really, really, gentlemen," cried the prince in great agitation,"you are misunderstanding me again. In the first place, Mr.Keller, you have greatly overestimated my fortune in yourarticle. I am far from being a millionaire. I have barely a tenthof what you suppose. Secondly, my treatment in Switzerland wasvery far from costing tens of thousands of roubles. Schneiderreceived six hundred roubles a year, and he was only paid for thefirst three years. As to the pretty governesses whom Pavlicheffis supposed to have brought from Paris, they only exist in Mr.Keller's imagination; it is another calumny. According to mycalculations, the sum spent on me was very considerably under tenthousand roubles, but I decided on that sum, and you must admitthat in paying a debt I could not offer Mr. Burdovsky more,however kindly disposed I might be towards him; delicacy forbidsit; I should seem to be offering him charity instead of rightfulpayment. I don't know how you cannot see that, gentlemen!Besides, I had no intention of leaving the matter there. I meantto intervene amicably later on and help to improve poor Mr.Burdovsky's position. It is clear that he has been deceived, orhe would never have agreed to anything so vile as the scandalousrevelations about his mother in Mr. Keller's article. But,gentlemen, why are you getting angry again? Are we never to cometo an understanding? Well, the event has proved me right! I havejust seen with my own eyes the proof that my conjecture wascorrect!" he added, with increasing eagerness.
He meant to calm his hearers, and did not perceive that his wordshad only increased their irritation.
"What do you mean? What are you convinced of?" they demandedangrily.
"In the first place, I have had the opportunity of getting acorrect idea of Mr. Burdovsky. I see what he is for myself. He isan innocent man, deceived by everyone! A defenceless victim, whodeserves indulgence! Secondly, Gavrila Ardalionovitch, in whosehands I had placed the matter, had his first interview with mebarely an hour ago. I had not heard from him for some time, as Iwas away, and have been ill for three days since my return to St.Petersburg. He tells me that he has exposed the designs ofTchebaroff and has proof that justifies my opinion of him. Iknow, gentlemen, that many people think me an idiot. Countingupon my reputation as a man whose purse-strings are easilyloosened, Tchebaroff thought it would be a simple matter tofleece me, especially by trading on my gratitude to Pavlicheff.But the main point is--listen, gentlemen, let me finish!--the mainpoint is that Mr. Burdovsky is not Pavlicheff's son at all.Gavrila Ardalionovitch has just told me of his discovery, andassures me that he has positive proofs. Well, what do you thinkof that? It is scarcely credible, even after all the tricks thathave been played upon me. Please note that we have positiveproofs! I can hardly believe it myself, I assure you; I do notyet believe it; I am still doubtful, because GavrilaArdalionovitch has not had time to go into details; but there canbe no further doubt that Tchebaroff is a rogue! He has deceivedpoor Mr. Burdovsky, and all of you, gentlemen, who have comeforward so nobly to support your friend--(he evidently needssupport, I quite see that!). He has abused your credulity andinvolved you all in an attempted fraud, for when all is said anddone this claim is nothing else!"
"What! a fraud? What, he is not Pavlicheff's son? Impossible!"
These exclamations but feebly expressed the profound bewildermentinto which the prince's words had plunged Burdovsky's companions.
"Certainly it is a fraud! Since Mr. Burdovsky is not Pavlicheff'sson, his claim is neither more nor less than attempted fraud(supposing, of course, that he had known the truth), but the factis that he has been deceived. I insist on this point in order tojustify him; I repeat that his simple-mindedness makes him worthyof pity, and that he cannot stand alone; otherwise he would havebehaved like a scoundrel in this matter. But I feel certain thathe does not understand it! I was just the same myself before Iwent to Switzerland; I stammered incoherently; one tries toexpress oneself and cannot. I understand that. I am all thebetter able to pity Mr. Burdovsky, because I know from experiencewhat it is to be like that, and so I have a right to speak. Well,though there is no such person as 'Pavlicheff's son,' and it isall nothing but a humbug, yet I will keep to my decision, and Iam prepared to give up ten thousand roubles in memory ofPavlicheff. Before Mr. Burdovsky made this claim, I proposed tofound a school with this money, in memory of my benefactor, but Ishall honour his memory quite as well by giving the ten thousandroubles to Mr. Burdovsky, because, though he was not Pavlicheff'sson, he was treated almost as though he were. That is what gave arogue the opportunity of deceiving him; he really did thinkhimself Pavlicheff's son. Listen, gentlemen; this matter must besettled; keep calm; do not get angry; and sit down! GavrilaArdalionovitch will explain everything to you at once, and Iconfess that I am very anxious to hear all the details myself. Hesays that he has even been to Pskoff to see your mother, Mr.Burdovsky; she is not dead, as the article which was just read tous makes out. Sit down, gentlemen, sit down!"
The prince sat down, and at length prevailed upon Burdovsky'scompany to do likewise. During the last ten or twenty minutes,exasperated by continual interruptions, he had raised his voice,and spoken with great vehemence. Now, no doubt, he bitterlyregretted several words and expressions which had escaped him inhis excitement. If he had not been driven beyond the limits ofendurance, he would not have ventured to express certainconjectures so openly. He had no sooner sat down than his heartwas torn by sharp remorse. Besides insulting Burdovsky with thesupposition, made in the presence of witnesses, that he wassuffering from the complaint for which he had himself beentreated in Switzerland, he reproached himself with the grossestindelicacy in having offered him the ten thousand roubles beforeeveryone. "I ought to have waited till to-morrow and offered himthe money when we were alone," thought Muishkin. "Now it is toolate, the mischief is done! Yes, I am an idiot, an absoluteidiot!" he said to himself, overcome with shame and regret.
have had ason. But I was absolutely amazed at.
Till then Gavrila Ardalionovitch had sat apart in silence. Whenthe prince called upon him, he came and stood by his side, and ina calm, clear voice began to render an account of the missionconfided to him. All conversation ceased instantly. Everyone,especially the Burdovsky party, listened with the utmostcuriosity.