白痴 英文版 The Idiot
陀思妥耶夫斯基 Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Idiot XI. Page 1
THE anger of the Epanchin family was unappeased for three days.As usual the prince reproached himself, and had expectedpunishment, but he was inwardly convinced that LizabethaProkofievna could not be seriously angry with him, and that sheprobably was more angry with herself. He was painfully surprised,therefore, when three days passed with no word from her. Otherthings also troubled and perplexed him, and one of these grewmore important in his eyes as the days went by. He had begun toblame himself for two opposite tendencies--on the one hand toextreme, almost "senseless," confidence in his fellows, on theother to a "vile, gloomy suspiciousness."
By the end of the third day the incident of the eccentric ladyand Evgenie Pavlovitch had attained enormous and mysteriousproportions in his mind. He sorrowfully asked himself whether hehad been the cause of this new "monstrosity," or was it ... buthe refrained from saying who else might be in fault. As for theletters N.P.B., he looked on that as a harmless joke, a merechildish piece of mischief--so childish that he felt it would beshameful, almost dishonourable, to attach any importance to it.
The day after these scandalous events, however, the prince hadthe honour of receiving a visit from Adelaida and her fiance,Prince S. They came, ostensibly, to inquire after his health.They had wandered out for a walk, and called in "by accident,"and talked for almost the whole of the time they were with himabout a certain most lovely tree in the park, which Adelaida hadset her heart upon for a picture. This, and a little amiableconversation on Prince S.'s part, occupied the time, and not aword was said about last evening's episodes. At length Adelaidaburst out laughing, apologized, and explained that they had comeincognito; from which, and from the circumstance that they saidnothing about the prince's either walking back with them orcoming to see them later on, the latter inferred that he was inMrs. Epanchin's black books. Adelaida mentioned a watercolourthat she would much like to show him, and explained that shewould either send it by Colia, or bring it herself the next day--which to the prince seemed very suggestive.
, and without muchreflection. The fact is, he felt a longing to leave all .
At length, however, just as the visitors were on the point ofdeparting, Prince S. seemed suddenly to recollect himself. "Ohyes, by-the-by," he said, "do you happen to know, my dear LefNicolaievitch, who that lady was who called out to EvgeniePavlovitch last night, from the carriage?"
"It was Nastasia Philipovna," said the prince; "didn't you knowthat? I cannot tell you who her companion was."
"But what on earth did she mean? I assure you it is a real riddleto me--to me, and to others, too!" Prince S. seemed to be underthe influence of sincere astonishment.
"She spoke of some bills of Evgenie Pavlovitch's," said theprince, simply, "which Rogojin had bought up from someone; andimplied that Rogojin would not press him."
"Oh, I heard that much, my dear fellow! But the thing is soimpossibly absurd! A man of property like Evgenie to give IOU'sto a money-lender, and to be worried about them! It isridiculous. Besides, he cannot possibly be on such intimate termswith Nastasia Philipovna as she gave us to understand; that's theprincipal part of the mystery! He has given me his word that heknows nothing whatever about the matter, and of course I believehim. Well, the question is, my dear prince, do you know anythingabout it? Has any sort of suspicion of the meaning of it comeacross you?"
"No, I know nothing whatever about it. I assure you I had nothingat all to do with it."
"Oh, prince, how strange you have become! I assure you, I hardlyknow you for your old self. How can you suppose that I eversuggested you could have had a finger in such a business? But youare not quite yourself today, I can see." He embraced theprince, and kissed him.
"What do you mean, though," asked Muishkin, "'by such abusiness'? I don't see any particular 'business' about it atall!"
"Oh, undoubtedly, this person wished somehow, and for somereason, to do Evgenie Pavlovitch a bad turn, by attributing tohim--before witnesses--qualities which he neither has nor canhave," replied Prince S. drily enough.
Muiskhin looked disturbed, but continued to gaze intently andquestioningly into Prince S.'s face. The latter, however,remained silent.
"Then it was not simply a matter of bills?" Muishkin said atlast, with some impatience. "It was not as she said?"
"But I ask you, my dear sir, how can there be anything in commonbetween Evgenie Pavlovitch, and--her, and again Rogojin? I tellyou he is a man of immense wealth--as I know for a fact; and hehas further expectations from his uncle. Simply NastasiaPhilipovna--"
Prince S. paused, as though unwilling to continue talking aboutNastasia Philipovna.
"Then at all events he knows her!" remarked the prince, after amoment's silence.
"Oh, that may be. He may have known her some time ago--two orthree years, at least. He used to know Totski. But it isimpossible that there should be any intimacy between them. Shehas not even been in the place--many people don't even know thatshe has returned from Moscow! I have only observed her carriageabout for the last three days or so."
"It's a lovely carriage," said Adelaida.
"Yes, it was a beautiful turn-out, certainly!"
The visitors left the house, however, on no less friendly termsthan before. But the visit was of the greatest importance to theprince, from his own point of view. Admitting that he had hissuspicions, from the moment of the occurrence of last night,perhaps even before, that Nastasia had some mysterious end inview, yet this visit confirmed his suspicions and justified hisfears. It was all clear to him; Prince S. was wrong, perhaps, inhis view of the matter, but he was somewhere near the truth, andwas right in so far as that he understood there to be an intrigueof some sort going on. Perhaps Prince S. saw it all more clearlythan he had allowed his hearers to understand. At all events,nothing could be plainer than that he and Adelaida had come forthe express purpose of obtaining explanations, and that theysuspected him of being concerned in the affair. And if all thiswere so, then SHE must have some terrible object in view! Whatwas it? There was no stopping HER, as Muishkin knew fromexperience, in the performance of anything she had set her mindon! "Oh, she is mad, mad!" thought the poor prince.
But there were many other puzzling occurrences that day, whichrequired immediate explanation, and the prince felt very sad. Avisit from Vera Lebedeff distracted him a little. She brought theinfant Lubotchka with her as usual, and talked cheerfully forsome time. Then came her younger sister, and later the brother,who attended a school close by. He informed Muishkin that hisfather had lately found a new interpretation of the star called"wormwood," which fell upon the water-springs, as described inthe Apocalypse. He had decided that it meant the network ofrailroads spread over the face of Europe at the present time. Theprince refused to believe that Lebedeff could have given such aninterpretation, and they decided to ask him about it at theearliest opportunity. Vera related how Keller had taken up hisabode with them on the previous evening. She thought he wouldremain for some time, as he was greatly pleased with the societyof General Ivolgin and of the whole family. But he declared thathe had only come to them in order to complete his education!The prince always enjoyed the company of Lebedeff's children, andtoday it was especially welcome, for Colia did not appear allday. Early that morning he had started for Petersburg. Lebedeffalso was away on business. But Gavrila Ardalionovitch hadpromised to visit Muishkin, who eagerly awaited his coming.
About seven in the evening, soon after dinner, he arrived. At thefirst glance it struck the prince that he, at any rate, must knowall the details of last night's affair. Indeed, it would havebeen impossible for him to remain in ignorance considering theintimate relationship between him, Varvara Ardalionovna, andPtitsin. But although he and the prince were intimate, in asense, and although the latter had placed the Burdovsky affair inhis hands-and this was not the only mark of confidence he hadreceived--it seemed curious how many matters there were that weretacitly avoided in their conversations. Muishkin thought thatGania at times appeared to desire more cordiality and frankness.It was apparent now, when he entered, that he, was convinced thatthe moment for breaking the ice between them had come at last.
But all the same Gania was in haste, for his sister was waitingat Lebedeff's to consult him on an urgent matter of business. Ifhe had anticipated impatient questions, or impulsive confidences,he was soon undeceived. The prince was thoughtful, reserved, evena little absent-minded, and asked none of the questions--one inparticular--that Gania had expected. So he imitated the prince'sdemeanour, and talked fast and brilliantly upon all subjects butthe one on which their thoughts were engaged. Among other thingsGania told his host that Nastasia Philipovna had been only fourdays in Pavlofsk, and that everyone was talking about heralready. She was staying with Daria Alexeyevna, in an ugly littlehouse in Mattrossky Street, but drove about in the smartestcarriage in the place. A crowd of followers had pursued her fromthe first, young and old. Some escorted her on horse-back whenshe took the air in her carriage.
She was as capricious as ever in the choice of her acquaintances,and admitted few into her narrow circle. Yet she already had anumerous following and many champions on whom she could depend intime of need. One gentleman on his holiday had broken off hisengagement on her account, and an old general had quarrelled withhis only son for the same reason.
She was accompanied sometimes in her carriage by a girl ofsixteen, a distant relative of her hostess. This young lady sangvery well; in fact, her music had given a kind of notoriety totheir little house. Nastasia, however, was behaving with greatdiscretion on the whole. She dressed quietly, though with suchtaste as to drive all the ladies in Pavlofsk mad with envy, ofthat, as well as of her beauty and her carriage and horses.
"As for yesterday's episode," continued Gania, "of course it waspre-arranged." Here he paused, as though expecting to be askedhow he knew that. But the prince did not inquire. ConcerningEvgenie Pavlovitch, Gania stated, without being asked, that hebelieved the former had not known Nastasia Philipovna in pastyears, but that he had probably been introduced to her bysomebody in the park during these four days. As to the questionof the IOU's she had spoken of, there might easily be somethingin that; for though Evgenie was undoubtedly a man of wealth, yetcertain of his affairs were equally undoubtedly in disorder.Arrived at this interesting point, Gania suddenly broke off, andsaid no more about Nastasia's prank of the previous evening.
At last Varvara Ardalionovna came in search of her brother, andremained for a few minutes. Without Muishkin's asking her, sheinformed him that Evgenie Pavlovitch was spending the day inPetersburg, and perhaps would remain there over tomorrow; andthat her husband had also gone to town, probably in connectionwith Evgenie Pavlovitch's affairs.
"Lizabetha Prokofievna is in a really fiendish temper today,"she added, as she went out, "but the most curious thing is thatAglaya has quarrelled with her whole family; not only with herfather and mother, but with her sisters also. It is not a goodsign." She said all this quite casually, though it was extremelyimportant in the eyes of the prince, and went off with herbrother. Regarding the episode of "Pavlicheff's son," Gania hadbeen absolutely silent, partly from a kind of false modesty,partly, perhaps, to "spare the prince's feelings." The latter,however, thanked him again for the trouble he had taken in theaffair.
Muishkin was glad enough to be left alone. He went out of thegarden, crossed the road, and entered the park. He wished toreflect, and to make up his mind as to a certain "step." Thisstep was one of those things, however, which are not thought out,as a rule, but decided for or against hastily, and without muchreflection. The fact is, he felt a longing to leave all this andgo away--go anywhere, if only it were far enough, and at once,without bidding farewell to anyone. He felt a presentiment thatif he remained but a few days more in this place, and among thesepeople, he would be fixed there irrevocably and permanently.However, in a very few minutes he decided that to run away wasimpossible; that it would be cowardly; that great problems laybefore him, and that he had no right to leave them unsolved, orat least to refuse to give all his energy and strength to theattempt to solve them. Having come to this determination, heturned and went home, his walk having lasted less than a quarterof an hour. At that moment he was thoroughly unhappy.
Lebedeff had not returned, so towards evening Keller managed topenetrate into the prince's apartments. He was not drunk, but ina confidential and talkative mood. He announced that he had cometo tell the story of his life to Muishkin, and had only remainedat Pavlofsk for that purpose. There was no means of turning himout; nothing short of an earthquake would have removed him.
In the manner of one with long hours before him, he began hishistory; but after a few incoherent words he jumped to theconclusion, which was that "having ceased to believe in GodAlmighty, he had lost every vestige of morality, and had gone sofar as to commit a theft." "Could you imagine such a thing?" saidhe.
"Listen to me, Keller," returned the prince. "If I were in yourplace, I should not acknowledge that unless it were absolutelynecessary for some reason. But perhaps you are making yourselfout to be worse than you are, purposely?"
"I should tell it to no one but yourself, prince, and I only nameit now as a help to my soul's evolution. When I die, that secretwill die with me! But, excellency, if you knew, if you only hadthe least idea, how difficult it is to get money nowadays! Whereto find it is the question. Ask for a loan, the answer is alwaysthe same: 'Give us gold, jewels, or diamonds, and it will bequite easy.' Exactly what one has not got! Can you picture thatto yourself? I got angry at last, and said, 'I suppose you wouldaccept emeralds?' 'Certainly, we accept emeralds with pleasure.Yes!' 'Well, that's all right,' said I. 'Go to the devil, you denof thieves!' And with that I seized my hat, and walked out."
"Had you any emeralds?" asked the prince.
"What? I have emeralds? Oh, prince! with what simplicity, withwhat almost pastoral simplicity, you look upon life!"
Could not something be made of this man under good influences?asked the prince of himself, for he began to feel a kind of pityfor his visitor. He thought little of the value of his ownpersonal influence, not from a sense of humility, but from hispeculiar way of looking at things in general. Imperceptibly theconversation grew more animated and more interesting, so thatneither of the two felt anxious to bring it to a close. Kellerconfessed, with apparent sincerity, to having been guilty of manyacts of such a nature that it astonished the prince that he couldmention them, even to him. At every fresh avowal he professed thedeepest repentance, and described himself as being "bathed intears"; but this did not prevent him from putting on a boastfulair at times, and some of his stories were so absurdly comicalthat both he and the prince laughed like madmen.
"One point in your favour is that you seem to have a child-likemind, and extreme truthfulness," said the prince at last. "Do youknow that that atones for much?"
"I am assuredly noble-minded, and chivalrous to a degree!" saidKeller, much softened. "But, do you know, this nobility of mindexists in a dream, if one may put it so? It never appears inpractice or deed. Now, why is that? I can never understand."
"Do not despair. I think we may say without fear of deceivingourselves, that you have now given a fairly exact account of yourlife. I, at least, think it would be impossible to add much towhat you have just told me."
"Impossible?" cried Keller, almost pityingly. "Oh prince, howlittle you really seem to understand human nature!"
"Is there really much more to be added?" asked the prince, withmild surprise. "Well, what is it you really want of me? Speakout; tell me why you came to make your confession to me?"
"What did I want? Well, to begin with, it is good to meet a manlike you. It is a pleasure to talk over my faults with you. Iknow you for one of the best of men ... and then ... then ..."
He hesitated, and appeared so much embarrassed that the princehelped him out.
man's soul like apsychologist! Now, do explain it to me, prince, because I ... Ireally do .
"Then you wanted me to lend you money?"
The words were spoken in a grave tone, and even somewhat shyly.
Keller started, gave an astonished look at the speaker, andthumped the table with his fist.
"Yes ... from you it is quite natural."
"And you are not offended?"
"Why should I be offended?"
"Well, just listen, prince. I remained here last evening, partlybecause I have a great admiration for the French archbishopBourdaloue. I enjoyed a discussion over him till three o'clock inthe morning, with Lebedeff; and then ...then--I swear by all I hold sacred that I am telling you thetruth--then I wished to develop my soul in this frank andheartfelt confession to you. This was my thought as I was sobbingmyself to sleep at dawn. Just as I was losing consciousness,tears in my soul, tears on my face (I remember how I lay theresobbing), an idea from hell struck me. 'Why not, afterconfessing, borrow money from him?' You see, this confession wasa kind of masterstroke; I intended to use it as a means to yourgood grace and favour--and then--then I meant to walk off with ahundred and fifty roubles. Now, do you not call that base?"
"It is hardly an exact statement of the case," said the prince inreply. "You have confused your motives and ideas, as I needscarcely say too often happens to myself. I can assure you,Keller, I reproach myself bitterly for it sometimes. When youwere talking just now I seemed to be listening to something aboutmyself. At times I have imagined that all men were the same," hecontinued earnestly, for he appeared to be much interested in theconversation, "and that consoled me in a certain degree, for aDOUBLE motive is a thing most difficult to fight against. I havetried, and I know. God knows whence they arise, these ideas thatyou speak of as base. I fear these double motives more than everjust now, but I am not your judge, and in my opinion it is goingtoo far to give the name of baseness to it--what do you think?You were going to employ your tears as a ruse in order to borrowmoney, but you also say--in fact, you have sworn to the fact--that independently of this your confession was made with anhonourable motive. As for the money, you want it for drink, doyou not? After your confession, that is weakness, of course; but,after all, how can anyone give up a bad habit at a moment'snotice? It is impossible. What can we do? It is best, I think, toleave the matter to your own conscience. How does it seem toyou?" As he concluded the prince looked curiously at Keller;evidently this problem of double motives had often beenconsidered by him before.