白痴 英文版 The Idiot
陀思妥耶夫斯基 Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Idiot VI. Page 1
As to the evening party at the Epanchins' at which PrincessBielokonski was to be present, Varia had reported with accuracy;though she had perhaps expressed herself too strongly.
The thing was decided in a hurry and with a certain amount ofquite unnecessary excitement, doubtless because "nothing could bedone in this house like anywhere else."
The impatience of Lizabetha Prokofievna "to get things settled"explained a good deal, as well as the anxiety of both parents forthe happiness of their beloved daughter. Besides, PrincessBielokonski was going away soon, and they hoped that she wouldtake an interest in the prince. They were anxious that he shouldenter society under the auspices of this lady, whose patronagewas the best of recommendations for any young man.
Even if there seems something strange about the match, thegeneral and his wife said to each other, the "world" will acceptAglaya's fiance without any question if he is under the patronageof the princess. In any case, the prince would have to be "shown"sooner or later; that is, introduced into society, of which hehad, so far, not the least idea. Moreover, it was only a questionof a small gathering of a few intimate friends. Besides PrincessBielokonski, only one other lady was expected, the wife of a highdignitary. Evgenie Pavlovitch, who was to escort the princess,was the only young man.
Muishkin was told of the princess's visit three days beforehand,but nothing was said to him about the party until the nightbefore it was to take place.
He could not help observing the excited and agitated condition ofall members of the family, and from certain hints dropped inconversation he gathered that they were all anxious as to theimpression he should make upon the princess. But the Epanchins,one and all, believed that Muishkin, in his simplicity of mind,was quite incapable of realizing that they could be feeling anyanxiety on his account, and for this reason they all looked athim with dread and uneasiness.
In point of fact, he did attach marvellously little importance tothe approaching event. He was occupied with altogether differentthoughts. Aglaya was growing hourly more capricious and gloomy,and this distressed him. When they told him that EvgeniePavlovitch was expected, he evinced great delight, and said thathe had long wished to see him--and somehow these words did notplease anyone.
Aglaya left the room in a fit of irritation, and it was not untillate in the evening, past eleven, when the prince was taking hisdeparture, that she said a word or two to him, privately, as sheaccompanied him as far as the front door.
"I should like you," she said, "not to come here tomorrow untilevening, when the guests are all assembled. You know there are tobe guests, don't you?"
She spoke impatiently and with severity; this was the firstallusion she had made to the party of tomorrow.
She hated the idea of it, everyone saw that; and she wouldprobably have liked to quarrel about it with her parents, butpride and modesty prevented her from broaching the subject.
The prince jumped to the conclusion that Aglaya, too, was nervousabout him, and the impression he would make, and that she did notlike to admit her anxiety; and this thought alarmed him.
"Yes, I am invited," he replied.
She was evidently in difficulties as to how best to go on. "May Ispeak of something serious to you, for once in my life?" sheasked, angrily. She was irritated at she knew not what, and couldnot restrain her wrath.
"Of course you may; I am very glad to listen," replied Muishkin.
Aglaya was silent a moment and then began again with evidentdislike of her subject:
"I do not wish to quarrel with them about this; in some thingsthey won't be reasonable. I always did feel a loathing for thelaws which seem to guide mamma's conduct at times. I don't speakof father, for he cannot be expected to be anything but what heis. Mother is a noble-minded woman, I know; you try to suggestanything mean to her, and you'll see! But she is such a slave tothese miserable creatures! I don't mean old Bielokonski alone.She is a contemptible old thing, but she is able to twist peopleround her little finger, and I admire that in her, at all events!How mean it all is, and how foolish! We were always middle-class,thoroughly middle-class, people. Why should we attempt to climbinto the giddy heights of the fashionable world? My sisters areall for it. It's Prince S. they have to thank for poisoning theirminds. Why are you so glad that Evgenie Pavlovitch is coming?"
"Listen to me, Aglaya," said the prince, "I do believe you arenervous lest I shall make a fool of myself tomorrow at yourparty?"
"Nervous about you?" Aglaya blushed. "Why should I be nervousabout you? What would it matter to me if you were to make eversuch a fool of yourself? How can you say such a thing? What doyou mean by 'making a fool of yourself'? What a vulgarexpression! I suppose you intend to talk in that sort of waytomorrow evening? Look up a few more such expressions in yourdictionary; do, you'll make a grand effect! I'm sorry that youseem to be able to come into a room as gracefully as you do;where did you learn the art? Do you think you can drink a cup oftea decently, when you know everybody is looking at you, onpurpose to see how you do it?"
"Yes, I think I can."
"Can you? I'm sorry for it then, for I should have had a goodlaugh at you otherwise. Do break SOMETHING at least, in thedrawing-room! Upset the Chinese vase, won't you? It's a valuableone; DO break it. Mamma values it, and she'll go out of hermind--it was a present. She'll cry before everyone, you'll see! Waveyour hand about, you know, as you always do, and just smash it.Sit down near it on purpose."
"On the contrary, I shall sit as far from it as I can. Thanks forthe hint."
"Ha, ha! Then you are afraid you WILL wave your arms about! Iwouldn't mind betting that you'll talk about some lofty subject,something serious and learned. How delightful, how tactful thatwill be!"
"I should think it would be very foolish indeed, unless ithappened to come in appropriately."
"Look here, once for all," cried Aglaya, boiling over, "if I hearyou talking about capital punishment, or the economical conditionof Russia, or about Beauty redeeming the world, or anything ofthat sort, I'll--well, of course I shall laugh and seem verypleased, but I warn you beforehand, don't look me in the faceagain! I'm serious now, mind, this time I AM REALLY serious." Shecertainly did say this very seriously, so much so, that shelooked quite different from what she usually was, and the princecould not help noticing the fact. She did not seem to be jokingin the slightest degree.
"Well, you've put me into such a fright that I shall certainlymake a fool of myself, and very likely break something too. Iwasn't a bit alarmed before, but now I'm as nervous as can be."
"Then don't speak at all. Sit still and don't talk."
"Oh, I can't do that, you know! I shall say something foolish outof pure 'funk,' and break something for the same excellentreason; I know I shall. Perhaps I shall slip and fall on theslippery floor; I've done that before now, you know. I shalldream of it all night now. Why did you say anything about it?"
Aglaya looked blackly at him.
"Do you know what, I had better not come at all tomorrow! I'llplead sick-list and stay away," said the prince, with decision.
Aglaya stamped her foot, and grew quite pale with anger.
Oh, my goodness! Just listen to that! 'Better not come,' when theparty is on purpose for him! Good Lord! What a delightful thingit is to have to do with such a--such a stupid as you are!"
"Well, I'll come, I'll come," interrupted the prince, hastily,"and I'll give you my word of honour that I will sit the wholeevening and not say a word."
"I believe that's the best thing you can do. You said you'd'plead sick-list' just now; where in the world do you get hold ofsuch expressions? Why do you talk to me like this? Are you tryingto irritate me, or what?"
"Forgive me, it's a schoolboy expression. I won't do it again. Iknow quite well, I see it, that you are anxious on my account(now, don't be angry), and it makes me very happy to see it. Youwouldn't believe how frightened I am of misbehaving somehow, andhow glad I am of your instructions. But all this panic is simplynonsense, you know, Aglaya! I give you my word it is; I am sopleased that you are such a child, such a dear good child. HowCHARMING you can be if you like, Aglaya."
Aglaya wanted to be angry, of course, but suddenly some quiteunexpected feeling seized upon her heart, all in a moment.
"And you won't reproach me for all these rude words of mine--someday--afterwards?" she asked, of a sudden.
"What an idea! Of course not. And what are you blushing foragain? And there comes that frown once more! You've taken tolooking too gloomy sometimes, Aglaya, much more than you used to.I know why it is."
"Be quiet, do be quiet!"
"No, no, I had much better speak out. I have long wished to sayit, and HAVE said it, but that's not enough, for you didn'tbelieve me. Between us two there stands a being who--"
"Be quiet, be quiet, be quiet, be quiet!" Aglaya struck in,suddenly, seizing his hand in hers, and gazing at him almost interror.
At this moment she was called by someone. She broke loose fromhim with an air of relief and ran away.
The prince was in a fever all night. It was strange, but he hadsuffered from fever for several nights in succession. On thisparticular night, while in semi-delirium, he had an idea: what ifon the morrow he were to have a fit before everybody? The thoughtseemed to freeze his blood within him. All night he fanciedhimself in some extraordinary society of strange persons. Theworst of it was that he was talking nonsense; he knew that heought not to speak at all, and yet he talked the whole time; heseemed to be trying to persuade them all to something. Evgenieand Hippolyte were among the guests, and appeared to be greatfriends.
He awoke towards nine o'clock with a headache, full of confusedideas and strange impressions. For some reason or other he feltmost anxious to see Rogojin, to see and talk to him, but what hewished to say he could not tell. Next, he determined to go andsee Hippolyte. His mind was in a confused state, so much so thatthe incidents of the morning seemed to be imperfectly realized,though acutely felt.
One of these incidents was a visit from Lebedeff. Lebedeff camerather early--before ten--but he was tipsy already. Though theprince was not in an observant condition, yet he could not avoidseeing that for at least three days--ever since General Ivolginhad left the house Lebedeff had been behaving very badly. Helooked untidy and dirty at all times of the day, and it was saidthat he had begun to rage about in his own house, and that histemper was very bad. As soon as he arrived this morning, he beganto hold forth, beating his breast and apparently blaming himselffor something.
"I've--I've had a reward for my meanness--I've had a slap in theface," he concluded, tragically.
and that she did notlike to admit.
"A slap in the face? From whom? And so early in the morning?"
"Early?" said Lebedeff, sarcastically. "Time counts for nothing,even in physical chastisement; but my slap in the face was notphysical, it was moral."
He suddenly took a seat, very unceremoniously, and began hisstory. It was very disconnected; the prince frowned, and wishedhe could get away; but suddenly a few words struck him. He satstiff with wonder--Lebedeff said some extraordinary things.
In the first place he began about some letter; the name of AglayaIvanovna came in. Then suddenly he broke off and began to accusethe prince of something; he was apparently offended with him. Atfirst he declared that the prince had trusted him with hisconfidences as to "a certain person" (Nastasia Philipovna), butthat of late his friendship had been thrust back into his bosom,and his innocent question as to "approaching family changes" hadbeen curtly put aside, which Lebedeff declared, with tipsy tears,he could not bear; especially as he knew so much already bothfrom Rogojin and Nastasia Philipovna and her friend, and fromVarvara Ardalionovna, and even from Aglaya Ivanovna, through hisdaughter Vera. "And who told Lizabetha Prokofievna something insecret, by letter? Who told her all about the movements of acertain person called Nastasia Philipovna? Who was the anonymousperson, eh? Tell me!"
"Surely not you?" cried the prince.
"Just so," said Lebedeff, with dignity; "and only this verymorning I have sent up a letter to the noble lady, stating that Ihave a matter of great importance to communicate. She receivedthe letter; I know she got it; and she received ME, too."
"Have you just seen Lizabetha Prokofievna?" asked the prince,scarcely believing his ears.
"Yes, I saw her, and got the said slap in the face as mentioned.She chucked the letter back to me unopened, and kicked me out ofthe house, morally, not physically, although not far off it."
"What letter do you mean she returned unopened?"
"What! didn't I tell you? Ha, ha, ha! I thought I had. Why, Ireceived a letter, you know, to be handed over--"From whom? Towhom?"
replied Muishkin.that he shouldenter society under?
But it was difficult, if not impossible, to extract anything fromLebedeff. All the prince could gather was, that the letter hadbeen received very early, and had a request written on theoutside that it might be sent on to the address given.
"Just as before, sir, just as before! To a certain person, andfrom a certain hand. The individual's name who wrote the letteris to be represented by the letter A.--"
"What? Impossible! To Nastasia Philipovna? Nonsense!" cried theprince.
invited," he replied.words of mine--someday.
"It was, I assure you, and if not to her then to Rogojin, whichis the same thing. Mr. Hippolyte has had letters, too, and allfrom the individual whose name begins with an A.," smirkedLebedeff, with a hideous grin.
As he kept jumping from subject to subject, and forgetting whathe had begun to talk about, the prince said nothing, but waited,to give him time.
It was all very vague. Who had taken the letters, if lettersthere were? Probably Vera--and how could Lebedeff have got them?In all probability, he had managed to steal the present letterfrom Vera, and had himself gone over to Lizabetha Prokofievnawith some idea in his head. So the prince concluded at last.
"You are mad!" he cried, indignantly.
"Not quite, esteemed prince," replied Lebedeff, with someacerbity. "I confess I thought of doing you the service ofhanding the letter over to yourself, but I decided that it wouldpay me better to deliver it up to the noble lady aforesaid, as Ihad informed her of everything hitherto by anonymous letters; sowhen I sent her up a note from myself, with the letter, you know,in order to fix a meeting for eight o'clock this morning, Isigned it 'your secret correspondent.' They let me in at once--very quickly--by the back door, and the noble lady received me."
"Well? Go on."
"Oh, well, when I saw her she almost punched my head, as I say;in fact so nearly that one might almost say she did punch myhead. She threw the letter in my face; she seemed to reflectfirst, as if she would have liked to keep it, but thought betterof it and threw it in my face instead. 'If anybody can have beensuch a fool as to trust a man like you to deliver the letter,'says she,' take it and deliver it! 'Hey! she was grandlyindignant. A fierce, fiery lady that, sir!"
"Where's the letter now?"
"Oh, I've still got it, here!"
And he handed the prince the very letter from Aglaya to Gania,which the latter showed with so much triumph to his Sister at alater hour.
"This letter cannot be allowed to remain in your hands."
"It's for you--for you! I've brought it you on purpose!" criedLebedeff, excitedly. "Why, I'm yours again now, heart and hand,your slave; there was but a momentary pause in the flow of mylove and esteem for you. Mea culpa, mea culpa! as the Pope ofRome says.
"This letter should be sent on at once," said the prince,disturbed. "I'll hand it over myself."
"Wouldn't it be better, esteemed prince, wouldn't it be better--to--don't you know--"
Lebedeff made a strange and very expressive grimace; he twistedabout in his chair, and did something, apparently symbolical,with his hands.
"What do you mean?" said the prince.
"Why, open it, for the time being, don't you know?" he said, mostconfidentially and mysteriously.
The prince jumped up so furiously that Lebedeff ran towards thedoor; having gained which strategic position, however, he stoppedand looked back to see if he might hope for pardon.
"Oh, Lebedeff, Lebedeff! Can a man really sink to such depths ofmeanness?" said the prince, sadly.
Lebedeff's face brightened.
"Oh, I'm a mean wretch--a mean wretch!" he said, approaching theprince once more, and beating his breast, with tears in his eyes.
"It's abominable dishonesty, you know!"
"Dishonesty--it is, it is! That's the very word!"
"What in the world induces you to act so? You are nothing but aspy. Why did you write anonymously to worry so noble and generousa lady? Why should not Aglaya Ivanovna write a note to whomevershe pleases? What did you mean to complain of today? What didyou expect to get by it? What made you go at all?"
"Pure amiable curiosity,--I assure you--desire to do a service.That's all. Now I'm entirely yours again, your slave; hang me ifyou like!"
"Did you go before Lizabetha Prokofievna in your presentcondition?" inquired the prince.
"No--oh no, fresher--more the correct card. I only became thislike after the humiliation I suffered there,
"Well--that'll do; now leave me."
This injunction had to be repeated several times before the mancould be persuaded to move. Even then he turned back at the door,came as far as the middle of the room, and there went through hismysterious motions designed to convey the suggestion that theprince should open the letter. He did not dare put his suggestioninto words again.
After this performance, he smiled sweetly and left the room ontiptoe.
All this had been very painful to listen to. One fact stood outcertain and clear, and that was that poor Aglaya must be in astate of great distress and indecision and mental torment ("fromjealousy," the prince whispered to himself). Undoubtedly in thisinexperienced, but hot and proud little head, there were allsorts of plans forming, wild and impossible plans, maybe; and theidea of this so frightened the prince that he could not make uphis mind what to do. Something must be done, that was clear.
He looked at the address on the letter once more. Oh, he was notin the least degree alarmed about Aglaya writing such a letter;he could trust her. What he did not like about it was that hecould not trust Gania.
However, he made up his mind that he would himself take the noteand deliver it. Indeed, he went so far as to leave the house andwalk up the road, but changed his mind when he had nearly reachedPtitsin's door. However, he there luckily met Colia, andcommissioned him to deliver the letter to his brother as ifdirect from Aglaya. Colia asked no questions but simply deliveredit, and Gania consequently had no suspicion that it had passedthrough so many hands.