白痴 英文版 The Idiot
陀思妥耶夫斯基 Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Idiot VIII. Page 1
THIS same morning dawned for the prince pregnant with no lesspainful presentiments,--which fact his physical state was, ofcourse, quite enough to account for; but he was so indefinablymelancholy,--his sadness could not attach itself to anything inparticular, and this tormented him more than anything else. Ofcourse certain facts stood before him, clear and painful, but hissadness went beyond all that he could remember or imagine; herealized that he was powerless to console himself unaided. Littleby little he began to develop the expectation that this daysomething important, something decisive, was to happen to him.
His attack of yesterday had been a slight one. Excepting somelittle heaviness in the head and pain in the limbs, he did notfeel any particular effects. His brain worked all right, thoughhis soul was heavy within him.
He rose late, and immediately upon waking remembered all aboutthe previous evening; he also remembered, though not quite soclearly, how, half an hour after his fit, he had been carriedhome.
He soon heard that a messenger from the Epanchins' had alreadybeen to inquire after him. At half-past eleven another arrived;and this pleased him.
Vera Lebedeff was one of the first to come to see him and offerher services. No sooner did she catch sight of him than she burstinto tears; but when he tried to soothe her she began to laugh.He was quite struck by the girl's deep sympathy for him; heseized her hand and kissed it. Vera flushed crimson.
"Oh, don't, don't!" she exclaimed in alarm, snatching her handaway. She went hastily out of the room in a state of strangeconfusion.
Lebedeff also came to see the prince, in a great hurry to getaway to the "deceased," as he called General Ivolgin, who wasalive still, but very ill. Colia also turned up, and begged theprince for pity's sake to tell him all he knew about his fatherwhich had been concealed from him till now. He said he had foundout nearly everything since yesterday; the poor boy was in astate of deep affliction. With all the sympathy which he couldbring into play, the prince told Colia the whole story withoutreserve, detailing the facts as clearly as he could. The talestruck Colia like a thunderbolt. He could not speak. He listenedsilently, and cried softly to himself the while. The princeperceived that this was an impression which would last for thewhole of the boy's life. He made haste to explain his view of thematter, and pointed out that the old man's approaching death wasprobably brought on by horror at the thought of his action; andthat it was not everyone who was capable of such a feeling.
Colia's eyes flashed as he listened.
"Gania and Varia and Ptitsin are a worthless lot! I shall notquarrel with them; but from this moment our feet shall not travelthe same road. Oh, prince, I have felt much that is quite new tome since yesterday! It is a lesson for me. I shall now considermy mother as entirely my responsibility; though she may be safeenough with Varia. Still, meat and drink is not everything."
He jumped up and hurried off, remembering suddenly that he waswanted at his father's bedside; but before he went out of theroom he inquired hastily after the prince's health, and receivingthe latter's reply, added:
"Isn't there something else, prince? I heard yesterday, but Ihave no right to talk about this... If you ever want a truefriend and servant--neither you nor I are so very happy, are we?--come to me. I won't ask you questions, though."
He ran off and left the prince more dejected than ever.
Everyone seemed to be speaking prophetically, hinting at somemisfortune or sorrow to come; they had all looked at him asthough they knew something which he did not know. Lebedeff hadasked questions, Colia had hinted, and Vera had shed tears. Whatwas it?
At last, with a sigh of annoyance, he said to himself that it wasnothing but his own cursed sickly suspicion. His face lighted upwith joy when, at about two o'clock, he espied the Epanchinscoming along to pay him a short visit, "just for a minute." Theyreally had only come for a minute.
Lizabetha Prokofievna had announced, directly after lunch, thatthey would all take a walk together. The information was given inthe form of a command, without explanation, drily and abruptly.All had issued forth in obedience to the mandate; that is, thegirls, mamma, and Prince S. Lizabetha Prokofievna went off in adirection exactly contrary to the usual one, and all understoodvery well what she was driving at, but held their peace, fearingto irritate the good lady. She, as though anxious to avoid anyconversation, walked ahead, silent and alone. At last Adelaidaremarked that it was no use racing along at such a pace, andthat she could not keep up with her mother.
"Look here," said Lizabetha Prokofievna, turning round suddenly;"we are passing his house. Whatever Aglaya may think, and inspite of anything that may happen, he is not a stranger to us;besides which, he is ill and in misfortune. I, for one, shallcall in and see him. Let anyone follow me who cares to."
Of course every one of them followed her.
The prince hastened to apologize, very properly, for yesterday'smishap with the vase, and for the scene generally.
"Oh, that's nothing," replied Lizabetha; "I'm not sorry for thevase, I'm sorry for you. H'm! so you can see that there was a'scene,' can you? Well, it doesn't matter much, for everyone mustrealize now that it is impossible to be hard on you. Well, aurevoir. I advise you to have a walk, and then go to sleep againif you can. Come in as usual, if you feel inclined; and beassured, once for all, whatever happens, and whatever may havehappened, you shall always remain the friend of the family--mine,at all events. I can answer for myself."
In response to this challenge all the others chimed in and re-echoed mamma's sentiments.
And so they took their departure; but in this hasty and kindlydesigned visit there was hidden a fund of cruelty which LizabethaProkofievna never dreamed of. In the words "as usual," and againin her added, "mine, at all events," there seemed an ominousknell of some evil to come.
The prince began to think of Aglaya. She had certainly given hima wonderful smile, both at coming and again at leave-taking, buthad not said a word, not even when the others all professed theirfriendship for him. She had looked very intently at him, but thatwas all. Her face had been paler than usual; she looked as thoughshe had slept badly.
The prince made up his mind that he would make a point of goingthere "as usual," tonight, and looked feverishly at his watch.
Vera came in three minutes after the Epanchins had left. "LefNicolaievitch," she said, "Aglaya Ivanovna has just given me amessage for you."
The prince trembled.
"Is it a note?"
"No, a verbal message; she had hardly time even for that. Shebegs you earnestly not to go out of the house for a single momentall to-day, until seven o'clock in the evening. It may have beennine; I didn't quite hear."
"But--but, why is this? What does it mean?"
"I don't know at all; but she said I was to tell youparticularly."
"Did she say that?"
"Not those very words. She only just had time to whisper as shewent by; but by the way she looked at me I knew it was important.She looked at me in a way that made my heart stop beating."
The prince asked a few more questions, and though he learnednothing else, he became more and more agitated.
Left alone, he lay down on the sofa, and began to think.
"Perhaps," he thought, "someone is to be with them until ninetonight and she is afraid that I may come and make a fool of myselfagain, in public." So he spent his time longing for the eveningand looking at his watch. But the clearing-up of the mystery camelong before the evening, and came in the form of a new andagonizing riddle.
Half an hour after the Epanchins had gone, Hippolyte arrived, sotired that, almost unconscious, he sank into a chair, and brokeinto such a fit of coughing that he could not stop. He coughedtill the blood came. His eyes glittered, and two red spots on hischeeks grew brighter and brighter. The prince murmured somethingto him, but Hippolyte only signed that he must be left alone fora while, and sat silent. At last he came to himself.
"I am off," he said, hoarsely, and with difficulty.
"Shall I see you home?" asked the prince, rising from his seat,but suddenly stopping short as he remembered Aglaya's prohibitionagainst leaving the house. Hippolyte laughed.
"I don't mean that I am going to leave your house," he continued,still gasping and coughing. "On the contrary, I thought itabsolutely necessary to come and see you; otherwise I should nothave troubled you. I am off there, you know, and this time Ibelieve, seriously, that I am off! It's all over. I did not comehere for sympathy, believe me. I lay down this morning at teno'clock with the intention of not rising again before that time;but I thought it over and rose just once more in order to comehere; from which you may deduce that I had some reason forwishing to come."
"It grieves me to see you so, Hippolyte. Why didn't you send me amessage? I would have come up and saved you this trouble."
"Well, well! Enough! You've pitied me, and that's all that goodmanners exact. I forgot, how are you?"
"I'm all right; yesterday I was a little--"
"I know, I heard; the china vase caught it! I'm sorry I wasn'tthere. I've come about something important. In the first place Ihad, the pleasure of seeing Gavrila Ardalionovitch and AglayaIvanovna enjoying a rendezvous on the green bench in the park. Iwas astonished to see what a fool a man can look. I remarked uponthe fact to Aglaya Ivanovna when he had gone. I don't thinkanything ever surprises you, prince!" added Hippolyte, gazingincredulously at the prince's calm demeanour. "To be astonishedby nothing is a sign, they say, of a great intellect. In myopinion it would serve equally well as a sign of greatfoolishness. I am not hinting about you; pardon me! I am veryunfortunate today in my expressions.
"I knew yesterday that Gavrila Ardalionovitch--" began theprince, and paused in evident confusion, though Hippolyte hadshown annoyance at his betraying no surprise.
"You knew it? Come, that's news! But no--perhaps better not tellme. And were you a witness of the meeting?"
"If you were there yourself you must have known that I was NOTthere!"
"Oh! but you may have been sitting behind the bushes somewhere.However, I am very glad, on your account, of course. I wasbeginning to be afraid that Mr. Gania--might have thepreference!"
"May I ask you, Hippolyte, not to talk of this subject? And notto use such expressions?"
"Especially as you know all, eh?"
"You are wrong. I know scarcely anything, and Aglaya Ivanovna isaware that I know nothing. I knew nothing whatever about thismeeting. You say there was a meeting. Very well; let's leave itso--"
"Why, what do you mean? You said you knew, and now suddenly youknow nothing! You say 'very well; let's leave it so.' But I say,don't be so confiding, especially as you know nothing. You areconfiding simply BECAUSE you know nothing. But do you know whatthese good people have in their minds' eye--Gania and his sister?Perhaps you are suspicious? Well, well, I'll drop the subject!"he added, hastily, observing the prince's impatient gesture. "ButI've come to you on my own business; I wish to make you a clearexplanation. What a nuisance it is that one cannot die withoutexplanations! I have made such a quantity of them already. Do youwish to hear what I have to say?"
"Speak away, I am listening."
"Very well, but I'll change my mind, and begin about Gania. Justfancy to begin with, if you can, that I, too, was given anappointment at the green bench today! However, I won't deceiveyou; I asked for the appointment. I said I had a secret todisclose. I don't know whether I came there too early, I think Imust have; but scarcely had I sat down beside Aglaya Ivanovnathan I saw Gavrila Ardalionovitch and his sister Varia comingalong, arm in arm, just as though they were enjoying a morningwalk together. Both of them seemed very much astonished, not tosay disturbed, at seeing me; they evidently had not expected thepleasure. Aglaya Ivanovna blushed up, and was actually a littleconfused. I don't know whether it was merely because I was there,or whether Gania's beauty was too much for her! But anyway, sheturned crimson, and then finished up the business in a very funnymanner. She jumped up from her seat, bowed back to Gania, smiledto Varia, and suddenly observed: 'I only came here to express mygratitude for all your kind wishes on my behalf, and to say thatif I find I need your services, believe me--' Here she bowed themaway, as it were, and they both marched off again, looking veryfoolish. Gania evidently could not make head nor tail of thematter, and turned as red as a lobster; but Varia understood atonce that they must get away as quickly as they could, so shedragged Gania away; she is a great deal cleverer than he is. Asfor myself, I went there to arrange a meeting to be held betweenAglaya Ivanovna and Nastasia Philipovna."
"Nastasia Philipovna!" cried the prince.
"Aha! I think you are growing less cool, my friend, and arebeginning to be a trifle surprised, aren't you? I'm glad that youare not above ordinary human feelings, for once. I'll console youa little now, after your consternation. See what I get forserving a young and high-souled maiden! This morning I received aslap in the face from the lady!"
"A--a moral one?" asked the prince, involuntarily.
"Yes--not a physical one! I don't suppose anyone--even a woman--would raise a hand against me now. Even Gania would hesitate! Idid think at one time yesterday, that he would fly at me, though.I bet anything that I know what you are thinking of now! You arethinking: 'Of course one can't strike the little wretch, but onecould suffocate him with a pillow, or a wet towel, when he isasleep! One OUGHT to get rid of him somehow.' I can see in yourface that you are thinking that at this very second."
"I never thought of such a thing for a moment," said the prince,with disgust.
"I don't know--I dreamed last night that I was being suffocatedwith a wet cloth by--somebody. I'll tell you who it was--Rogojin!What do you think, can a man be suffocated with a wet cloth?"
"I don't know."
"I've heard so. Well, we'll leave that question just now. Why amI a scandal-monger? Why did she call me a scandal-monger? Andmind, AFTER she had heard every word I had to tell her, and hadasked all sorts of questions besides--but such is the way ofwomen. For HER sake I entered into relations with Rogojin--aninteresting man! At HER request I arranged a personal interviewbetween herself and Nastasia Philipovna. Could she have beenangry because I hinted that she was enjoying NastasiaPhilipovna's 'leavings'? Why, I have been impressing it upon herall this while for her own good. Two letters have I written herin that strain, and I began straight off today about its beinghumiliating for her. Besides, the word 'leavings' is not myinvention. At all events, they all used it at Gania's, and sheused it herself. So why am I a scandal-monger? I see--I see youare tremendously amused, at this moment! Probably you arelaughing at me and fitting those silly lines to my case--
"'Maybe sad Love upon his setting smiles,And with vain hopes his farewell hour beguiles.
"Ha, ha, ha!"
Hippolyte suddenly burst into a fit of hysterical laughter, whichturned into a choking cough.
"Observe," he gasped, through his coughing, "what a fellow Ganiais! He talks about Nastasia's 'leavings,' but what does he wantto take himself?"
The prince sat silent for a long while. His mind was filled withdread and horror.
"You spoke of a meeting with Nastasia Philipovna," he said atlast, in a low voice.
"Oh--come! Surely you must know that there is to be a meetingtoday between Nastasia and Aglaya Ivanovna, and that Nastasia hasbeen sent for on purpose, through Rogojin, from St. Petersburg?It has been brought about by invitation of Aglaya Ivanovna and myown efforts, and Nastasia is at this moment with Rogojin, not farfrom here--at Dana Alexeyevna's--that curious friend of hers; andto this questionable house Aglaya Ivanovna is to proceed for afriendly chat with Nastasia Philipovna, and for the settlement ofseveral problems. They are going to play at arithmetic--didn'tyou know about it? Word of honour?"
"It's a most improbable story."
"Oh, very well! if it's improbable--it is--that's all! And yet--where should you have heard it? Though I must say, if a flycrosses the room it's known all over the place here. However,I've warned you, and you may be grateful to me. Well--au revoir--probably in the next world! One more thing--don't think that I amtelling you all this for your sake. Oh, dear, no! Do you knowthat I dedicated my confession to Aglaya Ivanovna? I did though,and how she took it, ha, ha! Oh, no! I am not acting from anyhigh, exalted motives. But though I may have behaved like a cadto you, I have not done HER any harm. I don't apologize for mywords about 'leavings' and all that. I am atoning for that, yousee, by telling you the place and time of the meeting. Goodbye!You had better take your measures, if you are worthy the name ofa man! The meeting is fixed for this evening--that's certain."
Hippolyte walked towards the door, but the prince called him backand he stopped.
"Then you think Aglaya Ivanovna herself intends to go to NastasiaPhilipovna's tonight?" he asked, and bright hectic spots cameout on his cheeks and forehead.
"I don't know absolutely for certain; but in all probability itis so," replied Hippolyte, looking round. "Nastasia would hardlygo to her; and they can't meet at Gania's, with a man nearly deadin the house."
"It's impossible, for that very reason," said the prince. "Howwould she get out if she wished to? You don't know the habits ofthat house--she COULD not get away alone to NastasiaPhilipovna's! It's all nonsense!"
"Look here, my dear prince, no one jumps out of the window ifthey can help it; but when there's a fire, the dandiest gentlemanor the finest lady in the world will skip out! When the momentcomes, and there's nothing else to be done--our young lady willgo to Nastasia Philipovna's! Don't they let the young ladies outof the house alone, then?"
"I didn't mean that exactly."
"If you didn't mean that, then she has only to go down the stepsand walk off, and she need never come back unless she chooses:Ships are burned behind one sometimes, and one doesn't care toreturn whence one came. Life need not consist only of lunches,and dinners, and Prince S's. It strikes me you take AglayaIvanovna for some conventional boarding-school girl. I said so toher, and she quite agreed with me. Wait till seven or eighto'clock. In your place I would send someone there to keep watch,so as to seize the exact moment when she steps out of the house.Send Colia. He'll play the spy with pleasure--for you at least.Ha, ha, ha!"