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"I only want you to know that the person in question is not afraid of him, but of something quite, quite different." "What on earth is she afraid of, then? Tell me plainly, without any more beating about the bush," said the prince, exasperated by the other's mysterious grimaces. "Ah that is the secret," said Lebedeff, with a smile. "Whose secret?" "Yours.
I was saying to myself but now... 'I am quite unworthy of friendly relations with him, say I; 'but perhaps as landlord of this house I may, at some future date, in his good time, receive information as to certain imminent and much to be desired changes " So saying Lebedeff fixed the prince with his sharp little eyes, still in hope that he would get his curiosity satisfied.
"That is Lebedeff's daughter Vera Lukianovna." "Indeed? She looks very sweet. I should like to make her acquaintance." The words were hardly out of her mouth, when Lebedeff dragged Vera forward, in order to present her. "Orphans, poor orphans!" he began in a pathetic voice. "The child she carries is an orphan, too. She is Vera's sister, my daughter Luboff.
Anything that Salaskin writes you as regards your unquestionable right to this inheritance, you may look upon as so much money in your pocket. I congratulate you, prince; you may receive a million and a half of roubles, perhaps more; I don't know. All I DO know is that Paparchin was a very rich merchant indeed." "Hurrah!" cried Lebedeff, in a drunken voice. "Hurrah for the last of the Muishkins!"
'I'll go and blow my brains out in the park, says he, so as not to disturb anyone. He thinks he won't disturb anybody if he goes three yards away, into the park, and blows his brains out there." "Gentlemen " began the prince. "No, no, excuse me, most revered prince," Lebedeff interrupted, excitedly.
They waited a few minutes in silence, while Lebedeff sat with his eyes fixed mournfully on the young man's face. "Well!" said the latter, at last rousing himself. "Ah! yes! You know why I came, Lebedeff. Your letter brought me. Speak! Tell me all about it." The clerk, rather confused, tried to say something, hesitated, began to speak, and again stopped. The prince looked at him gravely.
"I do not pay much attention to that opinion," continued the young man calmly. "Colia is very fond of you, but he," pointing to Lebedeff, "is flattering you. I can assure you I have no intention of flattering you, or anyone else, but at least you have some common-sense. Well, will you judge between us? Shall we ask the prince to act as arbitrator?" he went on, addressing his uncle.
"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 twisted about 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, most confidentially and mysteriously.
At that moment he was thoroughly unhappy. Lebedeff had not returned, so towards evening Keller managed to penetrate into the prince's apartments. He was not drunk, but in a confidential and talkative mood. He announced that he had come to tell the story of his life to Muishkin, and had only remained at Pavlofsk for that purpose.
How do you mean, the general?" said Lebedeff, dubiously, as though he had not taken in the drift of the prince's remark. "Oh, good heavens! I mean, what did the general say when the purse turned up under the chair? You and he had searched for it together there, hadn't you?" "Quite so together! But the second time I thought better to say nothing about finding it. I found it alone."
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