Gania looked dreadfully put out, and tried to say something in reply, but Nastasia interrupted him:
Why, where are you going to squeeze lodgers in here? Dont you use a study? Does this sort of thing pay? she added, turning to Nina Alexandrovna.
Well, it is troublesome, rather, said the latter; but I suppose it will pay pretty well. We have only just begun, however
Again Nastasia Philipovna did not hear the sentence out. She glanced at Gania, and cried, laughing, What a face! My goodness, what a face you have on at this moment!
Indeed, Gania did not look in the least like himself. His bewilderment and his alarmed perplexity passed off, however, and his lips now twitched with rage as he continued to stare evilly at his laughing guest, while his countenance became absolutely livid.
There was another witness, who, though standing at the door motionless and bewildered himself, still managed to remark Ganias death-like pallor, and the dreadful change that had come over his face. This witness was the prince, who now advanced in alarm and muttered to Gania:
Drink some water, and dont look like that!
It was clear that he came out with these words quite spontaneously, on the spur of the moment. But his speech was productive of much for it appeared that all. Ganias rage now overflowed upon the prince. He seized him by the shoulder and gazed with an intensity of loathing and revenge at him, but said nothing as though his feelings were too strong to permit of words.
General agitation prevailed. Nina Alexandrovna gave a little cry of anxiety; Ptitsin took a step forward in alarm; Colia and Ferdishenko stood stock still at the door in amazement; only Varia remained coolly watching the scene from under her eyelashes. She did not sit down, but stood by her mother with folded hands. However, Gania recollected himself almost immediately. He let go of the prince and burst out laughing.
Why, are you a doctor, prince, or what? he asked, as naturally as possible. I declare you quite frightened me! Nastasia Philipovna, let me introduce this interesting character to you though I have only known him myself since the morning.
Nastasia gazed at the prince in bewilderment. Prince? He a Prince? Why, I took him for the footman, just now, and sent him in to announce me! Ha, ha, ha, isnt that good!
Not bad that, not bad at all! put in Ferdishenko, se non e vero
I rather think I pitched into you, too, didnt I? Forgive me do! Who is he, did you say? What prince? Muishkin? she added, addressing Gania.
He is a lodger of ours, explained the latter.
An idiot! the prince distinctly heard the word half whispered from behind him. This was Ferdishenkos voluntary information for Nastasias benefit.
Tell me, why didnt you put me right when I made such a dreadful mistake just now? continued the latter, examining the prince from head to foot without the slightest ceremony. She awaited the answer as though convinced that it would be so foolish that she must inevitably fail to restrain her laughter over it.
I was astonished, seeing you so suddenly murmured the prince.
How did you know who I was? Where had you seen me before? And why were you so struck dumb at the sight of me? What was there so overwhelming about me?
Oho! ho, ho, ho! cried Ferdishenko. NOW then, prince! My word, what things I would say if I had such a chance as that! My goodness, prince go on!
So should I, in your place, Ive no doubt! laughed the prince to Ferdishenko; then continued, addressing Nastasia: Your portrait struck me very forcibly this morning; then I was talking about you to the Epanchins; and then, in the train, before I reached Petersburg, Parfen Rogojin told me a good deal about you; and at the very moment that I opened the door to you I happened to be thinking of you, when there you stood before me!
And how did you recognize me?
From the portrait!
What else?
I seemed to imagine you exactly as you are I seemed to have seen you somewhere.
Where where?
I seem to have seen your eyes somewhere; but it cannot be! I have not seen you I never was here before. I may have dreamed of you, I dont know.
The prince said all this with manifest effort in broken sentences, and with many drawings of breath. He was evidently much agitated. Nastasia Philipovna looked at him inquisitively, but did not laugh.
Bravo, prince! cried Ferdishenko, delighted.
At this moment a loud voice from behind the group which hedged in the prince and Nastasia Philipovna, divided the crowd, as it were, and before them stood the head of the family, General Ivolgin. He was dressed in evening clothes; his moustache was dyed.
This apparition was too much for Gania. Vain and ambitious almost to morbidness, he had had much to put up with in the last two months, and was seeking feverishly for some means of enabling himself to lead a more presentable kind of existence. At home, he now adopted an attitude of absolute cynicism, but he could not keep this up before Nastasia Philipovna, although he had sworn to make her pay after marriage for all he suffered now. He was experiencing a last humiliation, the bitterest of all, at this moment the humiliation of blushing for his own kindred in his own house. A question flashed through his mind as to whether the game was really worth the candle.