What made her call me a gossip today?
And, please note, once she had already heard everything to the last little word and had even asked questions . . . But women are like that!
It was for her that I got into relations with Rogozhin, an interesting man; it was in her interest that I arranged a personal meeting for her with Nastasya Filippovna.
Was it because I wounded her vanity by hinting that she was glad of Nastasya Filippovna's 'leavings'?
But it was in her own interest that I explained it to her all the time, I don't deny it, I wrote two letters in that line, and today a third about our meeting . . . This is what I started with, that it was humiliating on her side ... And besides, that phrase about 'leavings' isn't mine, in fact, but somebody else's; at least everybody was saying it at Ganechka's; and she herself repeated it.
Well, so what makes me a gossip for her?
I see, I see: you find it terribly funny now to look at me, and I'll bet you're trying to fit those stupid verses to me:
And perhaps a parting smile of love will shine Upon the sad sunset of my decline.43
Ha, ha, ha!" he suddenly dissolved in hysterical laughter and began to cough.
"Please note," he croaked through his coughing, "about our Ganechka: he goes talking about 'leavings,' and now look what he wants to make use of!"
The prince said nothing for a long time; he was horrified.
"You mentioned a meeting with Nastasya Filippovna?" he murmured at last.
"Eh, but can you really and truly not know that there will be a meeting today between Aglaya Ivanovna and Nastasya Filippovna, for which Nastasya Filippovna has been summoned purposely from Petersburg, through Rogozhin, at Aglaya Ivanovna's invitation and by my efforts, and is now staying, together with Rogozhin, not very far from you, in her former house, with that lady, Darya Alexeevna ... a very ambiguous lady, her friend, and it's there, to that ambiguous house, that Aglaya Ivanovna will go today for a friendly conversation with Nastasya Filippovna and for the solving of various problems.
They want to do some arithmetic.
You didn't know? Word of honor?"
"That's incredible!"
"Well, all right, so it's incredible; anyhow, where could you find out from?
Though here a fly flies by and everybody knows: it's that kind of little place!
I've warned you, however, and you can be grateful to me.
Well, good-bye—see you in the other world, most likely.
And here's another thing: even though I acted meanly towards you, because . . . why should I lose what's mine, kindly tell me?
For your benefit, or what?
I dedicated my 'Confession' to her (you didn't know that?).
Yes, and how she accepted it!
Heh, heh!
But I've never behaved meanly towards her, I'm not guilty of anything before her; it was she who disgraced me and let me down . . . And, incidentally, I'm not guilty of anything before you either; if I did make mention of those 'leavings' and all the rest in the same sense, to make up for it I'm now telling you the day, and the hour, and the address of the meeting, and revealing this whole game to you . . . out of vexation, naturally, and not out of magnanimity.
Good-bye, I'm talkative, like a stammerer or a consumptive; watch out, take measures, and quickly, if you're worthy to be called a human being.
The meeting is this evening, that's certain."
Ippolit went to the door, but the prince called out to him, and he stopped in the doorway.
"So, Aglaya Ivanovna, in your opinion, will go herself this evening to see Nastasya Filippovna?" the prince asked.
Red spots appeared on his cheeks and forehead.
"I don't know exactly, but probably so," Ippolit answered, glancing over his shoulder. "And anyhow it can't be otherwise.
Can Nastasya Filippovna go to her?
And not to Ganechka's either; he's almost got himself a dead man there.
That general's something, eh?"
"It's impossible for that alone!" the prince picked up.
"How could she leave, even if she wanted to?
You don't know . . . the ways of that house: she can't leave by herself and go to see Nastasya Filippovna; it's nonsense!"
"You see, Prince: nobody jumps out of windows, but if the house is on fire, then the foremost gentleman and the foremost lady might up and jump out of the window.
If the need comes along, there's no help for it, our young lady will go to Nastasya Filippovna.
Don't they let them go out anywhere, those young ladies?"
"No, that's not what I . . ."
"If it's not that, then she only has to go down the front steps and walk straight off, and then she may not even come back.
There are occasions when one may burn one's boats, and one may even not come back: life doesn't consist only of lunches and dinners and Princes Shch.
It seems to me that you take Aglaya Ivanovna for some sort of young lady or boarding-school girl; I talked to her about that; it seems she agreed.
Expect it at seven or eight ... If I were you, I'd send somebody to keep watch there, to catch the moment when she goes down the front steps.
Well, you could even send Kolya; he'd be very pleased to do some spying, rest assured— for you, that is . . . because everything's relative . . . Ha, ha!"
Ippolit left.
The prince had no cause to ask anyone to spy, even if he were capable of it.
Aglaya's order to stay at home was now almost explained: perhaps she wanted to take him along.