The idiot / Идиот

Nina Alexandrovna gave them up long ago, but I keep in touch with them still… I may say I find refreshment in this little coterie, in thus meeting my old acquaintances and subordinates, who worship me still, in spite of all. General Sokolovitch (by the way, I have not called on him lately, or seen Anna Fedorovna)… You know, my dear prince, when a person does not receive company himself, he gives up going to other people’s houses involuntarily. And yet… well… you look as if you didn’t believe me.... Well now, why should I not present the son of my old friend and companion to this delightful family – General Ivolgin and Prince Muishkin? You will see a lovely girl – what am I saying – a lovely girl? No, indeed, two, three! Ornaments of this city and of society: beauty, education, culture – the woman question – poetry – everything! Added to which is the fact that each one will have a dot of at least eighty thousand roubles.

No bad thing, eh?… In a word I absolutely must introduce you to them: it is a duty, an obligation. General Ivolgin and Prince Muishkin. Tableau!”

“At once? Now? You must have forgotten…” began the prince.

“No, I have forgotten nothing. Come! This is the house – up this magnificent staircase. I am surprised not to see the porter, but…. it is a holiday… and the man has gone off… Drunken fool! Why have they not got rid of him? Sokolovitch owes all the happiness he has had in the service and in his private life to me, and me alone, but… here we are.

”

The prince followed quietly, making no further objection for fear of irritating the old man. At the same time he fervently hoped that General Sokolovitch and his family would fade away like a mirage in the desert, so that the visitors could escape, by merely returning downstairs. But to his horror he saw that General Ivolgin was quite familiar with the house, and really seemed to have friends there. At every step he named some topographical or biographical detail that left nothing to be desired on the score of accuracy.

When they arrived at last, on the first floor, and the general turned to ring the bell to the right, the prince decided to run away, but a curious incident stopped him momentarily.

“You have made a mistake, general,” said he.” The name on the door is Koulakoff, and you were going to see General Sokolovitch.”

“Koulakoff… Koulakoff means nothing. This is Sokolovitch’s flat, and I am ringing at his door....