Page:Dostoevsky - The Idiot, Collected Edition, 1916.djvu/25

"Yes, I have business..." Myshkin began.

"I don't ask you what business--my duty is only to announce you. But I've told you already, without the secretary's leave I am not going to announce you."

The man's suspicion grew more and more marked: the prince was too unlike the ordinary run of visitors. Though at a certain hour the general used often, almost every day in fact, to receive visitors of the most varied description, especially on business, yet in spite of the latitude of his instructions the attendant felt great hesitation; the secretary's opinion was essential before he showed him in.

"Are you really... from abroad?" he asked, almost in spite of himself, and was confused.

He had been about perhaps to ask, "Are you really Prince Myshkin?"

"Yes, I have only just come fro the station. I think you were going to ask, 'am I really Prince Myshkin?' but you didn't ask from politeness."

"Hm!" grunted the astounded servant.

"I assure you that I haven't told you a lie and you won't get into trouble on my account. And you need not be surprised at my looking like this and having a bundle; I am not in very flourishing circumstances just now."

"Hm! I have no apprehension on that score, you know. It's my duty to announce you, and the secretary will see you, unless you... that's just the difficulty.... You are not asking the general for assistance, if I may make bold to inquire?"

"Oh no, you can rest assured of that. My business is different."

"You must excuse me, but I asked looking at you. Wait for the secretary; his excellency is engaged with the colonel at present and then the secretary... from the company... is coming."

"Then, if I have to wait a long while, I should like to ask you if there is anywhere I could smoke? I've got a pipe and tobacco." "Smoke? No you can't smoke here; you ought to be ashamed to think of such a thing. He-he! It's a queer business."

"Oh, I didn't mean in this room; I know that, I would have gone anywhere else you showed me, for I haven't had a smoke for three hours. I am used to it. But it's as you please, there's a saying, you know, 'At Rome one must...'"