Why? Was there no one else to pay for you? asked the black-haired one.
No Mr. Pavlicheff, who had been supporting me there, died a couple of years ago. I wrote to Mrs. General Epanchin at the time (she is a distant relative of mine), but she did not answer my letter. And so eventually I came back.
And where have you come to?
That is where am I going to stay? I I really dont quite know yet, I
Both the listeners laughed again.
I suppose your whole set-up is in that bundle, then? asked the first.
I bet anything it is! exclaimed the red-nosed passenger, with extreme satisfaction, and that he has precious little in the luggage van! though of course poverty is no crime we must remember that!
It appeared that it was indeed as they had surmised. The young fellow hastened to admit the fact with wonderful readiness.
Your bundle has some importance, however, continued the clerk, when they had laughed their fill (it was observable that the subject of their mirth joined in the laughter when he saw them laughing); for though I dare say it is not stuffed full of friedrichs dor and louis dor judge from your costume and gaiters still if you can add to your possessions such a valuable property as a relation like Mrs. General Epanchin, then your bundle becomes a significant object at once. That is, of course, if you really are a relative of Mrs. Epanchins, and have not made a little error through well, absence of mind, which is very common to human beings; or, say through a too luxuriant fancy?
Oh, you are right again, said the fair-haired traveller, for I really am ALMOST wrong when I say she and I are related. She is hardly a relation at all; so little, in fact, that I was not in the least surprised to have no answer to my letter. I expected as much.
Hm! you spent your postage for nothing, then. Hm! you are candid, however and that is commendable. Hm! Mrs. Epanchin oh yes! a most eminent person. I know her. As for Mr. Pavlicheff, who supported you in Switzerland, I know him too at least, if it was Nicolai Andreevitch of that name? A fine fellow he was and had a property of four thousand souls in his day.
Yes, Nicolai Andreevitch that was his name, and the young fellow looked earnestly and with curiosity at the all-knowing gentleman with the red nose.
This sort of character is met with pretty frequently in a certain class. They are people who know everyone that is, they know where a man is employed, what his salary is, whom he knows, whom he married, what money his wife had, who are his cousins, and second cousins, etc., etc. These men generally have about a hundred pounds a year to live on, and they spend their whole time and talents in the amassing of this style of knowledge, which they reduce or raise to the standard of a science.
During the latter part of the conversation the black-haired young man had become very impatient. He stared out of the window, and fidgeted, and evidently longed for the end of the journey. He was very absent; he would appear to listen-and heard nothing; and he would laugh of a sudden, evidently with no idea of what he was laughing about.
Excuse me, said the red-nosed man to the young fellow with the bundle, rather suddenly; whom have I the honour to be talking to?
Prince Lef Nicolaievitch Muishkin, replied the latter, with perfect readiness.
Prince Muishkin? Lef Nicolaievitch? Hm! I dont know, Im sure! I may say I have never heard of such a person, said the clerk, thoughtfully. At least, the name, I admit, is historical. Karamsin must mention the family name, of course, in his history but as an individual one never hears of any Prince Muishkin nowadays.
Of course not, replied the prince; there are none, except myself. I believe I am the last and only one. As to my forefathers, they have always been a poor lot; my own father was a sublieutenant in the army. I dont know how Mrs. Epanchin comes into the Muishkin family, but she is descended from the Princess Muishkin, and she, too, is the last of her line.
And did you learn science and all that, with your professor over there? asked the black-haired passenger.
Oh yes I did learn a little, but
Ive never learned anything whatever, said the other.
Oh, but I learned very little, you know! added the prince, as though excusing himself. They could not teach me very much on account of my illness.
Do you know the Rogojins? asked his questioner, abruptly.
No, I dont not at all! I hardly know anyone in Russia. Why, is that your name?
Yes, I am Rogojin, Parfen Rogojin.
Parfen Rogojin? dear me then dont you belong to those very Rogojins, perhaps began the clerk, with a very perceptible increase of civility in his tone.
Yes those very ones, interrupted Rogojin, impatiently, and with scant courtesy. I may remark that he had not once taken any notice of the blotchy-faced passenger, and had hitherto addressed all his remarks direct to the prince.
Dear me is it possible? observed the clerk, while his face assumed an expression of great deference and servility if not of absolute alarm: what, a son of that very Semen Rogojin hereditary honourable citizen who died a month or so ago and left two million and a half of roubles?