The flat occupied by Gania and his family was on the third floor of the house. It was reached by a clean light staircase, and consisted of seven rooms, a nice enough lodging, and one would have thought a little too good for a clerk on two thousand roubles a year. But it was designed to accommodate a few lodgers on board terms, and had beer) taken a few months since, much to the disgust of Gania, at the urgent request of his mother and his sister, Varvara Ardalionovna, who longed to do something to increase the family income a little, and fixed their hopes upon letting lodgings. Gania frowned upon the idea. He thought it infra dig, and did not quite like appearing in society afterwards--that society in which he had been accustomed to pose up to now as a young man of rather brilliant prospects. All these concessions and rebuffs of fortune, of late, had wounded his spirit severely, and his temper had become extremely irritable, his wrath being generally quite out of proportion to the cause. But if he had made up his mind to put up with this sort of life for a while, it was only on the plain understanding with his inner self that he would very soon change it all, and have things as he chose again. Yet the very means by which he hoped to make this change threatened to involve him in even greater difficulties than he had had before.
The flat was divided by a passage which led straight out of the entrance-hall. Along one side of this corridor lay the three rooms which were designed for the accommodation of the "highly recommended" lodgers. Besides these three rooms there was another small one at the end of the passage, close to the kitchen, which was allotted to General Ivolgin, the nominal master of the house, who slept on a wide sofa, and was obliged to pass into and out of his room through the kitchen, and up or down the back stairs. Colia, Gania's young brother, a school-boy of thirteen, shared this room with his father. He, too, had to sleep on an old sofa, a narrow, uncomfortable thing with a torn rug over it; his chief duty being to look after his father, who needed to be watched more and more every day.
The prince was given the middle room of the three, the first being occupied by one Ferdishenko, while the third was empty.
But Gania first conducted the prince to the family apartments. These consisted of a "salon," which became the dining-room when required; a drawing-room, which was only a drawing-room in the morning, and became Gania's study in the evening, and his bedroom at night; and lastly Nina Alexandrovna's and Varvara's bedroom, a small, close chamber which they shared together.
In a word, the whole place was confined, and a "tight fit" for the party. Gania used to grind his teeth with rage over the state of affairs; though he was anxious to be dutiful and polite to his mother. However, it was very soon apparent to anyone coming into the house, that Gania was the tyrant of the family.
Nina Alexandrovna and her daughter were both seated in the drawing-room, engaged in knitting, and talking to a visitor, Ivan Petrovitch Ptitsin.
The lady of the house appeared to be a woman of about fifty years of age, thin-faced, and with black lines under the eves. She looked ill and rather sad; but her face was a pleasant one for all that; and from the first word that fell from her lips, any stranger would at once conclude that she was of a serious and particularly sincere nature. In spite of her sorrowful expression, she gave the idea of possessing considerable firmness and decision.
Her dress was modest and simple to a degree, dark and elderly in style; but both her face and appearance gave evidence that she had seen better days.
Varvara was a girl of some twenty-three summers, of middle height, thin, but possessing a face which, without being actually beautiful, had the rare quality of charm, and might fascinate even to the extent of passionate regard.
She was very like her mother: she even dressed like her, which proved that she had no taste for smart clothes. The expression of her grey eyes was merry and gentle, when it was not, as lately, too full of thought and anxiety. The same decision and firmness was to be observed in her face as in her mother's, but her strength seemed to be more vigorous than that of Nina Alexandrovna. She was subject to outbursts of temper, of which even her brother was a little afraid.
The present visitor, Ptitsin, was also afraid of her. This was a young fellow of something under thirty, dressed plainly, but neatly. His manners were good, but rather ponderously so. His dark beard bore evidence to the fact that he was not in any government employ. He could speak well, but preferred silence. On the whole he made a decidedly agreeable impression. He was clearly attracted by Varvara, and made no secret of his feelings. She trusted him in a friendly way, but had not shown him any decided encouragement as yet, which fact did not quell his ardour in the least.
Nina Alexandrovna was very fond of him, and had grown quite confidential with him of late. Ptitsin, as was well known, was engaged in the business of lending out money on good security, and at a good rate of interest. He was a great friend of Gania's.
After a formal introduction by Gania (who greeted his mother very shortly, took no notice of his sister, and immediately marched Ptitsin out of the room), Nina Alexandrovna addressed a few kind words to the prince and forthwith requested Colia, who had just appeared at the door, to show him to the " middle room."
Colia was a nice-looking boy. His expression was simple and confiding, and his manners were very polite and engaging.
"Where's your luggage?" he asked, as he led the prince away to his room.
"I had a bundle; it's in the entrance hall."
"I'll bring it you directly. We only have a cook and one maid, so I have to help as much as I can. Varia looks after things, generally, and loses her temper over it. Gania says you have only just arrived from Switzerland? "
"Yes."
"Is it jolly there?"
"Very."
"Mountains?"
"Yes."
"I'll go and get your bundle."
Here Varvara joined them.
"The maid shall bring your bed-linen directly. Have you a portmanteau?"
"No; a bundle--your brother has just gone to the hall for it."
"There's nothing there except this," said Colia, returning at this moment. "Where did you put it?"
"Oh! but that's all I have," said the prince, taking it.
"Ah! I thought perhaps Ferdishenko had taken it."
"Don't talk nonsense," said Varia, severely. She seemed put out, and was only just polite with the prince.
"Oho!" laughed the boy, "you can be nicer than that to ME, you know--I'm not Ptitsin!"
"You ought to be whipped, Colia, you silly boy. If you want anything" (to the prince) "please apply to the servant. We dine at half-past four. You can take your dinner with us, or have it in your room, just as you please. Come along, Colia, don't disturb the prince."
At the door they met Gania coming in.
"Is father in?" he asked. Colia whispered something in his ear and went out.
"Just a couple of words, prince, if you'll excuse me. Don't blab over THERE about what you may see here, or in this house as to all that about Aglaya and me, you know. Things are not altogether pleasant in this establishment--devil take it all! You'll see. At all events keep your tongue to yourself for TODAY."
"I assure you I 'blabbed' a great deal less than you seem to suppose," said the prince, with some annoyance. Clearly the relations between Gania and himself were by no means improving.
"Oh I well; I caught it quite hot enough today, thanks to you. However, I forgive you."
"I think you might fairly remember that I was not in any way bound, I had no reason to be silent about that portrait. You never asked me not to mention it."
"Pfu! what a wretched room this is--dark, and the window looking into the yard. Your coming to our house is, in no respect, opportune. However, it's not MY affair. I don't keep the lodgings."
Ptitsin here looked in and beckoned to Gania, who hastily left the room, in spite of the fact that he had evidently wished to say something more and had only made the remark about the room to gain time. The prince had hardly had time to wash and tidy himself a little when the door opened once more, and another figure appeared.
This was a gentleman of about thirty, tall, broadshouldered, and red-haired; his face was red, too, and he possessed a pair of thick lips, a wide nose, small eyes, rather bloodshot, and with an ironical expression in them; as though he were perpetually winking at someone. His whole appearance gave one the idea of impudence; his dress was shabby.
He opened the door just enough to let his head in. His head remained so placed for a few seconds while he quietly scrutinized the room; the door then opened enough to admit his body; but still he did not enter. He stood on the threshold and examined the prince carefully. At last he gave the door a final shove, entered, approached the prince, took his hand and seated himself and the owner of the room on two chairs side by side.
"Ferdishenko," he said, gazing intently and inquiringly into the prince's eyes.
"Very well, what next?" said the latter, almost laughing in his face.
"A lodger here," continued the other, staring as before.
"Do you wish to make acquaintance?" asked the prince.
"Ah!" said the visitor, passing his fingers through his hair and sighing. He then looked over to the other side of the room and around it. "Got any money?" he asked, suddenly.
"Not much."
"How much?"
"Twenty-five roubles."
"Let's see it."
The prince took his banknote out and showed it to Ferdishenko. The latter unfolded it and looked at it; then he turned it round and examined the other side; then he held it up to the light.
"How strange that it should have browned so," he said, reflectively. "These twenty-five rouble notes brown in a most extraordinary way, while other notes often grow paler. Take it."
The prince took his note. Ferdishenko rose.
"I came here to warn you," he said. "In the first place, don't lend me any money, for I shall certainly ask you to."
"Very well."
"Shall you pay here?"
"Yes, I intend to."
"Oh! I DON'T intend to. Thanks. I live here, next door to you; you noticed a room, did you? Don't come to me very often; I shall see you here quite often enough. Have you seen the general?"
"No."
"Nor heard him?"
"No; of course not."
"Well, you'll both hear and see him soon; he even tries to borrow money from me. Avis au lecteur. Good-bye; do you think a man can possibly live with a name like Ferdishenko?"
"Why not?"
"Good-bye."
And so he departed. The prince found out afterwards that this gentleman made it his business to amaze people with his originality and wit, but that it did not as a rule "come off." He even produced a bad impression on some people, which grieved him sorely; but he did not change his ways for all that.
As he went out of the prince's room, he collided with yet another visitor coming in. Ferdishenko took the opportunity of making several warning gestures to the prince from behind the new arrival's back, and left the room in conscious pride.
This next arrival was a tall red-faced man of about fifty-five, with greyish hair and whiskers, and large eyes which stood out of their sockets. His appearance would have been distinguished had it not been that he gave the idea of being rather dirty. He was dressed in an old coat, and he smelled of vodka when he came near. His walk was effective, and he clearly did his best to appear dignified, and to impress people by his manner.
This gentleman now approached the prince slowly, and with a most courteous smile; silently took his hand and held it in his own, as he examined the prince's features as though searching for familiar traits therein.
"'Tis he, 'tis he!" he said at last, quietly, but with much solemnity. "As though he were alive once more. I heard the familiar name-the dear familiar name--and, oh. I how it reminded me of the irrevocable past--Prince Muishkin, I believe ?"
"Exactly so."
"General Ivolgin--retired and unfortunate. May I ask your Christian and generic names?"
"Lef Nicolaievitch."
"So, so--the son of my old, I may say my childhood's friend, Nicolai Petrovitch."
"My father's name was Nicolai Lvovitch."
"Lvovitch," repeated the general without the slightest haste, and with perfect confidence, just as though he had not committed himself the least in the world, but merely made a little slip of the tongue. He sat down, and taking the prince's hand, drew him to a seat next to himself.
"I carried you in my arms as a baby," he observed.
"Really?" asked the prince. "Why, it's twenty years since my father died."
"Yes, yes--twenty years and three months. We were educated together; I went straight into the army, and he--"
"My father went into the army, too. He was a sub-lieutenant in the Vasiliefsky regiment."
"No, sir--in the Bielomirsky; he changed into the latter shortly before his death. I was at his bedside when he died, and gave him my blessing for eternity. Your mother--" The general paused, as though overcome with emotion.
"She died a few months later, from a cold," said the prince.
"Oh, not cold--believe an old man--not from a cold, but from grief for her prince. Oh--your mother, your mother! heigh-ho! Youth--youth! Your father and I--old friends as we were--nearly murdered each other for her sake."
The prince began to be a little incredulous.
"I was passionately in love with her when she was engaged-- engaged to my friend. The prince noticed the fact and was furious. He came and woke me at seven o'clock one morning. I rise and dress in amazement; silence on both sides. I understand it all. He takes a couple of pistols out of his pocket--across a handkerchief--without witnesses. Why invite witnesses when both of us would be walking in eternity in a couple of minutes? The pistols are loaded; we stretch the handkerchief and stand opposite one another. We aim the pistols at each other's hearts. Suddenly tears start to our eyes, our hands shake; we weep, we embrace--the battle is one of self-sacrifice now! The prince shouts, 'She is yours;' I cry, 'She is yours--' in a word, in a word--You've come to live with us, hey?"
"Yes--yes--for a while, I think," stammered the prince.
"Prince, mother begs you to come to her," said Colia, appearing at the door.
The prince rose to go, but the general once more laid his hand in a friendly manner on his shoulder, and dragged him down on to the sofa.
"As the true friend of your father, I wish to say a few words to you," he began. "I have suffered--there was a catastrophe. I suffered without a trial; I had no trial. Nina Alexandrovna my wife, is an excellent woman, so is my daughter Varvara. We have to let lodgings because we are poor--a dreadful, unheard-of come- down for us--for me, who should have been a governor-general; but we are very glad to have YOU, at all events. Meanwhile there is a tragedy in the house."
The prince looked inquiringly at the other.
"Yes, a marriage is being arranged--a marriage between a questionable woman and a young fellow who might be a flunkey. They wish to bring this woman into the house where my wife and daughter reside, but while I live and breathe she shall never enter my doors. I shall lie at the threshold, and she shall trample me underfoot if she does. I hardly talk to Gania now, and avoid him as much as I can. I warn you of this beforehand, but you cannot fail to observe it. But you are the son of my old friend, and I hope--"
"Prince, be so kind as to come to me for a moment in the drawing- room," said Nina Alexandrovna herself, appearing at the door.
"Imagine, my dear," cried the general, "it turns out that I have nursed the prince on my knee in the old days." His wife looked searchingly at him, and glanced at the prince, but said nothing. The prince rose and followed her; but hardly had they reached the drawing-room, and Nina Alexandrovna had begun to talk hurriedly, when in came the general. She immediately relapsed into silence. The master of the house may have observed this, but at all events he did not take any notice of it; he was in high good humour.
"A son of my old friend, dear," he cried; "surely you must remember Prince Nicolai Lvovitch? You saw him at--at Tver."
"I don't remember any Nicolai Lvovitch, Was that your father?" she inquired of the prince.
"Yes, but he died at Elizabethgrad, not at Tver," said the prince, rather timidly. "So Pavlicheff told me."
"No, Tver," insisted the general; "he removed just before his death. You were very small and cannot remember; and Pavlicheff, though an excellent fellow, may have made a mistake."
"You knew Pavlicheff then?"
"Oh, yes--a wonderful fellow; but I was present myself. I gave him my blessing."
"My father was just about to be tried when he died," said the prince, "although I never knew of what he was accused. He died in hospital."
"Oh! it was the Kolpakoff business, and of course he would have been acquitted."
"Yes? Do you know that for a fact?" asked the prince, whose curiosity was aroused by the general's words.
"I should think so indeed!" cried the latter. "The court-martial came to no decision. It was a mysterious, an impossible business, one might say! Captain Larionoff, commander of the company, had died; his command was handed over to the prince for the moment. Very well. This soldier, Kolpakoff, stole some leather from one of his comrades, intending to sell it, and spent the money on drink. Well! The prince--you understand that what follows took place in the presence of the sergeant-major, and a corporal--the prince rated Kolpakoff soundly, and threatened to have him flogged. Well, Kolpakoff went back to the barracks, lay down on a camp bedstead, and in a quarter of an hour was dead: you quite understand? It was, as I said, a strange, almost impossible, affair. In due course Kolpakoff was buried; the prince wrote his report, the deceased's name was removed from the roll. All as it should be, is it not? But exactly three months later at the inspection of the brigade, the man Kolpakoff was found in the third company of the second battalion of infantry, Novozemlianski division, just as if nothing had happened!"
"What?" said the prince, much astonished.
"It did not occur--it's a mistake!" said Nina Alexandrovna quickly, looking, at the prince rather anxiously. "Mon mari se trompe," she added, speaking in French.
"My dear, 'se trompe' is easily said. Do you remember any case at all like it? Everybody was at their wits' end. I should be the first to say 'qu'on se trompe,' but unfortunately I was an eye- witness, and was also on the commission of inquiry. Everything proved that it was really he, the very same soldier Kolpakoff who had been given the usual military funeral to the sound of the drum. It is of course a most curious case--nearly an impossible one. I recognize that ... but--"
"Father, your dinner is ready," said Varvara at this point, putting her head in at the door.
"Coming, coming " said the general. "Son of my old friend--" he was heard muttering as he went down the passage.
"You will have to excuse very much in my husband, if you stay with us," said Nina Alexandrovna; "but he will not disturb you often. He dines alone. Everyone has his little peculiarities, you know, and some people perhaps have more than those who are most pointed at and laughed at. One thing I must beg of you-if my husband applies to you for payment for board and lodging, tell him that you have already paid me. Of course anything paid by you to the general would be as fully settled as if paid to me, so far as you are concerned; but I wish it to be so, if you please, for convenience' sake. What is it, Varia?"
Varia had quietly entered the room, and was holding out the portrait of Nastasia Philipovna to her mother.
Nina Alexandrovna started, and examined the photograph intently, gazing at it long and sadly. At last she looked up inquiringly at Varia.
"It's a present from herself to him," said Varia; "the question is to be finally decided this evening."
"This evening!" repeated her mother in a tone of despair, but softly, as though to herself. "Then it's all settled, of course, and there's no hope left to us. She has anticipated her answer by the present of her portrait. Did he show it you himself?" she added, in some surprise.
"You know we have hardly spoken to each other for a whole month. Ptitsin told me all about it; and the photo was lying under the table, and I picked it up."
"Prince," asked Nina Alexandrovna, "I wanted to inquire whether you have known my son long? I think he said that you had only arrived today from somewhere."
The prince gave a short narrative of what we have heard before, leaving out the greater part. The two ladies listened intently.
"I did not ask about Gania out of curiosity," said the elder, at last. "I wish to know how much you know about him, because he said just now that we need not stand on ceremony with you. What, exactly, does that mean?"
At this moment Gania and Ptitsin entered the room together, and Nina Alexandrovna immediately became silent again. The prince remained seated next to her, but Varia moved to the other end of the room; the portrait of Nastasia Philipovna remained lying as before on the work-table. Gania observed it there, and with a frown of annoyance snatched it up and threw it across to his writing-table, which stood at the other end of the room.
"Is it today, Gania?" asked Nina Alexandrovna, at last.
"Is what today?" cried the former. Then suddenly recollecting himself, he turned sharply on the prince. "Oh," he growled, "I see, you are here, that explains it! Is it a disease, or what, that you can't hold your tongue? Look here, understand once for all, prince--"
"I am to blame in this, Gania--no one else," said Ptitsin.
Gania glanced inquiringly at the speaker.
"It's better so, you know, Gania--especially as, from one point of view, the matter may be considered as settled," said Ptitsin; and sitting down a little way from the table he began to study a paper covered with pencil writing.
Gania stood and frowned, he expected a family scene. He never thought of apologizing to the prince, however.
"If it's all settled, Gania, then of course Mr. Ptitsin is right," said Nina Alexandrovna. "Don't frown. You need not worry yourself, Gania; I shall ask you no questions. You need not tell me anything you don't like. I assure you I have quite submitted to your will." She said all this, knitting away the while as though perfectly calm and composed.
Gania was surprised, but cautiously kept silence and looked at his mother, hoping that she would express herself more clearly. Nina Alexandrovna observed his cautiousness and added, with a bitter smile:
"You are still suspicious, I see, and do not believe me; but you may be quite at your ease. There shall be no more tears, nor questions--not from my side, at all events. All I wish is that you may be happy, you know that. I have submitted to my fate; but my heart will always be with you, whether we remain united, or whether we part. Of course I only answer for myself--you can hardly expect your sister--"
"My sister again," cried Gania, looking at her with contempt and almost hate. "Look here, mother, I have already given you my word that I shall always respect you fully and absolutely, and so shall everyone else in this house, be it who it may, who shall cross this threshold."
Gania was so much relieved that he gazed at his mother almost affectionately.
"I was not at all afraid for myself, Gania, as you know well. It was not for my own sake that I have been so anxious and worried all this time! They say it is all to be settled to-day. What is to be settled?"
"She has promised to tell me tonight at her own house whether she consents or not," replied Gania.
"We have been silent on this subject for three weeks," said his mother, "and it was better so; and now I will only ask you one question. How can she give her consent and make you a present of her portrait when you do not love her? How can such a--such a--"
"Practised hand--eh?"
"I was not going to express myself so. But how could you so blind her?"
Nina Alexandrovna's question betrayed intense annoyance. Gania waited a moment and then said, without taking the trouble to conceal the irony of his tone:
"There you are, mother, you are always like that. You begin by promising that there are to be no reproaches or insinuations or questions, and here you are beginning them at once. We had better drop the subject--we had, really. I shall never leave you, mother; any other man would cut and run from such a sister as this. See how she is looking at me at this moment! Besides, how do you know that I am blinding Nastasia Philipovna? As for Varia, I don't care--she can do just as she pleases. There, that's quite enough!"
Gania's irritation increased with every word he uttered, as he walked up and down the room. These conversations always touched the family sores before long.
"I have said already that the moment she comes in I go out, and I shall keep my word," remarked Varia.
"Out of obstinacy" shouted Gania. "You haven't married, either, thanks to your obstinacy. Oh, you needn't frown at me, Varvara! You can go at once for all I care; I am sick enough of your company. What, you are going to leave us are you, too?" he cried, turning to the prince, who was rising from his chair.
Gania's voice was full of the most uncontrolled and uncontrollable irritation.
The prince turned at the door to say something, but perceiving in Gania's expression that there was but that one drop wanting to make the cup overflow, he changed his mind and left the room without a word. A few minutes later he was aware from the noisy voices in the drawing room, that the conversation had become more quarrelsome than ever after his departure.
He crossed the salon and the entrance-hall, so as to pass down the corridor into his own room. As he came near the front door he heard someone outside vainly endeavouring to ring the bell, which was evidently broken, and only shook a little, without emitting any sound.
The prince took down the chain and opened the door. He started back in amazement--for there stood Nastasia Philipovna. He knew her at once from her photograph. Her eyes blazed with anger as she looked at him. She quickly pushed by him into the hall, shouldering him out of her way, and said, furiously, as she threw off her fur cloak:
"If you are too lazy to mend your bell, you should at least wait in the hall to let people in when they rattle the bell handle. There, now, you've dropped my fur cloak--dummy!"
Sure enough the cloak was lying on the ground. Nastasia had thrown it off her towards the prince, expecting him to catch it, but the prince had missed it.
"Now then--announce me, quick!"
The prince wanted to say something, but was so confused and astonished that he could not. However, he moved off towards the drawing-room with the cloak over his arm.
"Now then, where are you taking my cloak to? Ha, ha, ha! Are you mad?"
The prince turned and came back, more confused than ever. When she burst out laughing, he smiled, but his tongue could not form a word as yet. At first, when he had opened the door and saw her standing before him, he had become as pale as death; but now the red blood had rushed back to his cheeks in a torrent.
"Why, what an idiot it is!" cried Nastasia, stamping her foot with irritation. "Go on, do! Whom are you going to announce?"
"Nastasia Philipovna," murmured the prince.
"And how do you know that?" she asked him, sharply.
"I have never seen you before!"
"Go on, announce me--what's that noise?"
"They are quarrelling," said the prince, and entered the drawing- room, just as matters in there had almost reached a crisis. Nina Alexandrovna had forgotten that she had "submitted to everything!" She was defending Varia. Ptitsin was taking her part, too. Not that Varia was afraid of standing up for herself. She was by no means that sort of a girl; but her brother was becoming ruder and more intolerable every moment. Her usual practice in such cases as the present was to say nothing, but stare at him, without taking her eyes off his face for an instant. This manoeuvre, as she well knew, could drive Gania distracted.
Just at this moment the door opened and the prince entered, announcing:
"Nastasia Philipovna!"
直接从过道开始的走廊把住宅分隔开来，走廊的一边有三个房间是打算出租给“经特别介绍”的房客；此外，还是在走廊这一侧的顶端，厨房旁边是比其它房间小的第四个小房间，里面住着退职将军伊沃尔金本人，一家之父，他就睡在一张宽沙发上，而进出住宅都得经过厨房和后梯。这个小房间里还住着加夫里拉·阿尔达利翁诺维奇１３岁的弟弟，中学生科利亚；他也被安排在这里挤着，做功课，睡在另一张相当旧的、又窄又短的沙发上，铺的是破旧的被褥，主要则是照料和看管父亲，老人已越来越少不了这种照看了。公爵被安排在三个房间的中间一个；右边第一个房间住着费尔迪先科，左边是第三个房间，尚空着，但加尼亚首先把公爵带到家里住的那半边。家用的这半边由客厅、会客室和一个房间组成。客厅需要时就变成餐室：会客室其实只是早晨才会客用，晚上就变成了加尼亚的书房和卧室；第三个房间很小，总是关着门，这是尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜和瓦尔瓦拉·阿尔达利翁诺夫娜的卧室。总之，这住宅里一切都很拥挤和窒塞；加尼亚只是暗自把牙咬得格格响；他虽然曾经是，也想做一个孝敬母亲的人，但是在他们那里一开始就可以发现，这是一家之霸。
尼娜·亚历山槽罗夫娜不是一个人在会客室里，瓦尔瓦拉·阿尔达利翁诺夫娜与她一起坐着；她们俩都一边织着东西一边与客人伊万·彼得罗维奇·普季岑交谈着。尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜像是５０岁左右，脸面消瘦，双颊下隐，眼睛下面有很浓的黑晕。她的外表样子是病态的，还有点忧伤，但她的脸和目光却相当令人愉快；一开口就表现出严肃庄重、充分意识到真正尊严的性格。尽管外表上看起来有一丝哀伤，可是能够感觉到她身上的坚强，甚至刚毅。她穿得非常朴素，是深色的衣裙，完全是老妇人的打扮，但是她的待人接物，谈吐，整个举止风度却显露出是个经历过上流社会的妇女。
瓦尔瓦拉·阿尔达利翁诺夫娜是个２３岁左右的少女，中等身材，相当瘦削，容貌并不很美，但是蕴含着一种神秘的不美也能惹人喜爱并且还能强烈地吸引人的魅力，她很像母亲，因为完全不喜欢打扮，甚至衣着也几乎像母亲那样。她那灰色的眼睛射出的目光，如果不总是那么严肃和沉静（有时甚至过分了，尤其是最近），那么偶而也会是很快活和温柔的。她的脸上也能看得到坚强和刚毅，但是可以感觉到，她的这种坚毅比起她母亲来甚至更为坚韧不拔和精明强干。瓦尔瓦拉·阿尔达利翁诺夫娜是个脾气相当暴燥的人，她的小兄弟有时甚至怕她的这种火爆性子。现在坐在她们那里的客人伊万·彼得罗维奇·普季岑也怕她三分。这是个还相当年轻的人，将近３０岁，穿着朴素，但很雅致，举止风度很令人好感，但是似乎过分讲究派头。深褐色的络腮胡子表明他不是干公务的人。他善于言谈，聪明而有趣，但是常常保持沉默。总的来说，他甚至给人愉快的印象。看来他对瓦尔瓦拉；阿尔达利翁诺夫娜并不是无动于衷，而且也不掩饰自己的感情。瓦尔瓦拉·阿尔达利翁诺夫娜对他很友好，但是对他的有些问题她还迟迟不做回答，甚至不喜欢这些问题；不过，普季岑远非是那种容易丧失信心的人。尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜对他很亲切，近来甚至很信赖他。不过，大家都知道，他是专门靠花钱收买比较可靠的抵押品而很快盈利积攒起钱财的。他是加尼亚十分要好的朋友。
加尼亚十分淡漠地向母亲问了好，根本不跟妹妹打招呼，立即便把普季岑带出了房间。尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜在加尼亚断断续续做了详尽的介绍后，对公爵说了几句亲切的话，便吩咐朝门里张望的科利亚带他去中间那个房间。科利亚是个长着活泼和相当可爱的脸蛋的男孩，一副可以信赖、纯真朴实的样子。
“您的行李在哪里呀？”他带公爵进房问。
“我有一个小包裹；我把它留在前厅了。”
“我马上替您去拿来。我们家全部佣人就是厨娘和玛特廖娜，所以我也帮着做些事。瓦里娅什么都管，好生气。加尼亚说，您今天刚从瑞士来？”
“是的。”
“瑞士好吗？”
“非常好。”
“有山吗？”
“是的。”
“我马上去把您的包裹搬来。”
瓦尔瓦拉、阿尔达利翁诺夫娜走了进来。
“玛特日娜马上来给您铺好被褥。您有箱子吗？”
“没有，只有个小包。您弟弟去拿了；是在前厅。”
“除了这个小包裹，那里没有别的包裹；您把它放哪里？”科利亚又回到房间里，问道。
“除了这个是没有别的了，”公爵接过包裹说明着。
“噢！可我还以为，别是费尔迪先科搬走了。”
“别胡扯废话，”瓦尔瓦拉·阿尔达利翁诺夫娜严格地说。她跟公爵讲话也十分冷淡，刚才大概还算是客气的。
“Ｃｔｌｅｒｅ Ｂａｂｅｉｔｅ，＊对我可以温柔些吗，我又不是普季岑。”
“还可以揍你，科利亚，你蠢到哪里了。您要什么，可以找玛特廖娜办；午餐是在４点半。您可以与我们一起用午餐，也可以在自己房间里，随您便。科利亚，我们走，别妨碍他。”
“走吧，真是果敢的性格！”
他们出去时，碰到了加尼亚。
“父亲在家吗？”加尼亚问科利亚，得到肯定的回答后他在耳边对他低语了什么。
科利亚点了下头，跟着瓦尔瓦拉·阿尔达利翁诺夫娜走了出去。
＊法语：亲爱的巴别特。巴别特是瓦尔瓦拉这个名的法语呢称。
“有两句话，公爵，因为这些……事情竟忘了对您说。有一个请求：劳驾您，如果这对您来说不大费劲的话，既不要在这里乱说刚才我跟阿格拉娅的事，也不要在那边嚼舌您在这里将看到的事；因为这里也是十分不成体统的。不过，见鬼去吧……哪怕至少是今天要忍住。”
“请您相信，我说的比您所想象的要少得多，”公爵说，他对加尼亚的指责有点恼火。他们之间的关系看来越来越槽了。
“算了，因为您今天我可够受的。总之，我求您了。”
“还有要请您说说清楚，加夫里拉·阿尔达利翁诺维维奇，刚才我受到什么约束了，因此都不可以提及照片的事？您可是并没有请求我。”
“唉呀，这房间多糟糕！”加尼亚轻蔑地打量着房间，说，“光线很暗，窗房又朝院子。从各个方面来看您到我们这儿来真不是时候……算了，这不是我的事；不是我出租住房。”
普季岑探了一眼，喊了一声加尼亚；加尼亚便匆匆撇下公爵，走了出去，尽管他还想说什么，但看来犹豫不决，像是羞于启齿；加上骂一通房间不好，似乎也感到不好意思。
公爵刚刚漱洗好，才稍稍整理好自己的盥洗间，门又被打开了，一个生人望了一下。
这位先生３０岁左右，个头不小，肩膀很宽，有一个满头红褐色卷发的大脑袋。他的脸胖墩墩，红朴朴，嘴唇厚厚的，鼻子又。大又扁，一双小眼睛胖成一条缝，仿佛不停地一眨一眨似的，流露出嘲讽的神情。总之，这一切给人的印象是挺粗俗无礼的。他穿得也很脏。
他起先只把门开得可以伸进头来这么大。伸进来的脑袋打量房间５秒钟，然后门就慢慢地开大了，他的整个躯体出现在门口，但是客人还是不走进来，而是眯着眼，从门口继续打量着公爵。终于他在身后关上了门，走近前来，坐到椅子上，紧紧地挽着公爵的手，让他坐到自己斜对面的沙发上。
“费尔迪先科，”他自我介绍说，一边专注和疑问地端详着公爵的脸。
“有何贵干？”公爵几乎要大笑起来回答着。
“房客，”费尔迪先科仍像原来那样观察着，说。
“您想来认识一下？”
“唉！”客人叹了口气，把头发弄得乱蓬蓬的，开始望着对面的角落，“您有钱吗？”他转向公爵，突然问。
“不多。”
“到底多少？”
“２５个卢布。”
“拿出来看看。”
公爵从背心口袋里换出一张２５卢布的钞票，递给费尔迪先科。费尔迪先科把钞票打开来看了看，然后又翻转到另一面，接着又对着亮光看起来。
“真够奇怪的，”他似乎若有所思地说，“它们怎么变成褐色的？这些２５卢布的钞票有时变褐色变得很厉害，而另外一些钞票却相反，完全褪色了。请拿着。”
公爵拿回了自己的钞票。费尔迪先科从椅子上站了起来。
“我是来提醒您：第一，别借钱给我，因为我一定会来请求的。”
“好的。”
“您在这里打算付钱吗？”
“打算付的。”
“而我不打算付；谢谢。我在这儿是您右边第一个门，看见过吗？请尽量别常光临我那儿；我会到您这儿来，请放心，见到将军了吗？”
“没有。”
“也没有听说？”
“当然也没有。”
“好吧，那么您会看见也会听说的；何况他连我这儿也要借钱！ Ａｖｉｓ ａｕｌｅｃｔｅｕｒ。＊告辞了。带着费尔迪先科这个姓，难道也可以生活？啊？”
“为什么不能？”
“告辞了。”
他走向门口。公爵后来了解到，这位先生仿佛尽义务似的承担起一个任务，要用自己奇特古怪和使人开心的行为让大家吃惊，但是不知怎么的他从来也没有成功过。他使某些人甚至还产生了不快的印象，因此他真正感到沮丧，但是他仍然没有丢下自己这个任务。在门口他似乎得以恢复了常态，却撞上了进来的一位先生；他把这位公爵不认识的新客人放进了房间，从后面向公爵几次眨眼警告注意他，这才不无自信地总算走开了。
新进来的先生身材高大，５５岁光景，也许更大些，相当臃肿，红得发紫的胖脸皮，肉松弛，长着一因浓密的连鬓胡子，还留着小胡子，有一双爆得出的大眼睛。如果不是这么不修边幅，衣衫槛楼，甚至肮脏邋遢，这副体相倒还挺神气的。他穿的是一件很旧的常礼服，肘部几乎要磨破了；内衣也油腻兮兮的，--这是家里的穿着。在他身旁有一股伏特加的气味；但是他的风度颇具魅力，有点装模作样，显然竭力想用这种尊严的姿态来惊倒别人。先生不急不忙地走近公爵，脸带亲切的微笑，默默地握着他的手，不从自己的手里放开，细细地端详了一会他的脸，似乎在辨认某些熟悉的特征。
＊注语：预先通知。
“是他！是他！”他轻轻地，但郑重其事地说，“活脱活像！我听到，人家常说起一个熟悉和亲爱的姓氏，也就想起了一去不复返的过去……是梅什金公爵吗？”
“正是卑人。”
“伊沃尔金，一个退职和倒霉的将军。斗胆请问您的名字和父称？”
“列夫·尼古拉耶维奇。”
“对，对！是我朋友，可以说，是童年伙伴尼古拉·彼得罗维奇的儿子。”
“我父亲名叫尼古拉·利沃维奇。”
“利沃维奇，”将军改正说，但他不慌不忙，怀着一种充分的自信，仿佛他一点也没有忘记，仅仅是无意间说错而已。他坐了下来，也拉着公爵的手，让他坐在自己身边。“我还抱过您呢。”
“真的吗？”公爵问。“我父亲过世已有２０年了。”
“是啊，２０年了；２０年又３个月。我们一起学习过；我直接进了军界。”
“父亲也在军界呆过，是瓦西利科夫斯基团的少尉。”
“在别洛米尔斯基团。调到别洛米尔斯基团几乎就在他去世前夕，我站在这里并祈求他安息。您母亲……”
将军的手是因为忧伤的回忆而稍作停顿。
“半年过后她也因受了风寒而故世了，”公爵说。
“不是因为风寒。不是因为风寒，请相信我老头子。我当时在，是我给她安葬的。是因为思念自己的公爵痛苦所致，而不是因为受了风寒。是啊，公爵夫人也是令我永志不忘的！青春嘛！因为她、我和公爵，童年时代的朋友差点成为互相残杀的凶手。”
公爵有点疑惑地开始听他讲。
“我热烈地爱上了您的母亲，那时她还是未婚妻，我朋友的未婚妻。公爵发现了，也惊呆了。早晨６点多就来找我，把我唤醒了。我惊讶万分地穿着衣服，双方都默默无语；我全部明白了。他从口袋里掏出两杆手枪，相隔着手绢，没有证人，再过５分钟就互相把对方打发去永恒世界，何必要有证人呢？子弹上了蹬，拉直了手绢；站好了，互相把手枪对着心口，彼此看着对方的脸。突然两人眼中泪如雨下，手都颤抖着。两人，两人同时这样分了，这时自然地就是拥抱和彼此争着慷慨相让。公爵喊着：她是你的！我喊着：她是你的：总之……总之……您是住到……我们这儿来？”
“是的，也许要住一段时间，、公爵说着，似乎有点迟疑。
“公爵，妈妈请您去她那儿，”科利亚朝门里探头喊道。公爵本已站起来要走，但将军把右手掌放到他的肩膀上，友好地又把他按到沙发上。
“作为您父亲的真正的朋友，我想提醒您，”将军说，“我，您自己也看见了，我遭难了，因为一件惨祸；但是没有受审！没有受审！尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜是个难能可贵的妇女。瓦尔瓦拉·阿尔达利翁诺夫娜，我的女儿，也是个难能可贵的女儿！因为家境的关系我们出租住房，实在是前所未有的败落！我原来是要当总督的！……但我们始终很高兴您来。然而，我家里正有不幸！”
公爵疑虑而又十分好奇地望着他。
“正在准备缔结一门婚姻，这是少见的婚姻。是一个轻薄女子和一个本可以成为宫廷士官的年轻人的婚姻。这个女人将被带进家来，而这里却有我的妻子和我的女儿！但只要我还有口气，她就别想进来！我要躺在门口，让她从我身上跨过去！……跟加尼亚我现在几乎不说话，甚至避免遇见他。我特地先告诉您；既然您将住在我们这里，反正不讲也会看到的，但您是我朋友的儿子，我有权希望……”
“公爵，劳驾，请到会客室我这里来，”尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜本人已经站在门口叫唤了。
“信不信，我的朋友，”将军大声嚷道，“原来，我还抱过公爵呢！”
尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜含着责备瞥了将军一眼，又以探询的目光看了一下公爵，但是什么话都没有说。公爵跟在她后面走着；但他们刚到会客室坐下，尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜刚开始很急促地低声告诉公爵什么的时候，将军本人却突然驾临会客室。尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜立即闭口不言，带着明显的懊丧低头做起她的编织活来。将军可能注意到了这种懊丧，但依然保持着良好的情绪。
“我朋友的儿子！”他对尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜喊道，“而且这么出乎意料！我早就已经不再讲了，但是，我的朋友，难道你不记得已故的尼古拉·利沃维奇吗？你还尼见过他的……在特维尔？”
“我不记得尼古拉·利沃维奇了。这是您父亲吗？”她问公爵。
“是父亲，但是，好像他不是在特维尔去世的，而是在叶利萨韦特格勒，”公爵不好意思地向将军指出，“我是听帕夫利谢夫说的……”
“是在特维里，将军肯定说，“在临死前他被调到了特维里，甚至还是在病情发展之前。您当时还太小，不可能记住调动和旅行的事；帕夫利谢夫则可能弄错了，尽管他是个极好的人。”
“您也认识帕夫利谢夫？”
“这是个难得的人，但我是亲身见到的。在他弥留之际我曾为他祝福……”
“我父亲可是受审判的情况下去世的，”公爵又指出，“虽然我从来也未能了解到，究竟因为什么才受审，他是死在医院里的。”
“唉，这是有关列兵科尔帕科夫的案件，毫无疑问，公爵本可以宣告无罪的。”
“是这样吗？您确实知道？”公爵怀着特别的好奇问。
“这还用说！”将军高声嚷了起来，“法庭没有做出什么裁决就解散了。案子是不可能成立的！这案子甚至可以说是神秘莫测的。连长拉里翁诺夫上尉要死了；公爵被任命临时代理连长的职务；好。列兵科尔帕科夫犯了偷窈，偷了同伴的靴料，换酒喝了，好。公爵申斥了科尔帕科夫并威吓说要用树条揍他，请注意，这是有上士和军士在场的。很好，科尔帕科夫回到营房，躺到铺板上，过一刻钟就死了。非常好，但事情来得突然，几乎是不可能的。不论怎么样，把科尔帕科夫葬了；公爵报告了上面，接着就把科尔帕科夫除了名。’似乎再好也没有了吧？但是整整过了半年、在一次旅的阅兵式上，列兵科尔帕科夫仿佛什么也没有发生过似的出现在诺沃泽姆良斯基步兵团第二营第三连中，还是那个旅和那个师！”
“怎么回事？”公爵不由地惊呼起来。
“不是这么回事，这是一个错误。”尼娜·山德罗未娜突然对他说，几乎是忧郁地望着他。“Ｍｏｎ ｍａｒｉ ｓｅ ｔｒｄｍｐｅ。”＊
“但是，我的朋友，说ｓｅ ｔｒｏｍｐｅ是容易的，可是你自己倒来解释解释这种事情！大家都束手无策。我本来会第一个出来说ｑｕ ｏｎ ｓｅ ｔｒｏｍｐｅ，＊但倒霉的是，我是见证人，还亲自参加了调查组。所有当面的对质都证明，这正是那个人，就是半年前照通常的规矩列队击鼓安葬的那个列兵科尔帕科夫，不折不扣，这真是罕见的奇事，几乎是不可能的，我同意，但是……”
＊法语：我的丈夫弄错了。
“爸爸，给您开饭了，”瓦尔瓦拉·阿尔达利翁诺夫娜走进房间通知说。
“啊，这太好了、好极了！我的确饿了……但是这件事，可以说，甚至是心理学的……”
“汤又要凉了，”瓦里娅急不可耐地说。
“马上，马上，”将军走出房间嘟哝着说，“尽管做了许多查询，”在走廊里还听到他的声音。
“如果您要住在我们这里，您必须得多多原谅阿尔达利翁·亚历山德罗维奇，”尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜对公爵说，“不过，他不会太来打扰您的：他吃饭也是单独的。您自己也会同意，任何人都有自己的缺点和自己的……特别的地方，有些人可能比他们惯于指手划脚批评的人有更多的缺点。有一点我要十分请求您：如果我丈夫什么时候向您索要房租，您就对他说已经交给我了。换句话说，就是交给阿尔达利翁·亚历山德罗维奇，对您来说反正仍算交过了，但我仅仅是为了准确无误而请求您……瓦里娅，这是什么？”
瓦里娅回到房间里来，把纳斯塔西娅·费利帕夫娜的照片默默递给母亲。尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜打了个颤，开始仿佛受了惊吓似的，接着怀着一种令人压抑的痛苦心情细细端详了一会照片。最后，疑问地看了一眼瓦里娅。
“今天她本人给他的礼物，”瓦里娅说，“晚上他们就要决定一切。”
“今天晚上！”尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜仿佛绝望地低低重复着，“还有什么好说的？再已没有任何怀疑了，希望也不复存在：她用照片说明了一切……是他自己给你看的吗？”她惊奇地补充说。
“您知道，我们已经整整一个月几乎没有说过一句话。普季岑什么都对我说了，而照片是在那里桌旁的地板上；我捡起了它。”
“公爵，”突然尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜对他说，“我想问您（其实，正是为此我才请您到这里来的），您早就认识我儿子了吗？他好像对我说，您今天刚从什么地方来？”
公爵简短地解释了自己的情况，略去了一大半内容。尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜和瓦里娅听他讲完。
＊法语：是别人弄错了。
“我询问您，并不是要探听什么有关加夫里拉·阿尔达利翁诺维奇的事，”尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜指出，“在这点上您不应弄错。如果有什么事他自己不能向我坦述，我本人也不想背着他打听那些事。刚才加尼亚在您在场时以及在您走后回答我询问您的情况时说：‘他全部知道，没什么要拘礼避嫌的！’说实在的，我请您来就是想知道，他这话是什么意思？也就是说，我想知道，到什么程度……”
突然加尼亚和普季岑走了进来；尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜马上不说话了。公爵仍坐在她身旁的椅子上，而瓦里娅则走到边上去了；纳斯塔西娅·费利帕夫娜的照片就在尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜小工作台上最显眼的地方，正对着她面前，加尼亚看见了照片，皱起了眉头，烦恼地从桌上拿起照片，将它丢到放在房间另一头的自己的书桌上。
“是今天吗，加尼亚？”尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜突然问。
“今天怎么啦？”加尼亚猝然一惊，突然冲着公爵责骂起来，“啊，我明白了，原来您在这儿！……您究竟怎么啦，这是什么毛病还是怎么的？您就不能忍着点吗？您终究也该明白呀，我的大人……”
“这是我的过错，加尼亚，不是别人，”普季岑打断他说。
加尼亚疑问地瞥了他一眼。
“这可是更好，加尼亚，何况，”从一方面来说，事情就了结了，”普季岑喃喃着，走到一旁去，坐到桌边，从口袋里换出一张写满了铅笔字的纸，开始专心地细读起来。加尼亚阴沉地站着，不安地等待着将会发生的家庭口角。他甚至都没有想到在公爵面前赔礼道歉。
“如果一切都了结了，那么，伊万·彼得罗维奇说的当然是对的，”尼娜·亚历山槽罗夫娜说，“请别皱眉蹙额，也别生气恼火，加尼亚，你自己不做说的事，我什么都不会问，我要你相信，我已完全屈服了，请可以放心。”
她说这些话时，没有停下手中的活，好像真的处之泰然。加尼亚很惊奇，但是小心翼翼地保持沉默和望着母亲，等她把话说得明确些。家庭的口角对他来说已付出太高昂的代价，尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜觉察到儿子的谨慎，便带着苦笑补充说：
“你仍然在怀疑和不相信我；放心吧，不会像过去那样，既不会哭泣流泪，也不会苦苦哀求，至少我是这样。我的全部愿望是为了使你幸福，你也是知道这一点的；我是认命了，但我的心将永远和你在一起，无论我们将在一起还是分开。当然，我只对我自己的行为负责，你不能要求妹妹也这样……”
“啊，又是她！”加尼亚喊了起来，嘲讽和仇恨地望着妹妹，“妈妈，我再次向您发誓，我过去已经许下的诺言：只要我在这里，只要我活着，无论是谁。无论什么时候，我都不许不尊重您。不管是什么人，不管是谁跨进我家的门，我都坚持要求对您绝对尊敬……”
加尼亚非常高兴，以致几乎用和解、温情的日光望着母亲。
“我对自己丝毫也不担心，加尼亚，你是知道的；所有这些日子我不是为自己操心和痛苦。据说，今天你们就一切了结了？究竟了结什么？”
“今天晚上，在自己家里，她答应要宣布：同意或否，”加尼亚回答说。
“我们几乎有三个星期回避谈论这件事了，这样更好。现在，当一切已经要了结的时候，我只有一点敢于间你：．既然你并不爱她，她又怎么会给你同意的答复，甚至还送自己的照片？莫非你爱她这么一个……这么一个……”
“这么说吧，饱经世故的女人，是吗？”
“我不。想用这样的字眼。难道你能蒙混她到这种地步？”
在这个问题中突然可以感觉到有一种异乎寻常的激债。加尼亚站了一会，考虑了一下，也不掩饰自己的讥讽，说：
“妈妈，您太冲动了，又忍不住了，我们往往就是这样开的头并激烈起来的。您说，不再盘间，也不再责备，可是又已经开始了！最好还是不要再说了，真的，不要再说了；至少您曾经有意……无论什么时候、无论怎么样我都不会丢弃您；换一个人有这样一个妹妹至少也得逃跑，瞧她现在是怎么看我的！我们就说到这儿吧！我本来是这么高兴……您怎么知道我欺骗了纳斯塔西娅·费利帕夫娜？至于说瓦里娅，就随她的便，--这就够了。嘿，现在真是完全受够了！”
加尼亚越说凶激动，毫无目的地在房间里踱来踱去。这样的谈话马上就转到家里所有成员的痛处上。
“我说过了，如果她进这个家，我就从这儿出去，我也说话算数，”瓦里娅说。
“那是因为顽固！”加尼亚喊道，“因为顽固你才不嫁人！于吗对我嗤之以鼻？我才不在乎呢，瓦尔瓦拉·阿尔达利翁诺夫娜；您愿意的话，哪怕现在就实行您的意愿也行。您已使我感到非常烦嫌。怎么啦！公爵，您终于决定离开我们了，”他看见公爵站起来，便嚷了起来。
加尼亚的声音中可以听得出他已经恼怒到什么程度，那种情况下人自己几乎也为这种光火感到痛快，于是便不受任何约束地，几乎怀着一种越来越大的满足，放纵着自己，任其发展。公爵在门口本已转过身，想要回答什么。但是，他从得罪他的人脸上那种病态的表情中看到，此刻已到了一触即发的地步，犹如一杯水只差一滴就会满溢而出，于是便转过身，一语不发地走出去。过了几分钟他从会客室里传来的余音听到，因为他不在场谈话变得更粗声大气、直言不讳。
他穿过客厅到了前厅要去走廊，‘然后到自己房间里去。当他经过大门走近搂梯时，他听见并发现，门外有人在用足力气打铃，但是门铃大概坏了：只是微微颤动，却没有声音。公爵取下插销，打开门，惊讶得往后退，全身甚至打了个顽：站在他面前的是纳斯塔西娅·费利帕夫娜。他根据照片马上就认出了她。当她看见他时，她的眼睛里迸发出恼怒的火光；她很快地走进前厅，用肩膀把他从路上推开，一边从自己身上脱着皮大衣，一边怒冲冲地说：
“如果懒得修门铃，那么至少也该在有人敲门时坐前厅。嘿，瞧现在报皮大衣掉地上了，傻子！”
皮大衣真的在地上；纳斯塔西娅·费利帕夫娜没有等到公爵脱下它，看也不看便自己把皮大衣往他手上扔去，但公爵没能接住。
“真该把你赶走。走，报告去。”
公爵本想说什么，但是却茫然不知所措，什么话也说不出来，就拿着从地上捡起来的皮大衣向会客室走去。
“嘿，瞧你现在拿了皮大衣走了！干嘛要拿皮大衣呀？哈一哈一哈！你是神经病还是怎么的？”
公爵回转来，呆若木鸡似地望着她；当她笑起来的时候，他也苦笑了一下，但还是说不出话来。在他为她开门的最初那一瞬间，他脸色刷白，而现在红晕却突然涌上了脸面。
“这可真是个白痴！”纳斯塔西娅·费利帕夫娜朝他跺了下脚，忿忿地喊了一声，“喂，你到哪里去？喂，你去报告是谁来了呀？”
“纳斯塔西娅·费利帕夫娜，”公爵喃喃着说。
“你怎么知道我的？”她很快地问他，“我从来没有见过你！去吧，报告去……那里干什么大叫大嚷来着？”
“在吵架，”公爵回答道，便向会客室走去。
他进去时正是相当关键的时刻：尼娜·亚历山德罗夫娜很快就已经完全忘记了她已“完全屈服了”；而且，她还袒护瓦里娅。已经放下了写满铅笔字的纸片的普季岑站在瓦里娅旁边。瓦里娅自己并不畏怯，而且她也不是那种胆小怕事的少女；但是哥哥越说越变得粗暴无礼和不可容忍。在这种情况下，她通常是不再说话，只是默默地、嘲笑地、直愣愣地盯着哥哥看。她知道；这种姿态会使他失去最后一道防线。就在这个时刻公爵跨进了房间并通报。
“纳斯塔西娅·费利帕夫娜到！”