brought the money, six months ago. I'll show you yourself as in a
looking-glass, if you like. I know exactly all that went on, in every
detail, and why things have turned out as they have. You thirsted, while
in Switzerland, for your home-country, for Russia; you read, doubtless,
many books about Russia, excellent books, I dare say, but hurtful to
YOU; and you arrived here; as it were, on fire with the longing to be
of service. Then, on the very day of your arrival, they tell you a sad
story of an ill-used woman; they tell YOU, a knight, pure and without
reproach, this tale of a poor woman! The same day you actually SEE
her; you are attracted by her beauty, her fantastic, almost demoniacal,
beauty--(I admit her beauty, of course).

"Add to all this your nervous nature, your epilepsy, and your sudden
arrival in a strange town--the day of meetings and of exciting scenes,
the day of unexpected acquaintanceships, the day of sudden actions,
the day of meeting with the three lovely Epanchin girls, and among
them Aglaya--add your fatigue, your excitement; add Nastasia' s evening
party, and the tone of that party, and--what were you to expect of
yourself at such a moment as that?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" said the prince, once more, nodding his head, and
blushing slightly. "Yes, it was so, or nearly so--I know it. And
besides, you see, I had not slept the night before, in the train, or the
night before that, either, and I was very tired."

"Of course, of course, quite so; that's what I am driving at!"
continued Evgenie, excitedly. "It is as clear as possible, and most
comprehensible, that you, in your enthusiasm, should plunge headlong
into the first chance that came of publicly airing your great idea that
you, a prince, and a pure-living man, did not consider a woman disgraced
if the sin were not her own, but that of a disgusting social libertine!
Oh, heavens! it's comprehensible enough, my dear prince, but that is not
the question, unfortunately! The question is, was there any reality
and truth in your feelings? Was it nature, or nothing but intellectual
enthusiasm? What do you think yourself? We are told, of course, that a
far worse woman was FORGIVEN, but we don't find that she was told that
she had done well, or that she was worthy of honour and respect! Did not
your common-sense show you what was the real state of the case, a few
months later? The question is now, not whether she is an innocent woman
(I do not insist one way