n answer to a
direct question from the prince.

"Why on earth not?" asked the latter. "Really, you know, you are making
yourself a nuisance, by keeping guard over me like this. I get bored
all by myself; I have told you so over and over again, and you get on
my nerves more than ever by waving your hands and creeping in and out in
the mysterious way you do."

It was a fact that Lebedeff, though he was so anxious to keep everyone
else from disturbing the patient, was continually in and out of the
prince's room himself. He invariably began by opening the door a crack
and peering in to see if the prince was there, or if he had escaped;
then he would creep softly up to the arm-chair, sometimes making
Muishkin jump by his sudden appearance. He always asked if the patient
wanted anything, and when the latter replied that he only wanted to be
left in peace, he would turn away obediently and make for the door on
tip-toe, with deprecatory gestures to imply that he had only just looked
in, that he would not speak a word, and would go away and not intrude
again; which did not prevent him from reappearing in ten minutes or
a quarter of an hour. Colia had free access to the prince, at which
Lebedeff was quite disgusted and indignant. He would listen at the door
for half an hour at a time while the two were talking. Colia found this
out, and naturally told the prince of his discovery.

"Do you think yourself my master, that you try to keep me under lock and
key like this?" said the prince to Lebedeff. "In the country, at least,
I intend to be free, and you may make up your mind that I mean to see
whom I like, and go where I please."

"Why, of course," replied the clerk, gesticulating with his hands.

The prince looked him sternly up and down.

"Well, Lukian Timofeyovitch, have you brought the little cupboard that
you had at the head of your bed with you here?"

"No, I left it where it was."

"Impossible!"

"It cannot be moved; you would have to pull the wall down, it is so
firmly fixed."

"Perhaps you have one like it here?"

"I have one that is even better, much better; that is really why I
bought this house."

"Ah! What visitor did you turn away from my door, about an hour ago?"

"The-the general. I would not let him in; there is no need for him to
visit you, prince... I have the deepest esteem for him, he is a--a great
man. You don't believe it? Well, you will see, and yet, most excellent
prince, you had much bette