right to speak. Well, though there is no
such person as 'Pavlicheff's son,' and it is all nothing but a humbug,
yet I will keep to my decision, and I am prepared to give up ten
thousand roubles in memory of Pavlicheff. Before Mr. Burdovsky made this
claim, I proposed to found a school with this money, in memory of my
benefactor, but I shall honour his memory quite as well by giving
the ten thousand roubles to Mr. Burdovsky, because, though he was not
Pavlicheff's son, he was treated almost as though he were. That is
what gave a rogue the opportunity of deceiving him; he really did
think himself Pavlicheff's son. Listen, gentlemen; this matter must
be settled; keep calm; do not get angry; and sit down! Gavrila
Ardalionovitch will explain everything to you at once, and I confess
that I am very anxious to hear all the details myself. He says that he
has even been to Pskoff to see your mother, Mr. Burdovsky; she is not
dead, as the article which was just read to us makes out. Sit down,
gentlemen, sit down!"

The prince sat down, and at length prevailed upon Burdovsky's company
to do likewise. During the last ten or twenty minutes, exasperated by
continual interruptions, he had raised his voice, and spoken with
great vehemence. Now, no doubt, he bitterly regretted several words and
expressions which had escaped him in his excitement. If he had not been
driven beyond the limits of endurance, he would not have ventured to
express certain conjectures so openly. He had no sooner sat down than
his heart was torn by sharp remorse. Besides insulting Burdovsky
with the supposition, made in the presence of witnesses, that he was
suffering from the complaint for which he had himself been treated
in Switzerland, he reproached himself with the grossest indelicacy in
having offered him the ten thousand roubles before everyone. "I ought
to have waited till to-morrow and offered him the money when we were
alone," thought Muishkin. "Now it is too late, the mischief is done!
Yes, I am an idiot, an absolute idiot!" he said to himself, overcome
with shame and regret.

Till then Gavrila Ardalionovitch had sat apart in silence. When the
prince called upon him, he came and stood by his side, and in a calm,
clear voice began to render an account of the mission confided to him.
All conversation ceased instantly. Everyone, especially the Burdovsky
party, listened with the utmost curiosity.

IX.

"You will not deny, I am sure," said Gavrila Arda