ervant.

"I assure you I am not deceiving you; you shall not have to answer for
me. As to my being dressed like this, and carrying a bundle, there's
nothing surprising in that--the fact is, my circumstances are not
particularly rosy at this moment."

"H'm!--no, I'm not afraid of that, you see; I have to announce you,
that's all. The secretary will be out directly-that is, unless you--yes,
that's the rub--unless you--come, you must allow me to ask you--you've
not come to beg, have you?"

"Oh dear no, you can be perfectly easy on that score. I have quite
another matter on hand."

"You must excuse my asking, you know. Your appearance led me to
think--but just wait for the secretary; the general is busy now, but the
secretary is sure to come out."

"Oh--well, look here, if I have some time to wait, would you mind
telling me, is there any place about where I could have a smoke? I have
my pipe and tobacco with me."

"_Smoke_?" said the man, in shocked but disdainful surprise, blinking his
eyes at the prince as though he could not believe his senses. "No, sir,
you cannot smoke here, and I wonder you are not ashamed of the very
suggestion. Ha, ha! a cool idea that, I declare!"

"Oh, I didn't mean in this room! I know I can't smoke here, of course.
I'd adjourn to some other room, wherever you like to show me to. You
see, I'm used to smoking a good deal, and now I haven't had a puff for
three hours; however, just as you like."

"Now how on earth am I to announce a man like that?" muttered the
servant. "In the first place, you've no right in here at all; you ought
to be in the waiting-room, because you're a sort of visitor--a guest, in
fact--and I shall catch it for this. Look here, do you intend to take up
you abode with us?" he added, glancing once more at the prince's bundle,
which evidently gave him no peace.

"No, I don't think so. I don't think I should stay even if they were
to invite me. I've simply come to make their acquaintance, and nothing
more."

"Make their acquaintance?" asked the man, in amazement, and with
redoubled suspicion. "Then why did you say you had business with the
general?"

"Oh well, very little business. There is one little matter--some
advice I am going to ask him for; but my principal object is simply to
introduce myself, because I am Prince Muishkin, and Madame Epanchin is
the last of her branch of the house, and besides herself and me there
are no other Muishkins left."

"What--you