The Idiot

by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

you didn’t come; but she ought to have known that onecan’t write like that to an idiot like you, for you’d be sure to take itliterally.” Mrs. Epanchin was dragging the prince along with her allthe time, and never let go of his hand for an instant. “What are youlistening for?” she added, seeing that she had committed herself alittle. “She wants a clown like you--she hasn’t seen one for sometime--to play with. That’s why she is anxious for you to come to thehouse. And right glad I am that she’ll make a thorough good fool of you.You deserve it; and she can do it--oh! she can, indeed!--as well as mostpeople.”