General Sokolovitch (by the way, I have not called on him lately, or seen Anna Fédorovna)⁠ ⁠… You know, my dear prince, when a person does not receive company himself, he gives up going to other people’s houses involuntarily. And yet⁠ ⁠… well⁠ ⁠… you look as if you didn’t believe me.⁠ ⁠… Well now, why should I not present the son of my old friend and companion to this delightful family⁠—General Ivolgin and Prince Muishkin? You will see a lovely girl⁠—what am I saying⁠—a lovely girl? No, indeed, two, three! Ornaments of this city and of society: beauty, education, culture⁠—the woman question⁠—poetry⁠—everything! Added to which is the fact that each one will have a dot of at least 80,000 roubles. No bad thing, eh?⁠ ⁠… In a word I absolutely must introduce you to them: it is a duty, an obligation. General Ivolgin and Prince Muishkin. Tableau!”

“At once? Now? You must have forgotten⁠ ⁠…” began the prince.