The Idiot — Part IV — Chapter IX

Two weeks after the scandalous meeting at Nastasia Philipovna’s, Pavlovsk buzzes with embellished tales: Prince Myshkin has jilted Aglaya Epanchin and will publicly marry Nastasia. He delegates all arrangements to Lebedeff and Keller, with Keller as best man and Burdovsky to give the bride away, while seemingly trying to forget the wedding itself.

Despite spending nearly all his time with Nastasia, Prince Myshkin repeatedly attempts to visit the Epanchins to see Aglaya, each time refused. The family learns of Aglaya’s presence at Nastasia’s house only after the fact; Aglaya hides at Nina Alexandrovna’s, returns home in tears, and Gania’s absurd candle “devotion” request earns her laughter. Society, including Prince S., cuts Myshkin; even friends waver.

After the Epanchins abruptly leave Pavlovsk for their estate at Colmina, Evgenie Pavlovitch visits Myshkin. He reports Aglaya’s fever and the family’s vow of silence about the scandal, then sharply analyzes Myshkin’s past with Nastasia as misguided chivalry and idealism. He accuses Myshkin of humiliating Aglaya and mistaking enthusiasm for love.

Myshkin concedes guilt yet insists Aglaya would understand if he could explain. He claims he will marry Nastasia because she demanded it and might die otherwise, confides he fears her “mad” face, and simultaneously professes love for both women. He begs Evgenie to take him to Aglaya or deliver a letter; Evgenie refuses.

Evgenie departs convinced Myshkin is losing his reason, while Myshkin remains desperate to see Aglaya before, as he fears, he “dies in his sleep,” leaving the triangle unresolved and the wedding looming.