The Idiot Part I Chapter 4

In which the tranquil and orderly existence of the Epanchin family is delicately unsettled by the approaching prospect of a matrimonial alliance between the eldest daughter and the wealthy, yet complicated, Afanasy Ivanovitch Totski, whose shadowy past and enigmatic ward, Nastasia Philipovna, introduce a stirring element of uncertainty and intrigue. Against this backdrop, various characters navigate the intricate social fabric, with secrets and entanglements unfolding quietly beneath the surface, as hopes and apprehensions mingle in the drawing-rooms and parlours of St. Petersburg society.