The prince had seemingly perpetrated some such subterfuge as had this atheist.
Oh now they think he was playing the 'idiot' as a subterfuge to hide his cunning… when he was ridiculed for and targeted because of his simpleheartedness for literally months.
The following concocted story by the society PERPETUALLY in the background of this novel is so ludicrous and infuriatingly realistic: just listen to whatever scandal tickles your fancy, accuse whoever was made out to be the antagonist, then go on tutting your tongue and being perfectly pleased with yourself. On Dostoyevsky's end, it's a wonderful study of society, and another reminded that society is a factor that runs this whole novel and also drives our central characters.
