Delphi Complete Works of Anton Chekhov (Illustrated) (377 page)

SCENE III.

VOINITZEV and ANNA PETROVNA.

ANNA PETROVNA (comes into the room and looks out of the window).

VOINITZEV (gesturing with a hand). Enough! (Pause.) What’s going on there?

ANNA PETROVNA. The peasants have killed Ossip. VOINITZEV. At last!

ANNA PETROVNA. Yes... Near the well... Do you see? There he is!

VOINITZEV (joining her at the window). Well? He got what he deserved. (Pause.)

ANNA PETROVNA. Have you heard the latest, sonny?

Platonov, they say, has disappeared and . . . Have you read the letter?

VOINITZEV. Yes, Pve read it.

ANNA PETROVNA. What do you think of this business of the estate? All gone . . . The Lord hath given, the Lord hath taken away... There’s a fine commercial conjuring trick for you! And all because we believed Glagolyev... He promised to buy the estate, but didn’t show up at the sale... The servants say he left for Paris... He’s become rather sharp, the wretch has, in his old age! If it weren’t for him, you and I could have managed it by paying our interest, and gone on living here... (She sighs.) One shouldn’t believe one’s enemies ih this world, and it’s the same with friends! VOINITZEV. No, one shouldn’t believe one’s friends!

ANNA PETROVNA. Well, my feudal lord? What do you intend doing now? Where will you go? The Lord gave to your ancestors, but from you he has taken away... You have nothing left... VOINITZEV. It’s all the same to me.

ANNA PETROVNA. No, it’s not the same. What are you going to eat? Let’s sit down... (They sit down.) How grave you are... What’s one to do? It’s a pity to part from this little nest of ours, but what’s one to do, my darling boy? What’s done, can’t be undone... What’s to be, must be. Be sensible, Sergey. First of all, you must remain cold-blooded. VOINITZEV. Don’t pay any attention to me, maman. What’s there to say about me? Your own nerves are on edge at this moment... Console yourself first, then come and console me.

ANNA PETROVNA. Well . . . women don’t count... Women always take a secondary place... The first thing is to be cold-blooded! You have lost what you had, but what’s yet before you is the important thing. And you have all life before you, a good, working, manly life! Why should you grieve? You can hold down a job in a high school... You’re a clever fellow. You know all about philology, you are well-intentioned, you don’t meddle in matters which don’t concern you, you have convictions, tranquillity, and you have a wife. ... If you only take care, you will go far! You’re so clever! Only don’t quarrel with your wife... You’re hardly over your honeymoon, and you’re already wrangling with her... Why don’t you be frank with me? You appear to be suffering, yet you are silent... What’s passing between you? VOINITZEV. It’s not passing, but it has already passed.

ANNA PETROVNA. What could it be? Or is it a secret? VOINITZEV (sighing). A terrible misfortune has crashed over our home, dear mother! Why haven’t I told you about this before? I don’t know. I kept on hoping, and I feel ashamed to talk about it... I learned the truth only yesterday... The loss of the estate I can bear!

ANNA PETROVNA (laughing). How you frighten me! Is she angry with you?

VOINITZEV. YOU may laugh! Wait, and you’ll laugh in another fashion! (Pause.) She has betrayed me... I have the honour of introducing to you a husband with horns on!

ANNA PETROVNA. What nonsense, Sergey! What stupid fancies! To talk about such monstrous things without reflecting! You astonish me! You pile on things so thick that one’s ears can’t stand it! A husband with horns... Do you realize the gravity of the charge?

VOINITZEV. Of course, I know, mother. Not alone in a theoretical sense, but even in a practical!

ANNA PETROVNA. Don’t shame your wife... ‘ Ah . . .

VOINITZEV. I swear to you by God! (Pause.)

ANNA PETROVNA. It’s strange... You speak impossible things. It’s impossible! Here in Voinitzevka! VOINITZEV. Yes, here, in our accursed Voinitzevka!

ANNA PETROVNA. H’m . . . Who in this accursed Voinitzevka could have conceived the presposterous idea of placing horns on your aristocratic head? There’s absolutely no one. The younger Glagolyev, perhaps? Glagolyev has stopped coming here... There’s no one here fit for Sofya... It’s stupid jealousy on your part, my dear! VOINITZEV. Platonov!

ANNA PETROVNA. What about Platonov? VOINITZEV. It is he.

ANNA PETROVNA (springing to her feet). It is possible to speak nonsense, but such nonsense as this... Listen to me... You’ve piled it on rather thick! You ought to know where to stop! This is unforgivably stupid!

VOINITZEV. GO and ask her, go and ask him, if you don’t believe me! I didn’t want to believe it myself, and I don’t want to now, but she’s leaving me today, going away! You must believe! And he’s going with her! Can’t you see that I’m walking about and looking on the world like a corpse! I’m lost, I tell you!

ANNA PETROVNA. It can’t be, Sergey! It is the fruit of your boyish fancy! Believe me, there’s nothing to it! VOINITZEV. Believe me, she’s going away today! Believe me, too, that during these past two days she has not ceased affirming that she was his mistress! She herself! It sounds incredible, but one must believe against one’s wishes, against every desire to believe differently!

ANNA PETROVNA. Now I remember, I remember... And I understand it all now. ... So that’s how it is! H’m . . . Wait, wait a moment, I’ll recall everything in its proper order... (Pause. Enter Bugrov.)

SCENE IV.

ANNA PETROVNA, VOINITZEV AND BUGROV.

BUGROV (entering). How do you do! I hope you’re well. . . .

ANNA PETROVNA. Yes . . . yes . . . yes ... It is terrible. . . .

BUGROV. It’s raining out-of-doors, yet it’s hot... (Wi-pes his forehead.) Whew, I’ve almost roasted coming here... Well, I hope! (Pause.) I’ve come to see you on account of what happened yesterday, when the sales took place, as you know... As regards that, you know it was somewhat hard and shameful for you, and I . . . please don’t take it ill from me. ... It wasn’t me who bought the estate! Abraham Abramitch bought it, but in my name. . . .

VOINITZEV (ringing the bell hard). May the devil take them all!

BUGROV. It’s like that... Don’t think that... No, it wasn’t me. ... It was only bought in my name! (Sits down.) YAKOV (comes in).

VOINITZEV (to Yakov). How often I’ve asked you wretches (coughs) not to admit anyone without an

nouncing the visitor’s name! You ought to be flogged, every man’s son of you! (Flings the bell under the table.) Get out! You wretches! (Paces up and down.)

YAKOV (shrugging his shoulders, goes out).

BUGROV (coughing). Only in my name, you see... Abram Abramitch sends word that you may live here as long as you like, even until Christmas, if need be... There will be certain repairs to be done, but well, they needn’t hinder you... If it comes to that, you can move into the wing... There are many rooms here, and it’s right warm too... He also asked me to ask you if you won’t sell, that is in my name, your mines... The mines are yours, Anna Petrovna. Wouldn’t you like to sell them now? We’ll give you a good price for them. . . .

ANNA PETROVNA. NO... We shan’t sell these mines to one devil or another! What will you give me for them? A farthing? Take the farthing and choke on it!

BUGROV. Abram Abramitch has also asked me to tell you that if it won’t be convenient for you to sell him your mines to cover the debt owed him by Sergey Pavlitch and his dead father, his Excellency Pavel Ivanitch, then he will protest the note. ... I too will protest with him... (Titters.) Friendship’s one thing, money another... Commerce! It’s such an accursed affair. You see ... I bought your notes from Petrin. . . .

VOINITZEV. I’ll not allow anyone to count on my mother’s property! Her property is not mine to sell! And I haven’t time to chatter with you... Do what you like!

ANNA PETROVNA. Leave us in peace, Timofey Gor- deitch! I’m sorry. ... I must ask you to go!

BUGROV. Very well... (Rises.) Don’t be disturbed... You may stay on even till Christmas. Tomorrow or the day after I’ll drop in... Keep well! (Goes away.)

ANNA PETROVNA. Tomorrow we leave this place. Yes, now I remember... Platonov. ... So that’s why he’s running away!

VOINITZEV. Let them do what they like! Let them all run away! I have no wife any longer, and I don’t need anything more! I have no wife, maman!

ANNA PETROVNA. NO, you haven’t a wife any longer... But what did he find in this spiritless woman, Sofya? What could he find in her? How indiscrimi- nating these stupid men can be! They’re capable of diverting themselves with all sorts of rubbish... Why didn’t you keep your eyes on her? Where were your eyes? Cry-baby! You went on whimpering, while someone snatched your wife from under your very nose! And you call yourself a man! . . . Neither you nor Platonov is worth anything! VOINITZEV. Nothing will help now . . . certainly, not your reproaches. She’s no longer mine, and he’s not yours... What good are words here? Leave me in peace, maman!

ANNA PETROVNA. But what’s to be done? Something must be done! We must try to save . . . VOINITZEV. Save whom? I’m the only one to be saved... After all, they’re happy! (He sighs.)

ANNA PETROVNA. You with your logic! It’s they, not you, who ought to be saved! Platonov doesn’t love her! Do you know it? ... He doesn’t love her, I assure you! What did she tell you? Why don’t you answer?

VOINITZEV. She said that she was his mistress.

ANNA PETROVNA. She’s his fool, not his mistress! Be silent! Maybe, it’s still possible to mend matters. Platonov is the sort to raise a rumpus over a mere kiss or pressure of the hand. The affair hasn’t reached the ultimate stage! I’m sure of that...

VOINITZEV. It has reached it.

ANNA PETROVNA. You don’t understand anything!
(Enter Grekova.)

SCENE V .

VOINITZEV,

ANNA PETROVNA AND GREKOVA.

GREKOVA (coming in). So you’re here! How are you? (Gives her hand to Anna Petrovna.) How are you, Sergey Pavlovitch? . . . I’m sorry. I seem to have come at an inopportune moment. A guest at the improper time is worse than . . . than . . . What do they say? Yes, worse than a Tartar... I want only a minute... You can’t possibly guess! (Laughs.) I’ll show you something, Anna Petrovna... Forgive me, Sergey Pavlovitch, I have a secret to tell Anna Petrovna... (Takes Anna Petrovna to a side.) Read this... (Gives her a note.) I got this yesterday... Just read it!

ANNA PETROVNA (scans the note). Ah . . . GREKOVA. You see, I took the matter to the Court... (Puts her head on Anna Petrovna’’s breast.) Send for him, Anna Petrovna! Let him come!

ANNA PETROVNA. Is it necessary? GREKOVA. I’d like to see what’s his face like now... What’s written on it! Send for him! I beg of you! I have two words to say to him... You’ve no idea what a mess I’ve made of things! Don’t you listen, Sergey Pavlovitch! (In a whisper.) I went to the director... Mikhail Vassilyevitch will be transferred to another place... What a mess I’ve made! (Weeps.) Send for him! How could I havp known that he’d write this letter? Ah, if I could only have known! My God! How I’ve suffered!

ANNA PETROVNA. Step into the library, my dear! I’ll be with you presently. ... I must have a few words with Sergey Pavlovitch alone... GREKOVA. Into the library? Good... You will send for him? I want to see the sort of face he has after this letter! You’ve read it? Give me the letter. I want to put it away. (Hides the letter.) My dear . . . I implore you!

ANNA PETROVNA. Good... I’ll see you presently! GREKOVA. Very well... (Kisses her.) Don’t be angry with me, my dear! I’m suffering! You can’t imagine . . . I’m going now, Sergey Pavlovitch! You may continue with your talk! (Goes.)

ANNA PETROVNA. I’ll learn everything presently... Don’t be upset! Perhaps, we can mend matters yet... What a horrible story! Who could have expected it? I’ll have a talk with Sofya! I’ll question her properly... You’ve made a mistake... But no! (Covers her face with her hands.) No, no . . .

VOINITZEV. NO! I’ve made no mistake! (Presses his hands to his face.)

ANNA PETROVNA. All the same, I’ll have a talk with her... I’ll have a talk with him too. . . .

VOINITZEV. Go, and talk away! Only it will be for nothing! (Sits down by the table.) Let’s leave this place! I have no hope! Not a straw at which I might clutch. . . .

ANNA PETROVNA. I’ll find out everything presently. You sit down and have a cry! You’d better lie down, man! Where’s Sofya?

VOINITZEV. She must be in her room...

ANNA PETROVNA (goes OUt).