ivanoff-第12章

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shouldered　a　load　that　broke　my　back。　I　drank；　I　worked；　I
excited　myself；　my　energy　knew　no　bounds。　Tell　me；　could　I　have
done　otherwise？　There　are　so　few　of　us　and　so　much　to　do；　so　much
to　do！　And　see　how　cruelly　fate　has　revenged　herself　on　me；　who
fought　with　her　so　bravely！　I　am　a　broken　man。　I　am　old　at
thirty。　I　have　submitted　myself　to　old　age。　With　a　heavy　head　and
a　sluggish　mind；　weary；　used　up；　discouraged；　without　faith　or
love　or　an　object　in　life；　I　wander　like　a　shadow　among　other
men；　not　knowing　why　I　am　alive　or　what　it　is　that　I　want。　Love
seems　to　me　to　be　folly；　caresses　false。　I　see　no　sense　in
working　or　playing；　and　all　passionate　speeches　seem　insipid　and
tiresome。　So　I　carry　my　sadness　with　me　wherever　I　go；　a　cold
weariness；　a　discontent；　a　horror　of　life。　Yes；　I　am　lost　for
ever　and　ever。　Before　you　stands　a　man　who　at　thirty…five　is
disillusioned；　wearied　by　fruitless　efforts；　burning　with　shame；
and　mocking　at　his　own　weakness。　Oh；　how　my　pride　rebels　against
it　all！　What　mad　fury　chokes　me！　＇He　staggers＇　I　am
staggeringmy　strength　is　failing　me。　Where　is　Matthew？　Let　him
take　me　home。

＇Voices　from　the　ball…room＇　The　best　man　has　arrived！

Enter　SHABELSKI。

SHABELSKI。　In　an　old　worn…out　coatwithout　gloves！　How　many
scornful　glances　I　get　for　it！　Such　silly　jokes　and　vulgar　grins！
Disgusting　people。

Enter　BORKIN　quickly。　He　is　carrying　a　bunch　of　flowers　and　is　in
a　dress…coat。　He　wears　a　flower　in　his　buttonhole。

BORKIN。　This　is　dreadful！　Where　is　he？　＇To　IVANOFF＇　They　have
been　waiting　for　you　for　a　long　time　in　the　church；　and　here　you
are　talking　philosophy！　What　a　funny　chap　you　are。　Don't　you　know
you　must　not　go　to　church　with　the　bride；　but　alone；　with　me？　I
shall　then　come　back　for　her。　Is　it　possible　you　have　not
understood　that？　You　certainly　are　an　extraordinary　man！

Enter　LVOFF。

LVOFF。　＇To　IVANOFF＇　Ah！　So　you　are　here？　＇Loudly＇　Nicholas
Ivanoff；　I　denounce　you　to　the　world　as　a　scoundrel！

IVANOFF。　＇Coldly＇　Many　thanks！

BORKIN。　＇To　LVOFF＇　Sir；　this　is　dastardly！　I　challenge　you　to　a
duel！

LVOFF。　Monsieur　Borkin；　I　count　it　a　disgrace　not　only　to　fight
with　you；　but　even　to　talk　to　you！　Monsieur　Ivanoff；　however；　can
receive　satisfaction　from　me　whenever　he　chooses！

SHABELSKI。　Sir；　I　shall　fight　you！

SASHA。　＇To　LVOFF＇　Why；　oh　why；　have　you　insulted　him？　Gentlemen；
I　beg　you；　let　him　tell　me　why　he　has　insulted　him。

LVOFF。　Miss　Sasha；　I　have　not　insulted　him　without　cause。　I　came
here　as　a　man　of　honour；　to　open　your　eyes；　and　I　beg　you　to
listen　to　what　I　have　to　tell　you。

SASHA。　What　can　you　possibly　have　to　tell　me？　That　you　are　a　man
of　honour？　The　whole　world　knows　it。　You　had　better　tell　me　on
your　honour　whether　you　understand　what　you　have　done　or　not。　You
have　come　in　here　as　a　man　of　honour　and　have　insulted　him　so
terribly　that　you　have　nearly　killed　me。　When　you　used　to　follow
him　like　a　shadow　and　almost　keep　him　from　living；　you　were
convinced　that　you　were　doing　your　duty　and　that　you　were　acting
like　a　man　of　honour。　When　you　interfered　in　his　private　affairs；
maligned　him　and　criticised　him；　when　you　sent　me　and　whomever
else　you　could；　anonymous　letters；　you　imagined　yourself　to　be　an
honourable　man！　And；　thinking　that　that　too　was　honourable；　you；
a　doctor；　did　not　even　spare　his　dying　wife　or　give　her　a
moment's　peace　from　your　suspicions。　And　no　matter　what　violence；
what　cruel　wrong　you　committed；　you　still　imagined　yourself　to　be
an　unusually　honourable　and　clear…sighted　man。

IVANOFF。　＇Laughing＇　This　is　not　a　wedding；　but　a　parliament！
Bravo！　Bravo！

SASHA。　＇To　LVOFF＇　Now；　think　it　over！　Do　you　see　what　sort　of　a
man　　you　are；　or　not？　Oh；
　the　stupid；　heartless　people！　＇Takes　IVANOFF　by　the　hand＇　Come
away　from　here　Nicholas！　Come；　father；　let　us　go！

IVANOFF。　Where　shall　we　go？　Wait　a　moment。　I　shall　soon　put　an
end　to　the　whole　thing。　My　youth　is　awake　in　me　again；　the　former
Ivanoff　is　here　once　more。

＇He　takes　out　a　revolver。＇

SASHA。　＇Shrieking＇　I　know　what　he　wants　to　do！　Nicholas；　for
God's　sake！

IVANOFF。　I　have　been　slipping　down…hill　long　enough。　Now；　halt！
It　is　time　to　know　what　honour　is。　Out　of　the　way！　Thank　you；
Sasha！

SASHA。　＇Shrieking＇　Nicholas！　For　God's　sake　hold　him！

IVANOFF。　Let　go！　＇He　rushes　aside；　and　shoots　himself。＇

The　curtain　falls。







End