ivanoff-第2章

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from　it　all；　absolutely　none。

LVOFF。　Ivanoff；　I　have　something　serious　to　speak　to　you　about。

IVANOFF。　What　is　it　？

LVOFF。　It　is　about　your　wife。　She　refuses　to　go　to　the　Crimea
alone；　but　she　would　go　with　you。

IVANOFF。　＇Thoughtfully＇　It　would　cost　a　great　deal　for　us　both　to
go；　and　besides；　I　could　not　get　leave　to　be　away　for　so　long。　I
have　had　one　holiday　already　this　year。

LVOFF。　Very　well；　let　us　admit　that。　Now　to　proceed。　The　best
cure　for　consumption　is　absolute　peace　of　mind；　and　your　wife　has
none　whatever。　She　is　forever　excited　by　your　behaviour　to　her。
Forgive　me；　I　am　excited　and　am　going　to　speak　frankly。　Your
treatment　of　her　is　killing　her。　＇A　pause＇　Ivanoff；　let　me
believe　better　things　of　you。

IVANOFF。　What　you　say　is　true；　true。　I　must　be　terribly　guilty；
but　my　mind　is　confused。　My　will　seems　to　be　paralysed　by　a　kind
of　stupor；　I　can't　understand　myself　or　any　one　else。　＇Looks
toward　the　window＇　Come；　let　us　take　a　walk；　we　might　be
overheard　here。　＇They　get　up＇　My　dear　friend；　you　should　hear　the
whole　story　from　the　beginning　if　it　were　not　so　long　and
complicated　that　to　tell　it　would　take　all　night。　＇They　walk　up
and　down＇　Anna　is　a　splendid；　an　exceptional　woman。　She　has　left
her　faith；　her　parents　and　her　fortune　for　my　sake。　If　I　should
demand　a　hundred　other　sacrifices；　she　would　consent　to　every　one
without　the　quiver　of　an　eyelid。　Well；　I　am　not　a　remarkable　man
in　any　way；　and　have　sacrificed　nothing。　However；　the　story　is　a
long　one。　In　short；　the　whole　point　is；　my　dear　doctor
＇Confused＇　that　I　married　her　for　love　and　promised　to　love　her
forever；　and　now　after　five　years　she　loves　me　still　and　I　＇He
waves　his　hand＇　Now；　when　you　tell　me　she　is　dying；　I　feel
neither　love　nor　pity；　only　a　sort　of　loneliness　and　weariness。
To　all　appearances　this　must　seem　horrible；　and　I　cannot
understand　myself　what　is　happening　to　me。　＇They　go　out。＇

SHABELSKI　comes　in。

SHABELSKI。　＇Laughing＇　Upon　my　word；　that　man　is　no　scoundrel；　but
a　great　thinker；　a　master…mind。　He　deserves　a　memorial。　He　is　the
essence　of　modern　ingenuity；　and　combines　in　himself　alone　the
genius　of　the　lawyer；　the　doctor；　and　the　financier。　＇He　sits
down　on　the　lowest　step　of　the　terrace＇　And　yet　he　has　never
finished　a　course　of　studies　in　any　college；　that　is　so
surprising。　What　an　ideal　scoundrel　he　would　have　made　if　he　had
acquired　a　little　culture　and　mastered　the　sciences！　〃You　could
make　twenty　thousand　roubles　in　a　week；〃　he　said。　〃You　still　hold
the　ace　of　trumps：　it　is　your　title。〃　＇Laughing＇　He　said　I　might
get　a　rich　girl　to　marry　me　for　it！　＇ANNA　opens　the　window　and
looks　down＇　〃Let　me　make　a　match　between　you　and　Martha；〃　says
he。　Who　is　this　Martha？　It　must　be　that　BalabalkinaBabakalkina
woman；　the　one　that　looks　like　a　laundress。

ANNA。　Is　that　you；　Count？

SHABELSKI。　What　do　you　want？

ANNA　laughs。

SHABELSKI。　＇With　a　Jewish　accent＇　Vy　do　you　laugh？

ANNA。　I　was　thinking　of　something　you　said　at　dinner；　do　you
remember？　How　was　ita　forgiven　thief；　a　doctored　horse。

SHABELSKI。　A　forgiven　thief；　a　doctored　horse；　and　a
Christianised　Jew　are　all　worth　the　same　price。

ANNA。　＇Laughing＇　You　can't　even　repeat　the　simplest　saying
without　ill…nature。　You　are　a　most　malicious　old　man。　＇Seriously＇
Seriously；　Count　you　are　extremely　disagreeable；　and　very
tiresome　and　painful　to　live　with。　You　are　always　grumbling　and
growling；　and　everybody　to　you　is　a　blackguard　and　a　scoundrel。
Tell　me　honestly；　Count；　have　you　ever　spoken　well　of　any　one？

SHABELSKI。　Is　this　an　inquisition？

ANNA。　We　have　lived　under　this　same　roof　now　for　five　years；　and
I　have　never　heard　you　speak　kindly　of　people；　or　without
bitterness　and　derision。　What　harm　has　the　world　done　to　you？　Is
it　possible　that　you　consider　yourself　better　than　any　one　else？

SHABELSKI。　Not　at　all。　I　think　we　are　all　of　us　scoundrels　and
hypocrites。　I　myself　am　a　degraded　old　man；　and　as　useless　as　a
cast…off　shoe。　I　abuse　myself　as　much　as　any　one　else。　I　was　rich
once；　and　free；　and　happy　at　times；　but　now　I　am　a　dependent；　an
object　of　charity；　a　joke　to　the　world。　When　I　am　at　last
exasperated　and　defy　them；　they　answer　me　with　a　laugh。　When　I
laugh；　they　shake　their　heads　sadly　and　say；　〃The　old　man　has
gone　mad。〃　But　oftenest　of　all　I　am　unheard　and　unnoticed　by
every　one。

ANNA。　＇Quietly＇　Screaming　again。

SHABELSKI。　Who　is　screaming？

ANNA。　The　owl。　It　screams　every　evening。

SHABELSKI。　Let　it　scream。　Things　are　as　bad　as　they　can　be
already。　＇Stretches　himself＇　Alas；　my　dear　Sarah！　If　I　could　only
win　a　thousand　or　two　roubles；　I　should　soon　show　you　what　I
could　do。　I　wish　you　could　see　me！　I　should　get　away　out　of　this
hole；　and　leave　the　bread　of　charity；　and　should　not　show　my　nose
here　again　until　the　last　judgment　day。

ANNA。　What　would　you　do　if　you　were　to　win　so　much　money？

SHABELSKI。　＇Thoughtfully＇　First　I　would　go　to　Moscow　to　hear　the
Gipsies　play；　and　thenthen　I　should　fly　to　Paris　and　take　an
apartment　and　go　to　the　Russian　Church。

ANNA。　And　what　else？

SHABELSKI。　I　would　go　and　sit　on　my　wife's　grave　for　days　and
days　and　think。　I　would　sit　there　until　I　died。　My　wife　is　buried
in　Paris。　＇A　pause。＇

ANNA。　How　terribly　dull　this　is！　Shall　we　play　a　duet？

SHABELSKI。　As　you　like。　Go　and　get　the　music　ready。　＇ANNA　goes
out。＇

IVANOFF　and　LVOFF　appear　in　one　of　the　paths。

IVANOFF。　My　dear　friend；　you　left　college　last　year；　and　you　are
still　young　and　brave。　Being　thirty…five　years　old　I　have　the
right　to　advise　you。　Don't　marry　a　Jewess　or　a　bluestocking　or　a
woman　who　is　queer　in　any　way。　Choose　some　nice；　common…place
girl　without　any　strange　and　startling　points　in　her　character。
Plan　your　life　for　quiet；　the　greyer　and　more　monotonous　you　can
make　the　background；　the　better。　My　dear　boy；　do　not　try　to　fight
alone　against　thousands；　do　not　tilt　with　windmills；　do　not　dash
yourself　against　the　rocks。　And；　above　all；　may　you　be　spared　the
so…called　rational　life；　all　wild　theories　and　impassioned　talk。
Everything　is　in　the　hands　of　God；　so　shut　yourself　up　in　your
shell　and　do　your　best。　That　is　the　pleasant；　honest；　healthy　way
to　live。　But　the　life　I　have　chosen　has　been　so　tiring；　oh；　so
tiring！　So　full　of　mistakes；　of　injustice　and　stupidity！　＇Catches
sight　of　SHABELSKI；　and　speaks　angrily＇　There　you　are　again；
Uncle；　always　under　foot；　never　letting　one　have　a　moment's　quiet
talk！

SHABELSKI。　＇In　a　tearful　voice＇　Is　there　no　refuge　anywhere　for　a
poor　old　devil　like　me？　＇He　jumps　up　and　runs　into　the　house。＇

IVANOFF。　Now　I　have　offended　him！　Yes；　my　nerves　have　certainly
gone　to　pieces。　I　must　do　something　about　it；　I　must…

LVOFF。　＇Excitedly＇　Ivanoff；　I　have　heard　all　you　have　to　say
andandI　am　going　to　speak　frankly。　You　have　shown　me　in　your
voice　and　manner；　as　well　as　in　your　words；　the　most　heartless
egotism　and　pitiless　cruelty。　Your　nearest　friend　is　dying　simply
because　she　is　near　you；　her　days　are　numbered；　and　you　can　feel
such　indifference　that　you　go　about　giving　advice　and　analysing
your　feelings。　I　cannot　say　all　I　should　like　to；　I　have　not　the
gift　of　words；　butbut　I　can　at　least　say　that　you　are　deeply
antipathetic　to　me。

IVANOFF。　I　suppose　I　am。　As　an　onlooker；　of　course　you　see　me
more　clearly　than　I　see　myself；　and　your　judgment　of　me　is
probably　right。　No　doubt　I
　am　terribly　guilty。　＇Listens＇　I　think　I　hear　the　carriage
coming。　I　must　get　ready　to　go。　＇He　goes　toward　the　house　and
then　stops＇　You　dislike　me；　doctor；　and　you　don't　conceal　it。
Your　sincerity　does　you　credit。　＇He　goes　into　the　house。＇

LVOFF。　＇Alone＇　What　a　confoundedly　disagreeable　character！　I　have
let　another　opportunity　slip　without　speaking　to　him　as　I　meant
to；　but　I　simply　cannot　talk　calmly　to　that　man。　The　moment　I
open　my　mouth　to　speak　I　feel　such　a　commotion　and　suffocation
here　＇He　puts　his　hand　on　his　breast＇　that　my　tongue　sticks　to
the　roof　of　my　mouth。　Oh；　I　loathe　that　Tartuffe；　that
unmitigated　rascal；　with　all　my　heart！　There　he　is；　preparing　to
go　driving　in　spite　of　the　entreaties　of　his　unfortunate　wife；
who　adores　him　and　whose　only　happiness　is　his　presence。　She
implores　him　to　spend　at　least　one　evening　with　her；　and　he
cannot　even　do　that。　Why；　he　might　shoot　himself　in　despair　if　he
had　to　stay　at　home！　Poor　fellow；　what　he　wants　are　new　fields
for　his　villainous　schemes。　Oh；　I　know　why　you　go　to　Lebedieff's
every　evening；　Ivanoff！　I　know。

Enter　IVANOFF；　in　hat　and　coat；　ANNA　and　SHABELSKI

SHABELSKI。　Look　here；　Nicholas；　this　is　simply　barbarous　You　go
away　every　evening　and　leave　us　here　alone；　and　we　get　so　bored
that　we　have　to　go　to　bed　at　eight　o'clock。　It　is　a　scandal；　and
no　decent　way　of　living。　Why　can　you　go　driving　if　we　can't？　Why？

ANNA。　Leave　him　alone；　Count。　Let　him　go　if　he　wants　to。

IVANOFF。　How　can　a　sick　woman　like　you　go　anywhere？　You　know　you
have　a　cough　and　must　not　go　out　after　sunset。　Ask　the　doctor
here。　You　are　no　child；　Annie；　you　must　be　reasonable。　And　as　for
you；　what　would　you　do　with　yourself　over　there？

SHABELSKI。　I　am　ready　to　go　anywhere：　into　the　jaws　of　a
crocodile；　or　even　into　the　jaws　of　hell；　so　long　as　I　don't　have
to　stay　here。　I　am　horribly　bored。　I　am　stupefied　by　this
dullness。　Every　one　here　is　tired　of　me。　You　leave　me　at　home　to
entertain　Anna；　but　I　feel　more　like　scratching　and　biting　her。

ANNA。　Leave　him　alone；　Count。　Leave　him　alone。　Let　him　go　if　he
enjoys　himself　there。

IVANOFF。　What　does　this　mean；　Annie？　You　know　I　am　not　going　for
pleasure。　I　must　see　Lebedieff　about　the　money　I　owe　him。

ANNA。　I　don't　see　why　you　need　justify　yourself　to　me。　Go　ahead！
Who　is　keeping　you？

IVANOFF。　Heavens！　Don't　let　us　bite　one　another's　heads　off。　Is
that　really　unavoidable？

SHABELSKI。　＇Tearfully＇　Nicholas；　my　dear　boy；　do　please　take　me
with　you。　I　might　possibly　be　amused　a　little　by　the　sight　of　all
the　fools　and　scoundrels　I　should　see　there。　You　know　I　haven't
been　off　this　place　since　Easter。

IVANOFF。　＇Exasperated＇　Oh；　very　well！　Come　along　then！　How
tiresome　you　all　are！

SHABELSKI。　I　may　go？　Oh；　thank　you！　＇Takes　him　gaily　by　the　arm
and　leads　him　aside＇　May　I　wear　your　straw　hat？

IVANOFF。　You　may；　only　hurry；　please。

SHABELSKI　runs　into　the　house。

IVANOFF。　How　tired　I　am　of　you　all！　But　no；　what　am　I　saying？
Annie；　my　manner　to　you　is　insufferable；　and　it　never　used　to　be。
Well；　good…bye；　Annie。　I　shall　be　back　by　one。

ANNA。　Nicholas！　My　dear　husband；　stay　at　home　to…night！

IVANOFF。　＇Excitedly＇　Darling；　sweetheart；　my　dear；　unhappy　one；　I
implore　you　to　let　me　leave　home　in　the　evenings。　I　know　it　is
cruel　and　unjust　to　ask　this；　but　let　me　do　you　this　injustice。
It　is　such　torture　for　me　to　stay。　As　soon　as　the　sun　goes　down
my　soul　is　overwhelmed　by　the　most　horrible　despair。　Don't　ask　me
why；　I　don't　know；　I　swear　I　don't。　This　dreadful　melancholy
torments　me　here；　it　drives　me　to　the　Lebedieff's　and　there　it
grows　worse　than　ever。　I　rush　home；　it　still　pursues　me；　and　so　I
am　tortured　all　through　the　night。　It　is　breaking　my　heart。

ANNA。　Nicholas；　won't　you　stay？　We　will　talk　together　as　we　used
to。　We　will　have　supper　toge