ivanoff-第6章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



SASHA。　＇Laughing　through　her　tears＇　Nicholas；　let　us　run　away　to
America　together！

IVANOFF。　I　haven't　the　energy　to　take　such　a　step　as　that；　and
besides；　in　America　you　＇They　go　toward　the　door　into　the
garden＇　As　a　matter　of　fact；　Sasha；　this　is　not　a　good　place　for
you　to　live。　When　I　look　about　at　the　men　who　surround　you　I　am
terrified　for　you；　whom　is　there　you　could　marry？　Your　only
chance　will　be　if　some　passing　lieutenant　or　student　steals　your
heart　and　carries　you　away。

Enter　ZINAIDA　through　the　door　on　the　right　with　a　jar　of　jam。

IVANOFF。　Excuse　me；　Sasha；　I　shall　join　you　in　a　minute。

SASHA　goes　out　into　the　garden。

IVANOFF。　＇To　ZINAIDA＇　Zinaida；　may　I　ask　you　a　favour？

ZINAIDA。　What　is　it？

IVANOFF。　The　fact　is；　you　know；　that　the　interest　on　my　note　is
due　day　after　to…morrow；　but　I　should　be　more　than　obliged　to　you
if　you　will　let　me　postpone　the　payment　of　it；　or　would　let　me
add　the　interest　to　the　capital。　I　simply　cannot　pay　it　now；　I
haven't　the　money。

ZINAIDA。　Oh；　Ivanoff；　how　could　I　do　such　a　thing？　Would　it　be
business…like？　No；　no；　don't　ask　it；　don't　torment　an　unfortunate
old　woman。

IVANOFF。　I　beg　your　pardon。　＇He　goes　out　into　the　garden。＇

ZINAIDA。　Oh；　dear！　Oh；　dear！　What　a　fright　he　gave　me！　I　am
trembling　all　over。　＇Goes　out　through　the　door　on　the　right。＇

Enter　KOSICH　through　the　door　on　the　left。　He　walks　across　the
stage。

KOSICH。　I　had　the　ace；　king；　queen；　and　eight　of　diamonds；　the
ace　of　spades；　and　one；　just　one　little　heart；　and　shemay　the
foul　fiend　fly　away　with　her；she　couldn't　make　a　little　slam！

Goes　out　through　the　door　on　the　right。　Enter　from　the　garden
AVDOTIA　and　FIRST　GUEST。

AVDOTIA。　Oh；　how　I　should　like　to　get　my　claws　into　her；　the
miserable　old　miser！　How　I　should　like　it！　Does　she　think　it　a
joke　to　leave　us　sitting　here　since　five　o'clock　without　even
offering　us　a　crust　to　eat？　What　a　house！　What　management！

FIRST　GUEST。　I　am　so　bored　that　I　feel　like　beating　my　head
against　the　wall。　Lord；　what　a　queer　lot　of　people！　I　shall　soon
be　howling　like　a　wolf　and　snapping　at　them　from　hunger　and
weariness。

AVDOTIA。　How　I　should　like　to　get　my　claws　into　her；　the　old
sinner！

FIRST　GUEST。　I　shall　get　a　drink；　old　lady；　and　then　home　I　go！　I
won't　have　anything　to　do　with　these　belles　of　yours。　How　the
devil　can　a　man　think　of　love　who　hasn't　had　a　drop　to　drink
since　dinner？

AVDOTIA。　Come　on；　we　will　go　and　find　something。

FIRST　GUEST。　Sh！　Softly！　I　think　the　brandy　is　in　the　sideboard
in　the　dining…room。　We　will　find　George！　Sh！

They　go　out　through　the　door　on　the　left。　Enter　ANNA　and　LVOFF
through　the　door　on　the　right。

ANNA。　No；　they　will　be　glad　to　see　us。　Is　no　one　here？　Then　they
must　be　in　the　garden。

LVOFF。　I　should　like　to　know　why　you　have　brought　me　into　this
den　of　wolves。　This　is　no　place　for　you　and　me；　honourable　people
should　not　be　subjected　to　such　influences　as　these。

ANNA。　Listen　to　me；　Mr。　Honourable　Man。　When　you　are　escorting　a
lady　it　is　very　bad　manners　to　talk　to　her　the　whole　way　about
nothing　but　your　own　honesty。　Such　behaviour　may　be　perfectly
honest；　but　it　is　also　tedious；　to　say　the　least。　Never　tell　a
woman　how　good　you　are；　let　her　find　it　out　herself。　My　Nicholas
used　only　to　sing　and　tell　stories　when　he　was　young　as　you　are；
and　yet　every　woman　knew　at　once　what　kind　of　a　man　he　was。

LVOFF。　Don't　talk　to　me　of　your　Nicholas；　I　know　all　about　him！

ANNA。　You　are　a　very　worthy　man；　but　you　don't　know　anything　at
all。　Come　into　the　garden。　He　never　said：　〃I　am　an　honest　man；
these　surroundings　are　too　narrow　for　me。〃　He　never　spoke　of
wolves'　dens；　called　people　bears　or　vultures。　He　left　the　animal
kingdom　alone；　and　the　most　I　have　ever　heard　him　say　when　he　was
excited　was：　〃Oh；　how　unjust　I　have　been　to…day！〃　or　〃Annie；　I　am
sorry　for　that　man。〃　That's　what　he　would　say；　but　you

ANNA　and　LVOFF　go　out。　Enter　AVDOTIA　and　FIRST　GUEST　through　the
door　on　the　left。

FIRST　GUEST。　There　isn't　any　in　the　dining…room；　so　it　must　be
somewhere　in　the　pantry。　We　must　find　George。　Come　this　way；
through　the　sitting…room。

AVDOTIA。　Oh；　how　I　should　like　to　get　my　claws　into　her！

They　go　out　through　the　door　on　the　right。　MARTHA　and　BORKIN　run
in　laughing　from　the　garden。　SHABELSK　I　comes　mincing　behind
them；　laughing　and　rubbing　his　hands。

MARTHA。　Oh；　I　am　so　bored！　＇Laughs　loudly＇　This　is　deadly！　Every
one　looks　as　if　he　had　swallowed　a　poker。　I　am　frozen　to　the
marrow　by　this　icy　dullness。　＇She　skips　about＇　Let　us　do
something！

BORKIN　catches　her　by　the　waist　and　kisses　her　cheek。

SHABELSKI。　＇Laughing　and　snapping　his　fingers＇　Well；　I'll　be
hanged！　＇Cackling＇　Really；　you　know！

MARTHA。　Let　go！　Let　go；　you　wretch！　What　will　the　Count　think？
Stop；　I　say！

BORKIN。　Angel！　Jewel！　Lend　me　twenty…three　hundred　roubles。

MARTHA。　Most　certainly　not！　Do　what　you　please；　but　I'll　thank
you　to　leave　my　money　alone。　No；　no；　no！　Oh；　let　go；　will　you？

SHABELSKI。　＇Mincing　around　them＇　The　little　birdie　has　its
charms！　＇Seriously＇　Come；　that　will　do！

BORKIN。　Let　us　come　to　the　point；　and　consider　my　proposition
frankly　as　a　business　arrangement。　Answer　me　honestly；　without
tricks　and　equivocations；　do　you　agree　to　do　it　or　not？　Listen　to
me；　＇Pointing　to　Shabelski＇　he　needs　money　to　the　amount　of　at
least　three　thousand　a　year；　you　need　a　husband。　Do　you　want　to
be　a　Countess？

SHABELSKI。　＇Laughing　loudly＇　Oh；　the　cynic！

BORKIN。　Do　you　want　to　be　a　Countess　or　not？

MARTHA。　＇Excitedly＇　Wait　a　minute；　really；　Misha；　these　things
aren't　done　in　a　second　like　this。　If　the　Count　wants　to　marry
me；　let　him　ask　me　himself；　andandI　don't　see；　I　don't
understandall　this　is　so　sudden…

BORKIN。　Come；　don't　let　us　beat　about　the　bush；　this　is　a
business　arrangement。　Do　you　agree　or　not？

SHABELSKI。　＇Chuckling　and　rubbing　his　hands＇　Supposing　I　do　marry
her；　eh？　Hang　it；　why　shouldn't　I　play　her　this　shabby　trick？
What　do　you　say；　little　puss？　＇He　kisses　her　cheek＇　Dearest
chick…a…biddy！

MARTHA。　Stop！　Stop！　I　hardly　know　what　I　am　doing。　Go　away！
Nodon't　go！

BORKIN。　Answer　at　once：　is　it　yes　or　no？　We　can't　stand　here
forever。

MARTHA。　Look　here；　Count；　come　and　visit　me　for　three　or　four
days。　It　is　gay　at　my　house；　not　like　this　place。　Come　to…morrow。
＇To　BORKIN＇　Or　is　this　all　a　joke？

BORKIN。　＇Angrily＇　How　could　I　joke　on　such　a　serious　subject？

MARTHA。　Wait！　Stop！　Oh；　I　feel　faint！　A　Countess！　I　am　fainting；
I　am　falling！

BORKIN　and　SHABELSKI　laugh　and　catch　her　by　the　arms。　They　kiss
her　cheeks　and　lead　her　out　through　the　door　on　the　right。
IVANOFF　and　SASHA　run　in　from　the　garden。

IVANOFF。　＇Desperately　clutching　his　head＇　It　can't　be　true！　Don't
Sasha；　don't！　Oh；　I　implore　you　not　to！

SASHA。　I　love　you　madly。　Without　you　my　life　can　have　no　meaning；
no　happiness；　no　hope。

IVANOFF。　Why；　why　do　you　say　that？　What　do　you　mean？　Little
Sasha；　don't　say　it！

SASHA。　You　were　the　only　joy　of　my　childhood；　I　loved　you　body
and　soul　then；　as　myself；　but　nowOh；　I　love　you；　Nicholas！　Take
me　with　you　to　the　ends　of　the　earth；　wherever　you　wish；　but　for
heaven's　sake　let　us　go　at　once；　or　I　shall　die。

IVANOFF。　＇Shaking　with　wild　laughter＇　What　is　this？　Is　it　the
beginning　for　me　of　a　new　life？　Is　it；　Sasha？　Oh；　my　happiness；
my　joy！　＇He　draws　her　to　him＇　My　freshness；　my　youth！

Enter　ANNA　from　the　garden。　She　sees　her　husband　and　SASHA；　and
stops　as　if　petrified。

IVANOFF。　Oh；　then　I　shall　live　once　more？　And　work？

IVANOFF　and　SASHA　kiss　each　other。　After　the　kiss　they　look
around　and　see　ANNA。

IVANOFF。　＇With　horror＇　Sarah！

The　curtain　falls。

ACT　III

Library　in　IVANOFF'S　house。　On　the　walls　hang　maps；　pictures；
guns；　pistols；　sickles；　whips；　etc。　A　writing…table。　On　it　lie　in
disorder　knick…knacks；　papers；　books；　parcels；　and　several
revolvers。　Near　the　papers　stand　a　lamp；　a　decanter　of　vodka；　and
a　plate　of　salted　herrings。　Pieces　of　bread　and　cucumber　are
scattered　about。　SHABELSKI　and　LEBEDIEFF　are　sitting　at　the
writing…table。　BORKIN　is　sitting　astride　a　chair　in　the　middle　of
the　room。　PETER　is　standing　near　the　door。

LEBEDIEFF。　The　policy　of　France　is　clear　and　definite；　the　French
know　what　they　want：　it　is　to　skin　those　German　sausages；　but　the
Germans　must　sing　another　song；　France　is　not　the　only　thorn　in
their　flesh。

SHABELSKI。　Nonsense！　In　my　opinion　the　Germans　are　cowards　and
the　French　are　the　same。　They　are　showing　their　teeth　at　one
another；　but　you　can　take　my　word　for　it；　they　will　not　do　more
than　that；　they'll　never　fight！

BORKIN。　Why　should　they　fight？　Why　all　these　congresses；　this
arming　and　expense？　Do　you　know　what　I　would　do　in　their　place？　I
would　catch　all　the　dogs　in　the　kingdom　and　inoculate　them　with
Pasteur's　serum；　then　I　would　let　them　loose　in　the　enemy's
country；　and　the　enemies　would　all　go　mad　in　a　month。

LEBEDIEFF。　＇Laughing＇　His　head　is　small；　but　the　great　ideas　are
hidden　away　in　it　like　fish　in　the　sea！

SHABELSKI。　Oh；　he　is　a　genius。

LEBEDIEFF。　Heaven　help　you；　Misha；　you　are　a　funny　chap。　＇He
stops　laughing＇　But　how　is　this；　gentlemen？　Here　we　are　talking
Germany；　Germany；　and　never　a　word　about　vodka！　Repetatur！　＇He
fills　three　glasses＇　Here's　to　you　all！　＇He　drinks　and　eats＇　This
herring　is　the　best　of　all　relishes。

SHABELSKI。　No；　no；　these　cucumbers　are　better；　every　wise　man
since　the　creation　of　the　world　has　been　trying　to　invent
something　better　than　a　salted　cucumber；　and　not　one　has
succeeded。　＇To　PETER＇　Peter；　go　and　fetch　some　more　cucumbers。
And　Peter；　tell　the　cook　to　make　four　little　onion　pasties；　and
see　that　we　get　them　hot。

PETER　goes　out。

LEBEDIEFF。　Caviar　is　good　with　vodka；　but　it　must　be　prepared
with　skill。　Take　a　quarter　of　a　pound　of　pressed　caviar；　two
little　onions；　and　a　little　olive　oil；　mix　them　together　and　put
a　slice　of　lemon　on　topso！　Lord！　The　very　perfume　would　drive
you　crazy！

BORKIN。　Roast　snipe　are　good　too；　but　they　must　be　cooked　right。
They　should　first　be　cleaned；　then　sprinkled　with　bread　crumbs；
and　roasted　until　they　will　crackle　between　the　teethcrunch；
crunch！

SHABELSKI。　We　had　something　good　at　Martha's　yesterday：　white
mushrooms。

LEBEDIEFF。　You　don't　say　so！

SHABELSKI。　And　they　were　especially　well　prepared；　too；　with
onions　and　bay…leaves　and　spices；　you　know。　When　the　dish　was
opened；　the　odour　that　floated　out　was　simply　intoxicating！

LEBEDIEFF。　What　do　you　say；　gentlemen？　Repetatur！　＇He　drinks＇
Good　health　to　you！　＇He　looks　at　his　watch＇　I　must　be　going。　I
can't　wait　for　Nicholas。　So　you　say　Martha　gave　you　mushrooms？　We
haven't　seen　one　at　home。　Will　you　please　tell　me；　Count；　what
plot　you　are　hatching　that　takes　you　to　Martha's　so　often？

SHABELSKI。　＇Nodding　at　BORKIN＇　He　wants　me　to　marry　her。

LEBEDIEFF。　Wants　you　to　marry　her！　How　old　are　you？

SHABELSKI。　Sixty…two。

LEBEDIEFF。　Really；　you　are　just　the　age　to　marry；　aren't　you？　And
Martha　is　just　suited　to　you！

BORKIN。　This　is　not　a　question　of　Martha；　but　of　Martha's　money。

LEBEDIEFF。　Aren't　you　moonstruck；　and　don't　you　want　the　moon
too？

SHABELSKI。　Borkin　here　is　quite　in　earnest　about　it；　the　cle