Armenian Literature Part 33

CHACHO [_to Salome_]. Do you not hear them?

_Enter Barssegh through middle door_.

BARSSEGH. This is really splendid! I work for my daily bread, and you illuminate your house on my money.

CHACHO [_to Salome_]. Now you have it.

SALOME [_rising_]. Are you mad? Show him out.

BARSSEGH. I will show you pretty soon who is to be shown out.

SALOME. Alexander, show this man out.

ALEXANDER [_to Barssegh_]. What do you want, sir? How can you indulge in such insolence?

BARSSEGH. That is not your affair, sir! I demand my money. Demand yours also if you can. You will be obliged to wait a long while for it.

CHACHO [_to Barssegh_]. Have you no conscience?

BARSSEGH. I want my money, and nothing more.

_Enter Ossep, Gewo, a sheriff and his secretary, Dartscho, and several others_.

OSSEP [_opening the door with both hands as he enters_]. Come in! come in! [_The others follow him_.] Play, play and laugh as much as you will over my misfortunes!

CHACHO [_aside_]. Now it is all over with us!

SALOME. Tell me, for G.o.d's sake, the meaning of this.

OSSEP. G.o.d will judge you and me also. [_To sheriff and others:_] Come, make your inventory, put your seals on everything--the house, the furniture, and on the cards, too.

BARSSEGH. Make an inventory of everything.

[_The sheriff lists furniture in the background and puts a ticket on each piece. The guests a.s.semble, frightened, on the left side of the table_.

SALOME [_beating her head_]. Good heavens!

MARTHA. This is a disgrace for us as well.

CHACHO [_in a low voice to Martha_]. You at least should be silent.

OSSEP [_pointing to Barssegh_]. He has stripped me of my honor. Now you will honor and esteem him. He will arrange for your parties. Yes, he, the man who takes the s.h.i.+rt from my back and possesses himself of all my property.

ALEXANDER [_aside_]. I have my sister to thank for all this, who dragged me into this house.

OSSEP [_ironically_]. Alexander, look for a dowry elsewhere, for I can no longer give my daughter one.

ALEXANDER [_angry_]. What, you deride me as well! I don't belong to your cla.s.s, sir!

OSSEP. And has it come to this!

ALEXANDER [_taking his hat_]. I have not acquired my present dignity to lose it through you.

OSSEP. Ha! ha! ha! His dignity!

ALEXANDER [_coming near Nato_]. I have loved you truly, Miss Nato, but I must give you up. I am not to blame for it. Farewell.

[_Goes to the door_.

[_Barssegh laughs for joy_.

OSSEP [_approaching Salome, who stands dismayed, takes her by the arm and points to the departing Alexander_]. There goes your official!

NATO [_standing at the left near the sofa_]. Alexander! Alexander!

[_Exit Alexander_.] Dear Alexander.

[_Sitting down on the sofa, begins to cry_.

SALOME [_in a low tone, striking her brow with both hands_].

Why doesn't the earth open and swallow me?

OSSEP [_to Salome_]. Now you are punished, are you not? [_Turning to Barssegh_:] Take it all, now! Satisfy yourself! [_Takes off his coat_.]

Take this also! [_Throws it to Barssegh_.] Yes, take it! [_Takes his cap from the table and throws it to Barssegh_.] Make off with this also; I need it no longer.

[_Runs to and fro as if distracted_.

BARSSEGH [_in a low voice_]. Keep on giving!

[_Turns to sheriff and speaks softly to him_.

OSSEP [_taking up different articles from card table and throwing them on the floor_]. Take these also! Take these also! [_Taking a lighted candelabra and smas.h.i.+ng it on the floor_] Stick that also down your throat!

SEVERAL OF THE GUESTS. The poor fellow is losing his wits.

[_Nato crying; her friends comfort her. Salome faints_.

CHACHO. Ossep! My dear Ossep!

GEWO [_embracing Ossep_]. Be calm, dear Ossep. You behave like a madman.

OSSEP [_after a pause_]. Gewo, I was mad when I settled in this city.

This life is too much for me; it was not for me. I am ruined. I am a beggar. He is to be praised who comes off better than I.

[_Exit._

SALOME [_with her hand on her brow sinks down on the sofa, groaning loudly_]. Ah!

GEWO. Poor Ossep!

BARSSEGH [_turns from Dartscho, to whom he has been speaking, to the sheriff_]. What are you gazing around for, sir? Keep on with your writing.

[_Sheriff looks at Barssegh in disgust, sits down by card table and writes_.

MARTHA [_to the guests_]. We have nothing more to look for here.

[_Aside:_] A charming set!

[_Goes toward middle door; some ladies follow; others stand offended_.