The Live Corpse Part 4

MaSHA. The choir is one thing, one's heart's another! I love those I love, and hate those I hate.

FeDYA. Ah! This is good! Isn't it?

MaSHA. Of course it's good--we've jolly visitors, and are all merry.

Enter gipsy man.

GIPSY [to Fedya] A gentleman is asking for you.

FeDYA. What gentleman?

GIPSY. I don't know.... Well dressed, wears a sable overcoat--

FeDYA. A swell? Well, ask him in. [Exit Gipsy].

AFReMOV. Who has come to see you here?

FeDYA. The devil knows! Who can want me?

Enter Karenin. Looks round.

FeDYA. Ah, Victor! I never expected _you_!... Take off your coat!...

What wind has blown you here? Come, sit down and listen to "Not at Eve."

KAReNIN. _Je voudrais vous parler sans temoins._[5]

[5] I wanted to speak to you alone.

FeDYA. What about?

KAReNIN. _Je viens de chez vous. Votre femme m'a charge de cette lettre et puis ..._[6]

[6] I have come from your home. Your wife has entrusted me with this letter and besides ...

FeDYA [takes letter, reads, frowns, then smiles affectionately] I say, Karenin, of course you know what is in this letter?

KAReNIN. I know ... and I want to say ...

FeDYA. Wait, wait a bit! Please don't imagine that I am drunk and my words irresponsible.... I mean, that I am irresponsible! I am drunk, but in this matter I see quite clearly.... Well, what were you commissioned to say?

KAReNIN. I was commissioned to find you, and to tell you ... that ...

she ... is waiting for you. She asks you to forget everything and come back.

FeDYA [listens in silence, gazing into Karenin's eyes] Still, I don't understand why _you_ ...

KAReNIN. Elisabeth Andreyevna sent for me, and asked me ...

FeDYA. So ...

KAReNIN. But I ask you, not so much in your wife's name as from myself.... Come home!

FeDYA. You are a better man than I. (What nonsense! It is easy enough to be better than I) ... I am a scoundrel, and you are a good--yes, a good man.... And that is the very reason why I won't alter my decision....

No! Not on that account either--but simply because I can't and won't....

How could I return?

KAReNIN. Let us go to my rooms now, and I'll tell her that you will return to-morrow.

FeDYA. And to-morrow, what?... I shall still be I, and she--she. [Goes to the table and drinks] It's best to have the tooth out at one go....

Didn't I say that if I broke my word she was to throw me over? Well, I have broken it, and that's the end of it.

KAReNIN. For you, but not for her!

FeDYA. It is extraordinary that _you_ should take pains to prevent our marriage being broken up!

KAReNIN [is about to speak, but Masha comes up] ...

FeDYA [interrupting him] Just hear her sing "The Flax"!... Masha!

The gipsies re-enter.

MaSHA [whispers] An ovation, eh?

FeDYA [laughs] An ovation!... "Victor, my Lord! Son of Michael!" ...

Gipsies sing a song of greeting and laudation.

KAReNIN [listens in confusion then asks] How much shall I give them?

FeDYA. Well, give them twenty-five roubles.[7]

[7] About 2, 10s.

Karenin gives the money.

FeDYA. Splendid! And now, "The Flax!"

Gipsies sing.

FeDYA [looks round] Karenin's bunked!... Well, devil take him!

Gipsy group breaks up.

FeDYA [sits down by Masha] Do you know who that was?

MaSHA. I heard his name.

FeDYA. He's an excellent fellow! He came to take me home to my wife. She loves a fool like me, and see what I am doing here ...!

MaSHA. Well, and it's wrong! You ought to go back to her.... You ought to pity her.