Lisa passes by. Fédya bows low to her.
Curtain.
SCENE 2
A corridor of the Law Courts. In the background a door with glass panels, beside which stands an usher. Further to the right another door through which the accused are led.
Iván Petróvich Alexándrov comes to the first door and wishes to enter.
USHER. Where are you going? You mustn’t! Shoving in like that!
IVÁN PETRÓVICH. Why mustn’t I? The law says the proceedings are public. [Applause is heard from inside the Court].
USHER. Anyhow, you mustn’t, and that’s all about it.
IVÁN PETRÓVICH. Ignorant fellow! You don’t know whom you are speaking to!
A Young Lawyer in a dress-suit enters from the Court.
YOUNG LAWYER. Are you concerned in this case?
IVÁN PETRÓVICH. No, I am the public, and this ignoramus–this Cerberus–won’t let me in!
YOUNG LAWYER. But this door is not for the public.
IVÁN PETRÓVICH. I know, but I am a man who should be admitted.
YOUNG LAWYER. Wait a bit–they’ll adjourn in a minute. [Is just going, when he meets Prince Abrézkov].
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. May I ask how the case stands?
YOUNG LAWYER. The Counsel are speaking–Petrúshin is addressing the Court.
Applause from within.
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. And how do the defendants bear their position?
YOUNG LAWYER. With great dignity, especially Karénin and Elisabeth Andréyevna. It is as if not they were being indicted, but they were indicting society! That’s what is felt, and on that Petrúshin is working.
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. Well, and Protásov?
YOUNG LAWYER. He is terribly excited. He trembles all over; but that is natural, considering the life he leads. He is particularly irritable, and interrupted the Public Prosecutor and Counsel several times …
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. What do you think the result will be?
YOUNG LAWYER. It is hard to say. In any case they won’t be found guilty of premeditation; but still … [A gentleman comes out, and Prince Abrézkov moves towards the door] You wish to go in?
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. I should like to.
YOUNG LAWYER. You are Prince Abrézkov?
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. I am.
YOUNG LAWYER [to Usher] Let this gentleman pass. There is an empty chair just to the left.
Usher lets Prince Abrézkov pass. As the door opens, Counsel is seen speaking.
IVÁN PETRÓVICH. Aristocrats! I am an aristocrat of the soul, and that is higher!
YOUNG LAWYER. Well, excuse me … [Exit].
Petushkóv enters hurriedly, and approaches Iván Petróvich.
PETUSHKÓV. Ah, how are you, Iván Petróvich? How are things going?
IVÁN PETRÓVICH. Counsel are still speaking, but this fellow won’t let me in.
USHER. Don’t make a noise here! This is not a public-house!
Applause. The doors open. Lawyers, and the public–men and women–come out.
A LADY. Splendid! He really moved me to tears.
OFFICER. It’s better than any novel. Only I don’t understand how she could love him so. Dreadful object!
The other door opens. The accused come out: first Lisa, then Karénin. They pass along the corridor. Fédya follows alone.
LADY. Hush–here he is! Look how excited he seems!
Lady and Officer pass on.
FÉDYA [approaches Iván Petróvich] Have you brought it?
IVÁN PETRÓVICH. Here it is. [Hands Fédya something].
FÉDYA [Hides it in his pocket, and wishes to pass out, but sees Petushkóv] Stupid! Vile! Dreary, dreary! Senseless. [Wishes to pass].
Enter Counsel Petrúshin; stout, red, and animated. He approaches Fédya.
PETRÚSHIN. Well, friend! Our affairs are going well–only don’t you go and spoil things for me in your last speech!
FÉDYA. I won’t speak. What is the use? I shan’t do it.
PETRÚSHIN. Yes, you must speak. But don’t be excited. The whole matter is now in a nutshell! Only tell them what you told me–that if you are being tried, it is only for not having committed suicide: that is, for not doing what is considered a crime both by civil and ecclesiastical law.
FÉDYA. I shan’t say anything!
PETRÚSHIN. Why not?
FÉDYA. I don’t want to, and shan’t. Tell me only, at the worst, what will it be?
PETRÚSHIN. I have already told you–at worst, exile to Siberia.
FÉDYA. Who will be exiled?
PETRÚSHIN. You and your wife.
FÉDYA. And at best?
PETRÚSHIN. Church penance, and of course annulment of the second marriage.
FÉDYA. Then they will again tie me to her–or rather, her to me?
PETRÚSHIN. Yes, that must be so. But don’t excite yourself, and please say what I told you, and above all, don’t say anything superfluous. However [noticing that a circle of listeners has formed round them] I am tired, and will go and sit down; and you’d better take a rest. The chief thing is, not to lose courage!
FÉDYA. No other sentence is possible?
PETRÚSHIN [going] No other.
Enter Attendant.
ATTENDANT. Pass on! Pass on! No loitering in the corridor!
FÉDYA. Directly! [Takes out revolver and shoots himself in the heart. Falls. All rush on him] All right, I think it is done…. Lisa!…
The audience, judges, accused, and witnesses rush out from all the doors.
In front of all is Lisa. Behind her Másha, Karénin, Iván Petróvich and Prince Abrézkov.
LISA. Fédya, what have you done! Why?
FÉDYA. Forgive me that I could not … free you any other way…. It’s not for you … it’s best for me. I have long … been ready …
LISA. You will live!
A Doctor bends over Fédya and listens.
FÉDYA. I need no doctor to tell me … Good-bye, Victor … Ah, Másha!… it’s too late this time … [Weeps] How good … how good! [Dies].
Curtain.
The End
Notes
[1] Protásov is his family name, but the name by which he is usually addressed is Fédya, an abbreviation of his Christian name—Theodore. The ceremonious form of address would be Theodore Vasílyevich.
[2] Elisabeth Andréyevna is the polite way of speaking of Mrs. Protásova, otherwise Lisa.
[3] The polite way of naming Mr. Karénin.
[4] The polite way of addressing Mr. Afrémov.
[5] I wanted to speak to you alone.
[6] I have come from your home. Your wife has entrusted me with this letter and besides …
[7] About £2, 10s.
[8] I hope I am not forcing myself on you.
[9] You are always welcome.
[10] He is positively bewitched!
[11] It is all disgusting!
[12] For them, to possess the soul is no longer enough.
[13] She inquired whether I would receive her.
[14] However he may have wronged her.
[15] If she has been able to charm him to such a degree …
[16] That’s reckoning without your host!
[17] But it’s beyond me!
[18] You are of age.
[19] It will depend.
[20] May God bless them!
[21] Under the Russian law divorce was only obtainable if ocular evidence of adultery was forthcoming, and a great deal of perjury was usually involved in such cases.
[22] It is I who am the intruder.
[23] It is surprising how he loves him—just as if he were his father.
[24] So much the better! Does he remember his real father?
[25] Say what one likes—it is a fine action.
[26] Had Tolstoy lived to give a final revision to this play, he would probably have made it clearer that Karénin sent a monthly payment to the clockmaker Evgényev, in response to the request contained in the last letter Fédya addressed to Lisa and himself; and that this money found its way to Fédya.
[27] Karénin does not produce Fédya’s letter because it would have proved connivance in the divorce proceedings.
The End
