NASTÁSIA. Come, Másha dearest! Come, my own! Don’t sulk. You’ve done wrong, and now come along.
IVÁN. Now then, you’ve talked enough! March! [Seizes her hand] Excuse us, sir! [Exit the three gipsies].
Enter Prince Abrézkov.
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. Excuse me. I have been an unwilling witness of an unpleasant scene….
FÉDYA. Whom have I the honour?… [Recognises the Prince] Ah, Prince Abrézkov! [They shake hands].
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. An unwilling witness of an unpleasant scene. I should have been glad not to hear, but having overheard it, I consider it my duty to tell you so. I was directed here, and had to wait at the door for those people to come out–more particularly as their very loud voices rendered my knocking inaudible.
FÉDYA. Yes, yes–please take a seat. Thank you for telling me: it gives me the right to explain that scene to you. I don’t mind what you may think of me, but I should like to tell you that the reproaches you heard addressed to that girl, that gipsy singer, were unjust. That girl is as morally pure as a dove; and my relations with her are those of a friend. There may be a tinge of romance in them, but it does not destroy the purity–the honour–of the girl. That is what I wished to tell you; but what is it you want of me? In what way can I be of service?
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. In the first place, I …
FÉDYA. Forgive me, Prince. My present social standing is such, that my former slight acquaintance with you does not entitle me to a visit from you, unless you have some business with me. What is it?
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. I won’t deny it. You have guessed right. I have business with you; but I beg you to believe that the alteration in your position in no wise affects my attitude towards you.
FÉDYA. I am sure of it.
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. My business is this. The son of my old friend, Anna Dmítrievna Karénina, and she herself, have asked me to ascertain directly from you what are your relations … May I speak out?… your relations with your wife, Elisabeth Andréyevna Protásova.
FÉDYA. My relations with my wife, or rather with her who was my wife, are entirely at an end.
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. So I understood, and that is why I accepted this difficult mission.
FÉDYA. At an end, and, I hasten to add, not by her fault, but by mine–by my innumerable faults. She is, as she always was, quite irreproachable.
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. Well then, Victor Karénin, or rather his mother, asked me to find out what your intentions are.
FÉDYA [growing excited] What intentions? I have none. I set her quite free! Moreover, I will never disturb her peace. I know she loves Victor Karénin. Well, let her! I consider him a very dull, but very good and honourable man, and I think that she will, as the phrase goes, be happy with him; and–que le bon Dieu les bénisse![20] That’s all …
[20] May God bless them!
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. Yes, but we …
FÉDYA [interrupting] And don’t suppose that I feel the least bit jealous. If I said that Victor is dull, I withdraw the remark. He is an excellent, honourable, moral man: almost the direct opposite of myself. And he has loved her from childhood. Perhaps she too may have loved him when she married me–that happens sometimes! The very best love is unconscious love. I believe she always did love him; but as an honest woman she did not confess it even to herself. But … a shadow of some kind always lay across our family life–but why am I confessing to you?
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. Please do! Believe me, my chief reason for coming to you was my desire to understand the situation fully…. I understand you. I understand that the shadow, as you so well express it, may have been …
FÉDYA. Yes, it was; and that perhaps is why I could not find satisfaction in the family life she provided for me, but was always seeking something, and being carried away. However, that sounds like excusing myself. I don’t want to, and can’t, excuse myself. I was (I say with assurance, was) a bad husband. I say was, because in my consciousness I am not, and have long not been, her husband. I consider her perfectly free. So there you have my answer to your question.
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. Yes, but you know Victor’s family, and himself too. His relation to Elisabeth Andréyevna is, and has been all through, most respectful and distant. He assisted her when she was in trouble …
FÉDYA. Yes, I by my dissipation helped to draw them together. What’s to be done? It had to be so!
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. You know the strictly Orthodox convictions of that family. Having myself a broader outlook on things, I do not share them; but I respect and understand them. I understand that for him, and especially for his mother, union with a woman without a Church marriage is unthinkable.
FÉDYA. Yes, I know his stu … his strictness, his conservatism in these matters. But what do they want? A divorce? I told them long ago that I am quite willing; but the business of taking the blame on myself, and all the lies connected with it, are very trying….[21]
[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.
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. I quite understand you, and sympathise. But how can it be avoided? I think it might be arranged that way–but you are right. It is dreadful, and I quite understand you.
FÉDYA [pressing the Prince’s hand] Thank you, dear Prince! I always knew you were a kind and honourable man. Tell me what to do. How am I to act? Put yourself in my place. I am not trying to improve. I am a good-for-nothing; but there are things I cannot do quietly. I cannot quietly tell lies.
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. I don’t understand you! You, a capable, intelligent man, so sensitive to what is good–how can you let yourself be so carried away–so forget what you expect of yourself? How have you ruined your life and come to this?
FÉDYA [forcing back tears of emotion] I have led this disorderly life for ten years, and this is the first time a man like you has pitied me! I have been pitied by my boon-companions, by rakes and by women; but a reasonable, good man like you … Thank you! How did I come to my ruin? First, through drink. It is not that drink tastes nice; but do what I will, I always feel I am not doing the right thing, and I feel ashamed. I talk to you now, and feel ashamed. As for being a Maréchal de la noblesse, or a Bank Director–I should feel ashamed, so ashamed! It is only when I drink that I do not feel this shame. And music: not operas or Beethoven, but gipsies!… That is life! Energy flows into one’s veins! And then those dear black eyes, and those smiles! And the more delicious it is, the more ashamed one feels afterwards.
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. How about work?
FÉDYA. I have tried it, but it’s no good. I am always dissatisfied with it–but what’s the use of talking about myself! I thank you.
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. Then what am I to say?
FÉDYA. Tell them I will do what they wish. They want to get married, and that there should be no obstacle to their marriage?
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. Of course.
FÉDYA. I’ll do it! Tell them I will certainly do it.
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. But when?
FÉDYA. Wait a bit. Well, say in a fortnight. Will that do?
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. Then I may tell them so?
FÉDYA. You may. Good-bye, Prince! Thank you once again!
[Exit Prince].
FÉDYA [sits for a long time and smiles silently] That’s the way, that’s the way! It must be so, must be, must be! Splendid!
Curtain.
ACT IV
SCENE 1
A private room in a restaurant. A waiter shows in Fédya and Iván Petróvich Alexándrov.
WAITER. Here, please. No one will disturb you here. I’ll bring some paper directly.
IVÁN PETRÓVICH. Protásov, I’ll come in too.
FÉDYA [seriously] If you like, but I’m busy and … All right, come in.
IVÁN PETRÓVICH. You wish to reply to their demands? I’ll tell you what to say. I should not do it that way–always speak straight out, and act with decision.
FÉDYA [to waiter] A bottle of champagne!
Exit waiter.
FÉDYA [taking out a revolver and putting it on the table] Wait a bit!
IVÁN PETRÓVICH. What’s that? Do you want to shoot yourself? You can if you like. I understand you! They wish to humiliate you, and you will show them the sort of man you are! You will kill yourself with a revolver, and them with magnanimity. I understand you. I understand everything, because I am a genius.
FÉDYA. Of course–of course. Only … [Enter waiter with paper and ink].
FÉDYA [covers the revolver with a napkin] Uncork it–let’s have a drink. [They drink. Fédya writes] Wait a bit!
IVÁN PETRÓVICH. Here’s to your … great journey! You know I’m above all this. I’m not going to restrain you! Life and death are alike to Genius. I die in life, and live in death. You will kill yourself that two people should pity you; and I–I shall kill myself that the whole world may understand what it has lost. I won’t hesitate, or think about it! I seize it [snatches revolver]–now! And all is over. But it is too
