[Goes to the desk.] Look now, you’ve spilt vodka on a paper ... and there are crumbs ... and gherkins ... It’s disgusting!

LEBEDEV : I’m sorry, Nikolasha, I’m sorry ... Forgive me. I need a word with you, my friend, on something very important ...

BORKIN: SO dO I.

LVOV: Nikolay Alekseyevich, can I speak to you?

IVANOV [pointing atLebedev]:He wants me too. Wait, you next ... [To Lebedev] What do you want?

LEBEDEV: Gentlemen, I want to speak privately. Please ...

[THE COUNT goes out with AVDOTYA NAZAROVNA, followed by BORKIN, then LVOV.]

IVANOV: Pasha, you yourself can drink as much as you like, that is your illness, but I do ask you not to make a drunk of my uncle. He used never to drink in my house. It’s bad for him.

LEBEDEV [sounding alarmed]: My dear chap, I didn’t know ... I didn’t pay any attention ...

IVANOV: If that old boy dies, God forbid, it won’t be your loss but mine ... What do you want? ...

 

[A pause.]

 

LEBEDEV : You see, my dear friend ... I don’t know how to begin so it doesn’t seem so outrageous ... Nikolasha, I’m ashamed, I’m blushing, I’m tongue-tied, but enter into my situation, old chap, and understand that I’m not my own master but just a Negro slave, an old rag ... Forgive me ...

IVAN0V: What is the problem?

LEBEDEV: My wife sent me ... Do me a favour, be a friend and pay her the interest. Believe me, she’s driven me crazy, she’s worn me out and made my life hell! For God’s sake, get free of her! ...

IVANOV : Pasha, you know that at the moment I have no money.

LEBEDEV: I know, I know, but what am I to do? She won’t wait. If she calls in the promissory note, how will I and Shurochka be able to look you in the face?

IVANOV: I’m ashamed myself, Pasha, I’d like the earth to swallow me up, but ... but where am I to find it? Tell me, where? One course remains: wait till the autumn when I sell the corn.

LEBEDEV [shouting]: She won’t wait!

 

[A pause.]

 

IVANOV : Your situation is delicate and unpleasant, but mine is even worse. [Walks about thinking.] And I can’t come up with anything ... There’s nothing to sell ...

LEBEDEV: You could go to Milbakh and ask, he owes you sixteen thousand roubles ...

 

[IVANOV desperately gestures with his hand.]

Look, Nikolasha ... I know, you’re going to swear, but think kindly of an old drunk! As a friend ... Look on me as a friend ... You and I were students, liberals ... We have common ideas and common interests ... We were both at Moscow University ... Our alma mater8... [Takes out his wallet.] I’ve got this private nest-egg, not a soul at home knows about it. Take it as a loan ...