I’m going. [Goes out.]

BORKIN: What a wonderful vision! I came for prose and found poetry ... [Sings] ‘Thou cam’st like a bird to the light.’

[IVANOV agitatedly walks about the stage.]

[BORKIN sits down.] And, Nicolas, she has something, a sort of something which other women lack. Doesn’t she? Something special ... dreamlike ... [Sighs.] In fact, she’s the richest bride in the whole district, but her Mama’s such a nightmare that no one wants the connection. After her death everything will go to Shurochka, but before her death she’ll give her ten thousand, a flatiron and another iron for goffering, and she’ll make her kiss her feet for that. [Rummages in his pockets.] I’ll smoke a De los Majoros. Would you like one? [Offers him his cigar case.] They’re good. A man can smoke them.

IVANOV [going up to Borkin, choking with rage]: Get out of my house this minute! This minute!

[BORKIN half-rises and drops his cigar.]

Get out this minute!

BORKIN : Nicolas, what does this mean? Why are you angry?

IVANOV : Why? And where do you get these cigars from? And do you think that I don’t know where you take the old fellow every day, and what for?

BORKIN [shrugging his shoulders]: What’s it to you?

IVANOV : What a scoundrel you are! Your dirty projects which you’ve scattered over the district have made me a dishonest man in people’s eyes! We have nothing in common and I ask you to leave my house this minute! [Walks about quickly.]

BORKIN: I know you’re saying all this out of irritation and so I’m not getting angry with you. Insult me as much as you want ... [Picks up his cigar.] But it’s time to drop the melancholy. You’re not a schoolboy ...

IVANOV: What did I say to you? [Trembling] Are you making fun of me!

[Enter ANNA PETROVNA.]

IX

[The same and ANNA PETROVNA.]

BORKIN: Well, Anna Petrovna has come ... I shall go. [Goes out.]

[IVAN0V stops by the desk and stands with bowed head.]

ANNA PETROVNA [after a pause]:Why did she come here just now?

[A pause.]

I’m asking you: why did she come here?

IVANOV: Don’t ask me, Anyuta ...

[A pause.]

I am deeply at fault. Think up whatever punishment you want, I shall endure it, but ... don’t ask ... I haven’t the strength to talk.

ANNA PETROVNA [angrily]: Why was she here?

[A pause.]

Ah, so that’s what you’re like! Now I understand you. At last I see what kind of a man you are. Low and dishonourable ... Do you remember, you came to me and lied to me that you loved me ... I believed you and abandoned my father, my mother, my faith, and followed you ... You told me lies about truth, about good, about your honourable plans, I believed every word ...

IVANOV : Anyuta, I never lied to you ...

ANNA PETROVNA: I’ve lived with you for five years, tormented and made ill by the thought that I betrayed my faith, but I’ve loved you and never left you for a single moment ... You were my idol ... And what happened? All this time you’ve been deceiving me in the most brazen way ...

IVANOV : Anyuta, don’t tell untruths. I’ve made mistakes, yes, but I’ve never once told a lie in my life ... Don’t dare to reproach me for that ...

ANNA PETROVNA:I can understand it all now ... You married me and thought that my father and mother would forgive me, would give me money ... You thought that ...

IVANOV : Oh my God! Anyuta, don’t try my patience like this ... [ Weeps.]

ANNA PETROVNA: Be quiet! When you saw there was no money, you started a new game ...