Papa dear, what does all this mean? I’m frightened!

LESEDEV: My darling, my only child, listen to your old father. Give him up!

SASHA [fearfully]: What are you saying, what are you saying?

LEBEDEV: Really, Shurochka. There’ll be a scandal, the tongues of the whole district will buzz with gossip, but it’s better to go through a scandal, isn’t it, than to destroy yourself for your whole life.

SASHA: Don’t say it, don’t say it, Papa! I don’t want to listen. One must fight gloomy thoughts. He’s a good, unhappy, misunderstood man; I shall love him and understand him and set him on his feet. I’ll do my duty. I’ve decided!

LEBEDEV: That’s not duty, it’s psychopathology.

SASHA: That’s enough. I’ve confessed to you what I wasn’t prepared to admit even to myself. Don’t tell anyone. We’ll forget it.

LEBEDEV: I don’t understand anything. Either I’ve become dull from old age or all of you have become very clever, but seriously, I’m the only one who doesn’t understand anything.

V

[The same and SHABELSKY.]

SHABELSKY [entering] : To hell with the lot, myself included! It’s disgraceful.

LEBEDEV: What’s the matter with you?

SHABELSKY : No, seriously, I’ve absolutely got to involve myself in something abominable and vile — so I disgust not just myself but everyone. And I will. I promise! I’ve already told Borkin to announce my engagement to be married today. [Laughs.] Everyone is vile and I shall be vile.

LEBEDEV: I’m fed up with you! Listen, Matvey, you’ll talk yourself out to a point when — forgive me for saying it — they’ll take you off to the yellow house.3

SHABELSKY: And in what way is the yellow house worse than any white or red house? Do me the favour, why not take me there right away. Do me the favour. Every little human being is vile, mean, worthless, without talent, I am loathsome to my own self, I don’t believe a single one of my own words ...

LEBEDEV : Do you know what, old friend. Stick some wadding in your mouth, light it and breathe over people. Or better still: take your hat and go home. There’s a wedding here, everyone’s having a good time, while you go kra-kra like a raven. Yes, really ...

[SHABELSKY leans over the piano and sobs.]

Heavens! ... Matvey! ... Count! ... What’s the matter with you? Matyusha, dear friend ... friend of my heart ... Have I hurt you? Well, forgive me, an old dog ... Forgive an old drunk ... Have some water ...

SHABELSKY: I don’t need any. [Lifts his head.]

LEBEDEV: Why are you crying?

SHABELSKY: It’s nothing, just ...

LEBEDEV: No, Matyusha, don’t lie ... why? What’s the reason?

SHABELSKY: Just now I looked at this cello and ... and I remembered the little Jewess ...

LEBEDEV: What a time you’ve found to remember her! The kingdom of heaven to her, and peace eternal, but it isn’t the moment to remember ...

SHABELSKY : We used to play duets together ...