Ivanov

and mother have cast her off⁠—they cursed her.⁠ ⁠… So he hasn’t got a farthing. Now he is sorry, but it is too late.⁠ ⁠… Sasha Mother, that’s not true. Madame Babakin Hotly. Sasha! not true? Why, everybody knows it. If it weren’t for money why ever should he have married a Jewess? There are plenty of Russian girls, aren’t there? He made a mistake, darling, he made a mistake.⁠ ⁠… Eagerly. And, I say, how she catches it from him now! It is simply too funny. As soon as he comes home he is at her at once: “Your father and mother have cheated me! Get out of my house!” And where is she to go? Her father and mother won’t take her; she would go for a housemaid, but she has never been trained to do anything⁠ ⁠… And he goes on from one thing to another till the Count takes her part. If it were not for the Count he would have been the death of her long ago.⁠ ⁠… Avdotya And sometimes he will shut her in the cellar and make her eat garlic.⁠ ⁠… She will eat it and eat it till she is sick laughter. Sasha Father, that’s a lie, you know! Lebedyev Well, what of it? Let them babble as they like⁠ ⁠… Shouts. Gavril! Gavril hands him vodka and water. Zinaida That’s how it is he has come to ruin, poor fellow! His affairs are in a bad way, my dear.⁠ ⁠… If Borkin did not look after the estate he and his Jewess would have nothing to eat sighs. And what we have had to put up with on his account, my dear.⁠ ⁠… God only knows what we have had to put up with! Would you believe it, dear, he has been owing us nine thousand for these three years! Madame Babakin With horror. Nine thousand! Zinaida Yes.⁠ ⁠… It was my precious Pashenka’s idea to give it to him. He never knows whom one can lend to and whom one can’t. I say nothing of the capital⁠—it’s no good worrying about that⁠—but he might at least pay the interest regularly. Sasha Hotly. Mother, you have talked of that thousands of times already! Zinaida What is it to you? Why do you defend him? Sasha Getting up. But how can you have the face to talk like that about a man who has done you no sort of harm? Why, what has he done to you? Third Guest Alexandra Pavlovna, allow me to say a couple of words. I respect Nikolay Alexeyevitch, and always considered it an honour⁠ ⁠… but, speaking entre nous, my opinion is that he is an adventurer. Sasha Well, I congratulate you on your opinion. Third Guest In support of it I beg to mention the following fact which was reported to me by his attaché or, so to speak, cicerone, Borkin. Two years ago at the time of the cattle plague he bought cattle, insured them⁠ ⁠… Zinaida Yes, yes, yes! I remember the incident. I was told of it too. Third Guest Insured them⁠—mark that⁠—then infected them with the cattle plague and got the insurance money. Sasha Ugh, that’s all such rubbish! No one bought cattle or infected them! That was all Borkin’s invention, and he boasted of the plan everywhere. When Ivanov heard of it, Borkin was begging his pardon for a fortnight before he would forgive him. Ivanov is only to blame for being weak and not having the heart to kick that Borkin out, and he is to blame for putting too much trust in people too! He has been robbed and plundered on all sides: everyone who could made money out of his generous schemes. Lebedyev Sasha, you little spitfire, shut up! Sasha Why do they talk such nonsense? It’s so dull⁠—so boring! Ivanov, Ivanov, Ivanov⁠—you talk of nothing else goes to the door and turns back. I wonder! To the young men. I positively wonder at your patience, gentlemen! Aren’t you tired of sitting still like this? The very air is heavy with boredom! Do say something; entertain the young ladies; move about a little! Come, if you have no other subject but Ivanov, laugh, sing, dance or something.⁠ ⁠… Lebedyev Laughing. Give it to them, give it to them well! Sasha Come, I say, do something for me! If you don’t care to dance, to laugh, to sing, if all that bores you, I beg you, I entreat you, just for once in your life⁠—as a curiosity⁠—to surprise or amuse us: make a great effort and all together think of something witty and brilliant; say something, even if it is rude or vulgar, so long as it is amusing and new! Or all together do some little thing, however inconspicuous, so long as it is just conceivably worth doing, so that for once in their lives the young ladies may cry “Oh!” as they look at you. You do want to please, don’t you? So why don’t you try to be pleasing? Ah! my friends, you are not up to much⁠—not up to much, any of you.⁠ ⁠… The very flies die of boredom and the lamps begin smoking when they look at you.⁠ ⁠… You are not up to much, any of you.⁠ ⁠… I have told you so a thousand times already, and I shall always say so. Enter Ivanov and Shabelsky. Shabelsky Entering with Ivanov by door on right. Who is preaching here? You, Sasha? Laughs and shakes hands with her. Happy returns, my angel. God grant that you die as late as possible and are not born again.⁠ ⁠… Zinaida Delightedly. Nikolay Alexeyevitch! Count! Lebedyev Bah! Whom do I see?⁠ ⁠… The Count! Goes to meet him. Shabelsky Seeing Zinaida Savishna and Madame Babakin, stretches out his hands to them. Two gold mines on one sofa!⁠ ⁠… Delightful spectacle! Shakes hands. To Zinaida Savishna. How do you do, Zyuzushka! To Madame Babakin. How do you do, dumpling! Zinaida I am glad. You are such a rare visitor, Count! Shouts. Gavril, tea!