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but this idiotic doctor of yours would think himself in the
seventh heaven of happiness if fate would allow him to pull my
nose in public in the name of morality and human ideals。
LEBEDIEFF。 Young men are all stubborn and restive。 I had an uncle
once who thought himself a philosopher。 He would fill his house
with guests； and after he had had a drink he would get up on a
chair； like this； and begin： 〃You ignoramuses！ You powers of
darkness！ This is the dawn of a new life！〃 And so on and so on；
he would preach and preach…
SASHA。 And the guests？
LEBEDIEFF。 They would just sit and listen and go on drinking。
Once； though； I challenged him to a duel； challenged my own
uncle！ It came out of a discussion about Sir Francis Bacon。 I was
sitting； I remember； where Matthew is； and my uncle and the late
Gerasim Nilitch were standing over there； about where Nicholas is
now。 Well； Gerasim Nilitch propounded this question…
Enter BORKIN。 He is dressed like a dandy and carries a parcel
under his arm。 He comes in singing and skipping through the door
on the right。 A murmur of approval is heard。
THE GIRLS。 Oh； Michael Borkin！
LEBEDIEFF。 Hallo； Misha！
SHABELSKI。 The soul of the company！
BORKIN。 Here we are！ ＇He runs up to SASHA＇ Most noble Signorina；
let me be so bold as to wish to the whole world many happy
returns of the birthday of such an exquisite flower as you！ As a
token of my enthusiasm let me presume to present you with these
fireworks and this Bengal fire of my own manufacture。 ＇He hands
her the parcel＇ May they illuminate the night as brightly as you
illuminate the shadows of this dark world。 ＇He spreads them out
theatrically before her。＇
SASHA。 Thank you。
LEBEDIEFF。 ＇Laughing loudly； to IVANOFF＇ Why don't you send this
Judas packing？
BORKIN。 ＇To LEBEDIEFF＇ My compliments to you； sir。 ＇To IVANOFF＇
How are you； my patron？ ＇Sings＇ Nicholas voila； hey ho hey！ ＇He
greets everybody in turn＇ Most highly honoured Zinaida！ Oh；
glorious Martha！ Most ancient Avdotia！ Noblest of Counts！
SHABELSKI。 ＇Laughing＇ The life of the company！ The moment he
comes in the air fe els livelier。 Have you noticed it？
BORKIN。 Whew！ I am tired！ I believe I have shaken hands with
everybody。 Well； ladies and gentlemen； haven't you some little
tidbit to tell me； something spicy？ ＇Speaking quickly to ZINAIDA＇
Oh； aunty！ I have something to tell you。 As I was on my way
here ＇To GABRIEL＇ Some tea； please Gabriel； but without jamas
I was on my way here I saw some peasants down on the river…bank
pulling the bark off the trees。 Why don't you lease that meadow？
LEBEDIEFF。 ＇To IVANOFF＇ Why don't you send that Judas away？
ZINAIDA。 ＇Startled＇ Why； that is quite true！ I never thought of
it。
BORKIN。 ＇Swinging his arms＇ I can't sit still！ What tricks shall
we be up to next； aunty？ I am all on edge； Martha； absolutely
exalted。 ＇He sings＇
〃Once more I stand before thee！〃
ZINAIDA。 Think of something to amuse us； Misha； we are all bored。
BORKIN。 Yes； you look so。 What is the matter with you all？ Why
are you sitting there as solemn as a jury？ Come； let us play
something； what shall it be？ Forfeits？ Hide…and…seek？ Tag？ Shall
we dance； or have the fireworks？
THE GIRLS。 ＇Clapping their hands＇ The fireworks！ The fireworks！
＇They run into the garden。＇
SASHA。 ＇ To IVANOFF＇ What makes you so depressed today？
IVANOFF。 My head aches； little Sasha； and then I feel bored。
SASHA。 Come into the sitting…room with me。
They go out through the door on the right。 All the guests go into
the garden and ZINAIDA and LEBEDIEFF are left alone。
ZINAIDA。 That is what I like to see！ A young man like Misha comes
into the room and in a minute he has everybody laughing。 ＇She
puts out the large lamp＇ There is no reason the candles should
burn for nothing so long as they are all in the garden。 ＇She
blows out the candles。＇
LEBEDIEFF。 ＇Following her＇ We really ought to give our guests
something to eat； Zuzu！
ZINAIDA。 What crowds of candles； no wonder we are thought rich。
LEBEDIEFF。 ＇Still following her＇ Do let them have something to
eat； Zuzu； they are young and must be hungry by now； poor
thingsZuzu！
ZINAIDA。 The Count did not finish his tea； and all that sugar has
been wasted。 ＇Goes out through the door on the left。＇
LEBEDIEFF。 Bah！ ＇Goes out into the garden。＇
Enter IVANOFF and SASHA through the door on the right。
IVANOFF。 This is how it is； Sasha： I used to work hard and think
hard； and never tire； now； I neither do anything nor think
anything； and I am weary； body and soul。 I feel I am terribly to
blame； my conscience leaves me no peace day or night； and yet I
can't see clearly exactly what my mistakes are。 And now comes my
wife's illness； our poverty； this eternal backbiting； gossiping；
chattering； that foolish BorkinMy home has become unendurable
to me； and to live there is worse than torture。 Frankly； Sasha；
the presence of my wife； who loves me； has become unbearable。 You
are an old friend； little Sasha； you will not be angry with me
for speaking so openly。 I came to you to be cheered； but I am
bored here too； something urges me home again。 Forgive me； I
shall slip away at once。
SASHA。 I can understand your trouble； Nicholas。 You are unhappy
because you are lonely。 You need some one at your side whom you
can love； someone who understands you。
IVANOFF。 What an idea； Sasha！ Fancy a crusty old badger like
myself starting a love affair！ Heaven preserve me from such
misfortune！ No； my little sage； this is not a case for romance。
The fact is； I can endure all I have to suffer： sadness； sickness
of mind； ruin； the loss of my wife； and my lonely； broken old
age； but I cannot； I will not； endure the contempt I have for
myself！ I am nearly killed by shame when I think that a strong；
healthy man like myself has becomeoh； heaven only knows
whatby no means a Manfred or a Hamlet！ There are some
unfortunates who feel flattered when people call them Hamlets and
cynics； but to me it is an insult。 It wounds my pride and I am
tortured by shame and suffer agony。
SASHA。 ＇Laughing through her tears＇ Nicholas； let us run away to
America together！
IVANOFF。 I haven't the energy to take such a step as that； and
besides； in America you ＇They go toward the door into the
garden＇ As a matter of fact； Sasha； this is not a good place for
you to live。 When I look about at the men who surround you I am
terrified for you； whom is there you could marry？ Your only
chance will be if some passing lieutenant or student steals your
heart and carries you away。
Enter ZINAIDA through the door on the right with a jar of jam。
IVANOFF。 Excuse me； Sasha； I shall join you in a minute。
SASHA goes out into the garden。
IVANOFF。 ＇To ZINAIDA＇ Zinaida； may I ask you a favour？
ZINAIDA。 What is it？
IVANOFF。 The fact is； you know； that the interest on my note is
due day after to…morrow； but I should be more than obliged to you
if you will let me postpone the payment of it； or would let me
add the interest to the capital。 I simply cannot pay it now； I
haven't the money。
ZINAIDA。 Oh； Ivanoff； how could I do such a thing？ Would it be
business…like？ No； no； don't