Merchutkin: Beautiful lady, nobody cares about me. I’ve only one thing left, to eat and drink, and to-day I drank my coffee without any pleasure.
Shipuchin (feebly): How much do you want?
Merchutkin: Twenty-four roubles, thirty-six kopecks.
Shipuchin: Very well. (Takes twenty-five roubles from his pocket-book and gives them to her.) There’s twenty-five roubles for you. Take them and — go away! (Hirin coughs angrily.)
Merchutkin: I most humbly thank you, your excellency.
Tatiana (sits beside her husband): It’s time for me to go home. (Looks at her watch.) But I haven’t finished yet; I’ll finish in a moment and go. What do you think happened? What do you think? Well, in the evening we went to Berejnitski’s. It wasn’t anything particular; it was jolly, but not specially. Of course, Kate’s admirer, Grendelevski, was there. I spoke to Kate, and cried, and persuaded her, and in the evening she had an explanation with Grendelevski and refused him. Well, I thought, everything is in order, things couldn’t be better; I had quieted Mama, saved Kate, and now I could be easy. What do you think ? Just before supper we were walking with Kate in the avenue, and suddenly — (Rises) — suddenly we heard a shot! No I can’t speak about it in cold blood! (Fans herself with her handkerchief.) No, I can’t!
Shipuchin (sighs): Ugh!
Tatiana (weeps): We ran to the summer-house, and there, there lay poor Grendelevski with a pistol in his hand.
Shipuchin: No, I can’t stand it! I can’t stand it! (To Merchutkin.) What do you want now?
Merchutkin: Your excellency, couldn’t my husband take up his old post again?
Tatiana (weeps): He had shot himself right by the heart — just there — Kate fainted, poor girl, and he himself was terribly frightened. He lay there and — and asked us to send for a doctor. The doctor soon came — and saved the unlucky fellow.
Merchutkin: Your excellency, couldn’t my husband take up his old post again?
Shipuchin: No, I can’t stand it. (Weeps.) I can’t stand it. (Stretches out his hands to Hirin in despair.) Drive her out! Drive her out! Please!
Hirin (advances on Tatiana): Get out of it!
Shipuchin: Not her — that one — that awful one — (Points to Merchutkin) — that one——
Hirin (misunderstands; to Tatiana): Get out of it! (Stamps his feet.) Go away!
Tatiana: What? What’s the matter with you? Have you gone mad?
Shipuchin: This is awful! I’m a miserable man! Drive her out! Drive her out!
Hirin (to Tatiana): Out of it! I’ll cripple you! I’ll smash you! I’ll commit a crime!
Tatiana (chased by Hirin): How dare you! You impudent man! Andrew! Help! Andrew! (Begins to scream.)
Shipuchin (running after them): Stop! Please! Be quiet! Have mercy on me!
Hirin (chasing Merchutkin): Get out of it! Catch her! Hit her! Cut her up!
Shipuchin: Stop! Please! I beg you!
Merchutkin: Dear lady; oh, dear lady! (Begins to scream.) Dear lady!
Tatiana: Help! Help! Oh, Oh! I feel ill! I feel ill! (Jumps on a chair, then drops on the sofa and moans.)
Hirin (chasing Merchutkin): Catch her! Hit her! Cut her up!
Merchutkin: Oh, oh, dear lady! It’s all going dark. Oh! (Falls senseless in Shipuchin’s arms. A knock at the door and a voice: “The Deputation.”)
Shipuchin: Deputation — reputation — occupation——
Hirin (stamping his feet): Out of it! Oh, hell! (Tucking up his sleeves.) Give me her! I can commit a crime. (Enter deputation of five persons, all in frock-coats. One carries a velvet-bound address and another the cup. The rest of the staff stand at the door of the office. Tatiana on the sofa, and Merchutkin in Shipuchin’s arms, both groan softly.)
A Manager (reads loudly): Esteemed and beloved Mr. Shipuchin, casting a retrospective regard upon the past of our financial establishment and turning an abstract glance upon the history of its gradual development, we receive in the highest degree a pleasurable sensation. It is true that in the earliest period of its existence, the small dimensions of its original capital, the absence of any important operations and the general indefiniteness of its position furnished a cause for Hamlet’s question, “To be or not to be,” and at one moment there were even voices which advocated the advantage of the entire closure of the bank. Then you were placed at the head of the establishment! Your knowledge, energy, and innate tact have been the cause of its extraordinary success and its present remarkably flourishing condition. The reputation of the bank — (Coughs) — the reputation of the bank——
Merchutkin (groans): Oh! Oh!
Tatiana: Water, water!
Manager (continues): The reputation — (Coughs) — the reputation of the bank has been brought by you to such a height that our establishment may to-day well rival the very best foreign establishments——
Shipuchin: Deputation — reputation — occupation——
Manager (continues in confusion): Casting then an objective glance upon the present, we, esteemed and beloved Mr. Shipuchin — Perhaps afterwards — Better afterwards. (Exit, with staff.)
(Curtain)
THE PROPOSAL
CHARACTERS
STEPAN STEPANOVITCH CHUBUKOV, a landowner
NATALYA STEPANOVNA, his daughter, twenty-five years old
IVAN VASSILEVITCH LOMOV, a neighbour of Chubukov, a large and hearty, but very suspicious landowner
The scene is laid at CHUBUKOV’s country-house
The Proposal
A drawing-room in CHUBUKOV’S house.
[LOMOV enters, wearing a dress-jacket and white gloves. CHUBUKOV rises to meet him.]
CHUBUKOV. My dear fellow, whom do I see! Ivan Vassilevitch! I am extremely glad! [Squeezes his hand] Now this is a surprise, my darling… How are you?
LOMOV. Thank you. And how may you be getting on?
CHUBUKOV. We just get along somehow, my angel, to your prayers, and so on. Sit down, please do…. Now, you know, you shouldn’t forget all about your neighbours, my darling. My dear fellow, why are you so formal in your get-up? Evening dress, gloves, and so on. Can you be going anywhere, my treasure?
LOMOV. No, I’ve come only to see you, honoured Stepan Stepanovitch.
CHUBUKOV. Then why are you in evening dress, my precious? As if you’re paying a New Year’s Eve visit!
LOMOV. Well, you see, it’s like this. [Takes his arm] I’ve come to you, honoured Stepan Stepanovitch, to trouble you with a request. Not once or twice have I already had the privilege of applying to you for help, and you have always, so to speak… I must ask your pardon, I am getting excited. I shall drink some water, honoured Stepan Stepanovitch. [Drinks.]
CHUBUKOV. [Aside] He’s come to borrow money! Shan’t give him any! [Aloud] What is it, my beauty?
LOMOV.