Works of Ivan Turgenev (Illustrated) (465 page)

Vilitski [bitterly]: On the contrary, I am neither provoked, nor am I finding fault. Mr. Sozomenos is quite right. Such a foolish scene. ... I am not thinking at all of getting angry. On the contrary
           

[Sozomenos sits down, sighs, catches his breath, and wipes his eyes.] Fonk [turning to Sozomenos]: Stop it, Alkiviad Martynych! [To Vilitski, pressing his hand.] You may be assured that no one will know
    

Vilitski: Why, on the contrary, it is a most interesting anecdote.

Fonk [reproachfully]: Petr Ilich!
        

Vilitski: No, truly
       

Fonk: Well, all right, all right. However, there wasn’t anything surprising in the occurrence. You yourself are to blame, let me tell you. Your absence — I find that quite natural. In fact, it is praiseworthy.

Vilitski [venomously]: Do you think so?

Fonk: Yes. In all that I can see a great deal of affection.

Vilitski: Undoubtedly so.

Fonk [after a moment’s silence]: Here is a living comment on my words. However, let’s talk about something else.

Vilitski [bitterly]: Yes, let’s talk about something else. But what shall it be?

Fonk [turning to Sozomenos]: Well, have you quieted yourself? [Sozomenos nods.] Look out, don’t fall asleep again.

Sozomenos: As though I had been sleeping!

Fonk: You ought to read us a few verses. I am sure you write poetry.

Sozomenos: I have never tried it before, but I may now.

Fonk: Take my advice, and try it. [Turning to Vilitski] By the way, have you heard Bubini?

Vilitski: No, I intended to go to the theatre with my fiancee — [laughing loudly] — but now I don’t know when I shall have the chance.

Fonk: Two days ago, I heard him again in “Lucia.” He moved me to tears.

Vilitski: To tears? To tears?

Fonk: Do you know, Vilitski, that you are quite a serious and exacting man?

Vilitski: I?

Fonk: Yes, you.

Vilitski [loudly]: For instance?

Mitka’s Voice [from the vestibule]: But he is not at home. He has gone out of town again.

[Vilitski is silent, listening; also Fonk.]

Moshkin’s Voice: If that is the case, I want to leave a note for him.

Mitka’s Voice: He told me to tell you that he would be in to see you to - day. And a note, you can write here.

Fonk [turning to Vilitski]: What’s the matter?

[Vilitski doesn’t answer.]

Moshkin’s Voice: But why don’t you want to let me go in there?

Mitka’s Voice: I can’t. The door is closed and he took the key away with him.

Moshkin’s Voice: And you wanted to go in there for the ink!

Mitka’s Voice: I can’t. So help me, God, I can’t.

Moshkin’s Voice: Mitka! Your master is home. I know he is home. Let me go in.

Mitka’s Voice: No, sir.

Moshkin’s Voice: Nonsense, Mitka! Let me go in. Your master hasn’t left town. I asked in the store and I asked the janitor. [Raising his voice.] Petrusha! Petrusha! Tell him to let me in! I know you are home.

Vilitski [not daring to look at Fonk and Sozomenos, who is again restraining his laughter; goes up to the door of the vestibule]: Come in, come in, Mikhail Ivanych! Please come in. Are you out of your head, Mitka, or what? [Moshkin and Mitka enter. Moshkin is very nervous. On seeing Fonk and Sozomenos, he begins to bow all around. Vilitski presses his hand.] How do you do, Mikhail Ivanych! How do you do? Pardon me, please, for the misunderstanding
           

[Mitka wants to talk.] Go, you!

Mitka: You yourself told me
 

Vilitski: Go, I tell you. [Mitka goes out.]

Moshkin: Oh, that’s nothing. On the contrary, you must pardon me, for perhaps I have disturbed . . . [Bows to Fonk and Sozomenos, who do not return the greeting.] [Sozomenos gets up from his chair.]

Moshkin [going up to Fonk]: My esteemed Rodion Karlych! I didn’t know you at first. The sun, — you know, — [He motions with his hand in the air.] How’s your health?

Fonk: Thank God! And how is yours?

Moshkin: Oh, we’re getting along, thank you. [Bows to Fonk again and smiles.] The weather is very fine to - day.

[A short, strained silence.]

Fonk [to Vilitski]: Good - bye, Petr Ilich. [Taking his hat.] We’ll undoubtedly see each other again to - day.

Moshkin [to Fonk]: I hope I haven’t disturbed. ... If I am in your way, please don’t disturb yourselves. I can come in some other time. I only came in to have a look at Petr Ilich.

Fonk: Oh, no, you haven’t disturbed us. We were getting ready to go, as it was. Alkiviad Martynych! Come on.

Vilitski [a little disturbed]: So you are going away?

Fonk: Yes. We’ll see each other . . . Where are you going to dine?

Vilitski: I don’t know. Why?

Fonk: If you’re not detained anywhere, come to see me about five o’clock. Good - bye. [To Moshkin.] Good - bye.

[Moshkin bows.]

Vilitski: Good - bye, Rodion Karlych. Alkiviad Martynych! Where do you live?

Sozomenos: On Gorokhovaia, in Zhmukhim’s house.

Vilitski: I shall have the pleasure of . . . [Escorts them to the vestibule.]

[They go out. Vilitski returns. Moshkin stands immovable and looks at him. Vilitski goes up to him hesitatingly.]

Vilitski: I am very glad to see you, Mikhail Ivanych.

Moshkin: And I . . . and I am very glad to see you, too, Petrusha! Surely . . . I — I . . .

Vilitski: I intended to go to see you to - day, Mikhail Ivanych. I have to leave here pretty soon. Why don’t you sit down?

Moshkin [still in the same position]: Thank you ... I shall have to . . . Well, how was your journey? Are you well?

Vilitski [hurriedly]: All right, thank you. What time is it?

Moshkin: It must be going on two o’clock.

Vilitski: Two o’clock?

Moshkin [turning around to Vilitski quickly]: Petrusha! Petrusha! What’s the matter with you?

Vilitski: With me, Mikhail Ivanych? Nothing.

Moshkin [going up to him]: Why are you offended with us, Petrusha?

Vilitski [not looking at him]: I?

Moshkin: I know everything, Petrusha. I know you haven’t been out of town. You haven’t been in to see us for the last five days. You have been hiding yourself. Petrusha! What’s the matter with you? Tell me. Has any one of us insulted you?

Vilitski: Oh, no. On the contrary . . .

Moshkin: Then why such a sudden change?

Vilitski: I’ll explain it to you later, Mikhail Ivanych.

Moshkin: We are plain people, Petrusha, but we love you with all our hearts. Pardon us, if we have done anything disagreeable to you. We haven’t known what to think, Petrusha. We are discouraged and tired out. Imagine yourself, what was our situation! Acquaintances asked: “Where is Petr Ilich?” I wanted to say that he had gone out of town for a few days, but my tongue wouldn’t obey me. What could I do? Just imagine! Eight before the wedding! Poor Masha! I haven’t thoughj; at all about myself, but Masha, just think! She is your bride. She, the poor girl, has no one in this world but you and me. And if there were any cause, but — We felt as if you had pierced our hearts.

Vilitski: Truly, Mikhail Ivanych . . .

Moshkin: I know, Petrusha. She was here, a little while ago. [Vilitski shudders slightly.] She put her hat on, unexpectedly, this morning, and I asked her: “Where are you going?” and she said, almost dazed: “Let me go. I’ve got to buy something.” [Dejectedly.] Well, she didn’t have to buy anything, Petrusha. You know that she didn’t. ... I let her go and I followed her. I saw that she ran up the street and made straight for here. I stopped at the corner, where the liquor store is, and I watched. I saw that, after a quarter of an hour, my dear little orphan came out of here, her face all tears. She took a cab, hung her head, and began to cry again. [He stops and wipes his eyes.] We must have pity, Petrusha.

Vilitski [agitatedly]: I am guilty, Mikhail Ivanych. I am guilty before her and before you. Pardon me.

Moshkin [with a sigh]: Oh, Petrusha, Petrusha! I didn’t expect this of you!

Vilitski: Pardon me, Mikhail Ivanych.
I am going to tell you all about it. You’ll see, everything will come out all right. That’s true. I shall be at your house to - day, and shall explain it all. Pardon me.

Moshkin: Ah, that’s fine, Petrusha. And, thank God! I know that you wouldn’t hurt us, intentionally. Let me embrace you, my dear. I haven’t seen you for five long days. [Embraces him.]

Vilitski [quickly]: You mustn’t think that I said anything disagreeable to Maria Vasilevna. On the contrary, I tried every which way to calm her, but she was so wrought up
    

Moshkin: I believe you, Petrusha. Only imagine yourself in her place, Petrusha. You don’t dislike us!

Vilitski: How can you think that? . . .

Moshkin: You don’t dislike her, either. She loves you so much, Petrusha. She’ll die, if you jilt her.

Vilitski: Why do you talk that way, Mikhail Ivanych?

Moshkin: Imagine! She is your bride; the wedding day is set, with your consent . . .

Vilitski: Am I changing the day? I love Maria Vasilevna.

Moshkin: Well, thank God, thank God! That means then that it wasn’t anything. It was just some little vision. In the future, Petrusha, better say it out; better reproach us. But those five days . . .

Vilitski: Don’t remind me of them, please. I am shamed, as it is. It will never happen again, believe me.