Delphi Complete Works of Anton Chekhov

SCENE VII.

OSSIP, YAKOV and VASSILY.

OSSIP (entering). Five good ones! Six poor ones! The devil knows the sort of thing they take up with! Much better if they played a decent card game... (To Yakov.) Well, Yasha! Is he . . . h’m . . . Vengerovitch here?

YAKOV. Yes, he’s here.

OSSIP. Go call him! On the quiet, like. Tell him there’s a big affair on.

YAKOV. Very well. (Goes into the house.)

OSSIP (tears down a lantern and, extinguishing the flame, puts the lantern into his pocket). During the past year I was in town at Darya Ivanovna’s, who buys stolen goods and runs a drinking establishment with girls, and I played cards with her . . . three copecks a go... The fines reached two roubles, but I won eight... (Tears down another lantern;.) It’s cheerful in town!

VASSILY. Those lanterns weren’t hung up for your benefit! What’s the idea in tearing them down?

OSSIP. I don’t even see you! Well, ass, how do you do? How are you getting on? (Goes up to him.) How’s business? (Pause.) Oh, you horse! Oh, you

swine-herd! (Takes Vassily’s hat from his head.) To look at you is to laugh! Yes, to laugh. Have you but a single drop of brain? (He throws Vassily’s hat on the tree.) Why don’t you hit me across the cheek for being a noxious fellow? VASSILY. Let someone else hit you, but not I!

OSSIP. Maybe you’d like to kill me? If you’ve got any brains you wouldn’t get your crowd to kill me, you’d kill me yourself! Spit into my face, if you will, because I’m a noxious fellow!

VASSILY. I shan’t spit. Why don’t you let me alone?

OSSIP. Aren’t you going to spit at me? That means you’re afraid of me! Then get down on your knees before me! (Pause.) Well? Get down on your knees, I tell you! Whom am I talking to? To the walls or to a live man? (Pause.) Whom am I talking to? VASSILY (falling to his knees). It’s a sin against yourself, Ossip Ivanitch.

OSSIP. Aren’t you ashamed to be on your knees? Well, it pleases me mightily... Here’s a gentleman in a frock coat, and he’s on his knees before a ruffian... Now shout hurrah, if you’ve the spirit left... Well? (Enter Vengerovitch I.)