Complete Works of Anton Chekhov

SCENE XX.

GLAGOLYEV i and GLAGOLYEV ii (come from the house).

GLAGOLYEV i. You lie! You lie, you nasty urchin! GLAGOLYEV II. What stupidity! Why should I lie? You ask her yourself, if you don’t believe me! As soon as you left me I did nothing more than whisper a word or two in her ear, embraced her, kissed her... At first she asked three thousand. Well, I bargained with her and she came down to a thousand! Give me a thousand roubles!

GLAGOLYEV i. Kiryl, this matter concerns a woman’s honour! Don’t soil this honour, it’s sacred! Be silent! GLAGOLYEV II. I swear by my own honour! You don’t believe me? I swear by all that’s sacred! Give me the thousand! I’ll take it to her. GLAGOLYEV I. It’s terrible... You lie! She made a jest with you, a stupid fellow! GLAGOLYEV II. But I tell you, I embraced her! That’s not surprising! All women are like that nowadays. Don’t believe in their innocence! I know them! And you actually wanted to marry her! {Laughs.) GLAGOLYEV I. For God’s sake, Kiryl! Do you know what slander is?

GLAGOLYEV II. Give me the thousand! I’ll hand the money to her in your presence. On this very form I embraced her, kissed her, and bargained with her. ... I swear! What more do you want? Why, I sent you away from here on purpose, in order to bargain with her! He doesn’t believe me that I’m able to overcome women! Just try proposing two thousand to her, and she’s yours! I know women, man! GLAGOLYEV I {takes wallet from his focket and flings it on the ground). There, take it! GLAGOLYEV II (picks wp the wallet and counts the money).

VOICE OF VOINITZEV. I’m beginning! Shoot, mamanl Triletzky, climb up on the summer-house! Who’s stepped on the box? You!

VOICE OF

TRILETZKY. I’m climbing, the devil take me! {Laughs.) Who’s this? I’ve stepped on Bugrov’s head! Where are the matches? GLAGOLYEV II {aside). I’m avenged! {He shouts.) Hur-rah-h! {Runs away.)

TRILETZKY. Who’s raising that racket there? Give him one across the neck!

VOICE OF VOINITZEV. Shall we begin?

GLAGOLYEV i {holding his head). My God! What corruption! And I prayed to her! Forgive her, oh Lord! {He sits down on the form and covers his face with his hands.)

VOICE OF VOINITZEV. Who’s taken the cord? Mamany aren’t you ashamed? Where’s the bit of cord that had been lying here?

VOICE OF

ANNA PETROVNA. Here it is, lazybones! GLAGOLYEV I (rises, tottering, from the form).

VOICE OF

ANNA PETROVNA. YOU? Who are you? Don’t stamp about here! (She shouts.) Bring it here! Here! (Sofya Egorovna comes running in.)