Delphi Complete Works of Anton Chekhov

SCENE VIII.

VENGEROVITCH II (in the depth of the scene),

PLATONOV,

ANNA PETROVNA, PETRIN and STCHERBOOK.

PETRIN. Hurrah! Hurrah! Where’s the road? Where have we come to? What’s this? (Laughs.) Here, dear Paul, is the place of national education! Here they teach fools to forget God and cheat folk! That’s where we’ve got to... H’m . . . So . . . Here, brother, is he who . . . how’s he called? Oh, yes, Plat-tonov... Platty ... a civilized man... Paul, where’s Platty now? Tell me, don’t be ashamed! D’you think he’s singing a duet with the general’s widow? Oh, God, it’s your will... (Shouts.) Glagolyev’s a fool! She snubbed him, and he had a stroke!

STCHERBOOK. I want to go home, Gerasya. ... I feel terribly sleepy. . . .

PETRIN. Where are our frock-coats, Paul? We’re going to the station-master’s for the night, and we haven’t our coats... (Laughs.) The girls have taken them, eh? Oh, you cavalier, cavalier! (Sighs.) Ah, Paul . . . did you drink champagne? Anyhow, you’re drunk... D’you know whose champagne you drank? Mine! What you drank was mine, and what you ate was mine... The widow’s frock is mine, and her Sergey’s socks are mine . . . all’s mine! They got it all from me! And the heels on my own boots are all askew. ... I gave them everything, and what have I received in return? They thumbed their noses at me, that’s all! Yes . . .

PLATONOV. I’m sick of this!

ANNA PETROVNA. Don’t . . . They’ll leave in a minute! What a beast, this Petrin! How he lies! And the old rag with him believes . . . PETRIN. The Jew gets more respect . . . The Jew’s at the head, while we’re at the feet . . . Why? Because the Jew hands out more money . . . From now on, not another penny! I’ll protest my note! Tomorrow! I’ll shove her ungrateful head into the mud!

[PLATONOV (walking up to them). Get out! PETRIN. What?

PLATONOV. Get out!

PETRIN. Why be angry? It’s not necessary to be angry! Where’s the road here? There it is! Good-bye, Mr. Platonov! Did you hear me abuse her?

PLATONOV. Yes, I heard you.

PETRIN. Don’t say a word to her! I’ve only joked. ... I said to Paul . . .

PLATONOV. Good . . . Only get out! I say, Gerasim Kuzmitch . . . If I see you again at the Voinitzevs, or if I hear say but a single word about the sixteen thousand, you old scoundrel, then . . . I’ll throw you out of the window! ]

[PETRIN. I understand, young man! . . . Take me, Paul, by the arm! You’re my one friend... (They go.)]