Part 11 (1/2)

What can I say to the choir? Gallivanting with a beggar--what can you get out of him?

MaSHA. I don't gallivant! I love this gentleman, that's all. I've not left the choir. I'll go on singing, and what ...

IVaN. Say another word, and I'll pull the hair off your head!...

s.l.u.t!... Who behaves like that? Not your father, nor your mother, nor your aunt!... It's bad, sir! We were fond of you--often and often we sang to you without pay. We pitied you, and what have you done?

NASTaSIA. You've ruined our daughter for nothing ... our own, our only daughter, the light of our eyes, our priceless jewel--you've trodden her into the mire, that's what you've done! You've no conscience.

FeDYA. Nastasia Ivanovna, you suspect me falsely. Your daughter is like a sister to me. I care for her honour. You must think no evil ... but I love her! What is one to do?

IVaN. But you didn't love her when you had money! If you'd then subscribed ten thousand roubles or so to the choir, you might have had her honourably. But now you've squandered everything, and carry her off by stealth! It's a shame, sir, a shame!

MaSHA. He has not carried me off! I came to him myself, and if you take me away now, I shall come back again. I love him, and there's an end of it! My love is stronger than all your locks ... I won't!

NASTaSIA. Come, Masha dearest! Come, my own! Don't sulk. You've done wrong, and now come along.

IVaN. Now then, you've talked enough! March! [Seizes her hand] Excuse us, sir! [Exit the three gipsies].

Enter Prince Abrezkov.

PRINCE ABReZKOV. Excuse me. I have been an unwilling witness of an unpleasant scene....

FeDYA. Whom have I the honour?... [Recognises the Prince] Ah, Prince Abrezkov! [They shake hands].

PRINCE ABReZKOV. An unwilling witness of an unpleasant scene. I should have been glad not to hear, but having overheard it, I consider it my duty to tell you so. I was directed here, and had to wait at the door for those people to come out--more particularly as their very loud voices rendered my knocking inaudible.

FeDYA. Yes, yes--please take a seat. Thank you for telling me: it gives me the right to explain that scene to you. I don't mind what you may think of me, but I should like to tell you that the reproaches you heard addressed to that girl, that gipsy singer, were unjust. That girl is as morally pure as a dove; and my relations with her are those of a friend.

There may be a tinge of romance in them, but it does not destroy the purity--the honour--of the girl. That is what I wished to tell you; but what is it you want of me? In what way can I be of service?

PRINCE ABReZKOV. In the first place, I ...

FeDYA. Forgive me, Prince. My present social standing is such, that my former slight acquaintance with you does not ent.i.tle me to a visit from you, unless you have some business with me. What is it?

PRINCE ABReZKOV. I won't deny it. You have guessed right. I have business with you; but I beg you to believe that the alteration in your position in no wise affects my att.i.tude towards you.

FeDYA. I am sure of it.

PRINCE ABReZKOV. My business is this. The son of my old friend, Anna Dmitrievna Karenina, and she herself, have asked me to ascertain directly from you what are your relations ... May I speak out?... your relations with your wife, Elisabeth Andreyevna Protasova.

FeDYA. My relations with my wife, or rather with her who _was_ my wife, are entirely at an end.

PRINCE ABReZKOV. So I understood, and that is why I accepted this difficult mission.

FeDYA. At an end, and, I hasten to add, not by her fault, but by mine--by my innumerable faults. She is, as she always was, quite irreproachable.

PRINCE ABReZKOV. Well then, Victor Karenin, or rather his mother, asked me to find out what your intentions are.

FeDYA [growing excited] What intentions? I have none. I set her quite free! Moreover, I will never disturb her peace. I know she loves Victor Karenin. Well, let her! I consider him a very dull, but very good and honourable man, and I think that she will, as the phrase goes, be happy with him; and--_que le bon Dieu les benisse_![20] That's all ...

[20] May G.o.d bless them!

PRINCE ABReZKOV. Yes, but we ...