The Live Corpse. Tolstoy Leo
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love such a man – a broken reed, whom one can never depend on? Don't you know what it came to …? [Looks round at the door, and continues hurriedly] All his affairs in a muddle, everything pawned, nothing to pay with! Then their uncle sends 2,000 roubles to pay the interest on their mortgaged estates, and he takes the money and disappears. His wife is left at home, with a sick baby, waiting for him – and at last gets a note asking her to send him his clothes and things!
KARÉNIN. Yes, yes; I know.
Enter Lisa and Sásha.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Well, here is Victor Miháylovich,3 obedient to your summons.
KARÉNIN. Yes, but I am sorry I was delayed for a few minutes.
LISA. Thank you. I have a great favour to ask of you, and I have no one to turn to but you.
KARÉNIN. Anything in my power …
LISA. You know all about …?
KARÉNIN. I do.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Well then, I shall leave you [To Sásha] Come, we'll leave them alone. [Exit with Sásha].
LISA. Yes, he wrote to me saying that he considers everything at an end … [struggling with her tears] … and I was hurt!.. and so … In a word, I consented to break – I answered, accepting his renunciation.
KARÉNIN. And now you repent?
LISA. Yes. I feel that I was wrong, and that I cannot do it. Anything is better than to be separated from him. In short – I want you to give him this letter… Please, Victor, give him the letter, and tell him … and bring him back!
KARÉNIN [surprised] Yes, but how?
LISA. Tell him I ask him to forget everything, and to return. I might simply send the letter, but I know him: his first impulse, as always, will be the right one – but then someone will influence him, and he'll change his mind and not do what he really wants to…
KARÉNIN. I will do what I can.
LISA. You're surprised at my asking you?
KARÉNIN. No… Yet, to tell you the truth – yes, I am surprised.
LISA. But you are not angry?
KARÉNIN. As if I could be angry with you!
LISA. I asked you because I know you care for him.
KARÉNIN. Him, and you too! You know that. I am thinking not of myself, but of you. Thank you for trusting me! I will do what I can.
LISA. I know… I will tell you everything. To-day I went to Afrémov's to find out where he was. I was told he had gone to the gipsies – which is what I feared most of all. I know he will get carried away if he is not stopped in time – and that's what has to be done… So you'll go?
KARÉNIN. Of course, and at once.
LISA. Go!.. Find him, and tell him all is forgotten and I am waiting for him.
KARÉNIN. But where am I to look for him?
LISA. He is with the gipsies. I went there myself… I went as far as the porch, and wished to send in the letter, but changed my mind and decided to ask you. Here is the address… Well, then, tell him to return: tell him nothing has happened … all is forgotten. Do it for love of him, and for the sake of our friendship!
KARÉNIN. I will do all in my power! [Bows, and exit].
LISA. I can't, I can't! Anything rather than … I can't!
Enter Sásha.
SÁSHA. Well, have you sent?
Lisa nods affirmatively.
SÁSHA. And he agreed?
LISA. Of course.
SÁSHA. But why just him? I don't understand.
LISA. But who else?
SÁSHA. Don't you know he is in love with you?
LISA. That's dead and gone. Whom would you have had me send?.. Do you think he will come back?
SÁSHA. I am sure of it, because …
Enter Anna Pávlovna. Sásha is silent.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. And where is Victor Miháylovich?
LISA. He's gone.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Gone! How's that?
LISA. I asked him to do something for me.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. “Do something?” Another secret!
LISA. It's not a secret. I simply asked him to give a letter into Fédya's own hands.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Fédya? What – to Theodore Vasílyevich?
LISA. Yes, to Fédya.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. I thought all relations between you were over!
LISA. I can't part from him.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. What? Are you going to begin all over again?
LISA. I wanted to, and tried … but I can't! Anything you like – only I can't part from him!
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Then do you want to have him back again?
LISA. Yes.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. To let that skunk into the house again?
LISA. Mother, I beg you not to speak so of my husband!
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. He was your husband.
LISA. No, he is my husband still.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. A spendthrift, a drunkard, a rake … and you can't part from him?
LISA. Why do you torment me! You seem to want to do it… It's hard enough for me without that.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. I torment you! Well then, I'll go. I can't stand by and see it…
Lisa is silent.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. I see! That's just what you want – I'm in your way… I can't live so. I can't make you out at all! It's all so new-fangled – first you make up your mind to separate, then you suddenly send for a man who is in love with you …
LISA. Nothing of the kind.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Karénin proposed to you … and you send him to fetch your husband! Why? To arouse jealousy?
LISA. Mother, what you are saying is terrible! Leave me alone!
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Very well! Turn your mother out of the house, and let in your rake of a husband!.. Yes, I will not remain here! Good-bye, then – I leave you to your fate; you can do as you please! [Exit slamming door].
LISA [drops into a chair] That's the last straw!
SÁSHA. Never mind… It will be all right; we'll soon pacify Mother.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA [passing through] Dounyásha! My trunk!
SÁSHA. Mother, listen!.. [follows her out with a significant glance to Lisa].
Scene 2
A room in the gipsies' house. The choir is singing “Kanavela.” Fédya in his shirt-sleeves is lying prone on the sofa. Afrémov sits astride a chair in front of the leader of the choir. An officer sits at a table, on which are bottles of champagne and glasses. A musician is taking notes.
AFRÉMOV. Fédya, are you asleep?
FÉDYA [rising] Don't talk… Now let's have “Not at Eve.”
GIPSY LEADER. That won't do, Theodore Vasílyevich! Let Másha sing a solo now.
FÉDYA. All right! And then, “Not at Eve.” [Lies down again].
OFFICER. Sing “Fateful Hour.”
GIPSY. All agreed?
AFRÉMOV. Go on!
OFFICER [to musician]
The polite way of naming Mr. Karénin.