Ivanov

LvovI find human cruelty shocking, you know. The woman is dying, and you openly and for reasons obvious to everybody abandon her every day to go over to those Lebedevs.

IvanovAs a matter of fact, I haven’t been there for two weeks.

Lvov(not listening to him) With people like you, one has to speak plainly and get straight to the point, and if you don’t like it, don’t listen. I’m used to calling things by their proper name. You need her to die so that you can move on to fresh conquests. So be it, but can’t you show a little patience? Do you think you’ll lose the Lebedev girl if you let death take its natural course – instead of harrying your wife to the grave with your bare-faced cynicism? You’ll have no trouble turning some young woman’s head for a dowry, so what’s the hurry? Why do you need your wife to die now and not in a month or a year?

IvanovThis is unbearable. You’re a pretty poor doctor if you think a man can control himself indefinitely – I’m making a huge effort not to give your insults the answer they deserve.

LvovOh, you can drop that pose, Pushkin! I’m not taken in by it.

IvanovIf you’re so clever, consider for a moment. You think it’s a simple matter to understand me, do you? I married Anna for her money; I didn’t get any of it, so now I’m hastening her death so I can try someone else. Simple! What a simple machine is man. But there’s too many cogs and springs and wheels within wheels for such easy judgements. I don’t understand what’s going on inside you; you don’t understand me, and neither of us understands himself.

LvovDo you really think you’re so complicated, and I’m so simple, that I don’t know wickedness when I see it?

IvanovIt’s a waste of breath. So for the last time, and without going off at a tangent, tell me exactly what you want me to do. What are you driving at? And, incidentally, am I addressing the public prosecutor or my wife’s doctor?

LvovI am a doctor, and as a doctor I ask you to amend your behaviour. It’s killing your wife.

IvanovBut what do you wish me to do? If you know something about me that I don’t, just spell it out.

LvovAt least don’t be so indiscreet about . . . you know who I mean.

Ivanov(enlightened)

God Almighty, do you know what you’re saying? Get out. I’m a sinner a thousand times over, but I’ll answer to God. No one has given you the right to hound me day after day.

LvovAnd who gave you the right to destroy my belief in human nature? Until I met you, I could accept that people can lose their minds and do wicked things when they couldn’t help themselves, but I never knew there were wicked people who could consciously and wilfully commit evil. You’ve poisoned my faith in humanity.

IvanovYou should see a doctor.

Lvov sees Sasha entering; she is in a riding habit.

LvovReally? Well, now I hope we understand each other perfectly!

He shrugs his shoulders and goes out.

Ivanov(alarmed) Sasha – what are you doing here?

SashaHello. Did you think I wouldn’t come? Why have you kept away all this time?

IvanovSasha, for God’s sake, this is crazy. If my wife knew you were here, it would be the finish of her.

SashaShe won’t see me. I came in the back way. I’ll only stay a minute. I was worried about you. Are you all right? Why haven’t you come to see us?

IvanovMy wife is upset with me as it is, she’s almost dead and you show up here! Oh, Sasha, that was thoughtless and selfish.

SashaWhat else could I do? I haven’t seen you for two weeks, and you haven’t answered my letters. I was at my wits’ end. You could have been ill or dead for all I knew. I’ve hardly slept. Well, I’ll go now – just tell me you’re all right.

IvanovWell, I’m not, I’m exhausted. People won’t leave me alone. I’m out flat. And now you show up. This is all wrong, it’s not right. Oh, Sasha, I’m to blame for everything!

SashaHow you love to say all these doomy things. Blame for what? What are you supposed to have done?

IvanovI

don’t know, I don’t know . . .

SashaThat’s no answer. You must know what you feel guilty about. Have you been forging banknotes or what?

IvanovDon’t joke.

SashaAre you guilty of not loving your wife any more? I don’t see how that’s your fault, you didn’t want to stop loving her. Or do you feel guilty because she saw us when I told you I loved you? – but you didn’t ask for that to happen either.

Ivanov(interrupting) And on and on . . . I fell in love, fell out of love, didn’t want to stop loving her . . . One shop-worn banality after another, none of it helps –

SashaIt’s so tiring talking to you. (Looks at a picture on the wall.) I like the painting of the dog. Was it done from life?