RAKITIN
Then why are we reading it?
NATALYA
I’ll tell you why. The other day a lady said to me: “You haven’t read Monte Cristo? Oh, you should—it’s enchanting!” I didn’t answer her then, but now I can tell her that I’ve read it and didn’t find it “enchanting” at all.
RAKITIN
Well, since you already know that . . .
NATALYA
Ah, you’re so lazy!
RAKITIN
I’ll go on if you like . . . (Searching for the place where he stopped) “. . . se redressa haletant, et . . .”
NATALYA
(Interrupting him herself) Have you seen Arkady today?
RAKITIN
I ran into him at the dam . . . They’re repairing it. He was showing the workmen what to do, and to show them better he had waded in up to his knees.
NATALYA
He’s too passionate about everything . . . he tries too hard. That’s a shortcoming. What do you think?
RAKITIN
I agree with you.
NATALYA
How boring! . . . You always agree with me. Read.
RAKITIN
So you want me to argue with you? . . . Fine.
NATALYA
I want . . . I want! . . . I want you to want . . . Read, I’m telling you.
RAKITIN
Yes, ma’am. (He picks up the book again)
SCHAAF
Haartz.
ANNA
What? Again? I can’t stand it! (To Natalya Petrovna) Natasha . . . Natasha . . .
NATALYA
What?
ANNA
Imagine, Schaaf will be the death of us . . . Seven or eight hearts every time.
SCHAAF
Und dis time sefen.
ANNA
Hear that? It’s terrible!
NATALYA
Yes . . . terrible.
ANNA
Pass! (To Natalya Petrovna) Where’s Kolya?
NATALYA
Out walking with his new tutor.
ANNA
Lizaveta Bogdanovna, it’s up to you.
RAKITIN
(To Natalya Petrovna) What tutor?
NATALYA
Ah, yes! I forgot to tell you . . . while you were away, we hired a new tutor.
RAKITIN
To replace Dufour?
NATALYA
No . . . He’s Russian. The princess is going to send us a Frenchman from Moscow.
RAKITIN
What’s he like, this Russian? Old?
NATALYA
No, young . . . Anyway, he’s just here for the summer.
RAKITIN
Ah! So he’s temporary.
NATALYA
Yes, I guess you could say that. You know what, Rakitin? You love observing people, picking them apart, rummaging around in them . . .
RAKITIN
Good God, what are you . . .
NATALYA
Oh, you do, you do . . . So why don’t you turn your mind to him. I like him. Slender, well-built, bright-eyed, confident . . . You’ll see. Maybe a little awkward . . . that you won’t like.
RAKITIN
Natalya Petrovna, you’re persecuting me terribly today.
NATALYA
Joking aside, turn your mind to him. He seems to have the makings of a nice man. But, anyway, God knows!
RAKITIN
You’ve piqued my curiosity . . .
NATALYA
Have I? (Pensively) Read.
RAKITIN
“Se redressa haletant, et . . .”
NATALYA
(Suddenly looking around) Where’s Vera? I haven’t seen her since morning. (With a smile, to Rakitin) Forget the book . . . I see it’s not our day for reading . . . Better tell me something . . .