(Raises his head. There are tears in his eyes) Good-bye, brother. It’s sort of . . . not so easy. I didn’t expect it. Like a bolt from the blue. Well, it will all come out right in the end. But thanks, thanks all the same! You’re a real friend!

RAKITIN

(To himself, through his teeth) This is too much! (Abruptly) Goodbye.

He is about to go to the ballroom . . . Shpigelsky comes running out to him.

SHPIGELSKY

What is it? They told me Natalya Petrovna’s ill . . .

ISLAEV

(Getting up) Who told you?

SHPIGELSKY

The girl . . . the maid . . .

ISLAEV

It’s nothing, doctor. I think it’s better not to disturb Natasha just now . . .

SHPIGELSKY

Ah, well, excellent! (To Rakitin) I hear you’re going to town?

RAKITIN

Yes. On business.

SHPIGELSKY

Ah, on business! . . .

Just then Anna Semyonovna, Lizaveta Bogdanovna, Kolya and Schaaf burst in all at once from the ballroom.

ANNA

What is it? What is it? What’s wrong with Natasha?

KOLYA

What’s wrong with mama? What’s wrong with her?

ISLAEV

Nothing’s wrong with her . . . I just saw her . . . What is all this?

ANNA

Good lord, Arkasha, we were told Natasha’s ill . . .

ISLAEV

You shouldn’t have believed it.

ANNA

Why are you angry, Arkasha? You can understand our concern . . .

ISLAEV

Of course . . . of course . . .

RAKITIN

Anyway, it’s time for me to go.

ANNA

You’re leaving?

RAKITIN

Yes . . . leaving.

ANNA

(To herself) Ah! Now I understand.

KOLYA

(To Islaev) Papa . . .

ISLAEV

What is it?

KOLYA

Why has Alexei Nikolaich gone away?

ISLAEV

Where has he gone?

KOLYA

I don’t know . . . He kissed me, put his cap on, and left . . . It’s time for my Russian lesson.

ISLAEV

He’ll probably be back very soon . . . Or I could send for him.

RAKITIN

(In a low voice to Islaev) Don’t send for him, Arkady. He won’t come back.

Anna Semyonovna tries to eavesdrop. Shpigelsky exchanges whispers with Lizaveta Bogdanovna.

ISLAEV

What does that mean?

RAKITIN

He’s gone.

ISLAEV

Gone? . . . Where?

RAKITIN

To Moscow.

ISLAEV

To Moscow! What, has everybody lost their minds today, or something?

RAKITIN

(Bending his head lower) Just between us . . . Verochka fell in love with him . . . Well, and so he, being an honorable man, decided to go away.

Islaev throws up his arms and sinks into the armchair.

Now you understand why . . .

ISLAEV

(Jumping up) Me? I understand nothing. My head’s spinning. Nothing makes any sense! Everybody’s scurrying in all directions like partridges, and it’s all because they’re honorable men . . . And all of them at once, on the same day . . .

ANNA

(Coming to him from the side) But what is it? Did you say Mr. Belyaev . . .

ISLAEV

(Shouts nervously) Never mind, mother, never mind! Mr. Schaaf, please give Kolya his lesson now instead of Mr. Belyaev. Please take him away.

SCHAAF

Fery goot, sir . . . (Takes Kolya by the arm)

KOLYA

But, papa . . .

ISLAEV

(Shouts) Out, out!

Schaaf exits with Kolya.