And you, Rakitin, I’ll see you off . . . I’ll have a horse saddled and wait for you at the dam . . . And in the meantime, mama, for God’s sake don’t disturb Natasha—and you, too, doctor . . . Matvei! Matvei!

Islaev exits hurriedly. Anna Semyonovna sits down with dignity and sorrow. Lizaveta Bogdanovna installs herself behind her. Anna Semyonovna raises her eyes to Heaven, as if wishing to be detached from everything happening around her.

SHPIGELSKY

(Furtively and slyly, to Rakitin) Well, Mikhail Alexandrych, can I give you a lift to the main road with my new little troika?

RAKITIN

Ah! . . . So you’ve already got it?

SHPIGELSKY

(Modestly) I had a talk with Vera Alexandrovna . . . Shall I give you a lift, sir?

RAKITIN

Why not! (Bows to Anna Semyonovna) Anna Semyonovna, I have the honor . . .

ANNA

(Still as majestically, not getting up) Good-bye, Mikhail Alexandrych . . . I wish you a pleasant journey . . .

RAKITIN

I humbly thank you. Lizaveta Bogdanovna . . .

He bows to her. She curtsies in response. He exits to the ballroom.

SHPIGELSKY

(Coming to kiss Anna Semyonovna’s hand) Good-bye, madam . . .

ANNA

(Less majestically, but still sternly) Ah! You’re leaving, too, doctor?

SHPIGELSKY

Yes, ma’am . . . Patients, you know. Besides, as you see, my presence here is not required.

As he makes his bows, he winks slyly at Lizaveta Bogdanovna, who responds with a smile.

Good-bye . . . (Runs out after Rakitin)

ANNA

(Waits until he leaves and, crossing her arms, turns slowly to Lizaveta Bogdanovna) What do you think of all this, my dear? Hm?

LIZAVETA

(Sighing) I don’t know what to tell you, Anna Semyonovna.

ANNA

Have you heard? Belyaev has also left . . .

LIZAVETA

(Sighing again) Ah, Anna Semyonovna, I may not be staying here much longer myself . . . I’m leaving, too.

Anna Semyonovna looks at her with inexpressible amazement. Lizaveta Bogdanovna stands before her without raising her eyes.

CURTAIN

Notes

NOTES

1.  “Monte Cristo . . . haletant:” “Monte Cristo straightened up, panting . . .” From The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas (1802–1870).

2.  Ce que vous êtes pour moi: “What you are for me.” Russian aristocrats often spoke in French, especially in personal conversation.

3.  Wie befinden Sie sich?: “how are you?”

4.  Ja, ja . . . zehr gut: “Yes, yes, yes indeed, yes indeed, very good.”

5.  Erlauben Sie . . . faule Leute: “Permit me.” “Come along.” “Good morning, Mister Schaaf, good morning . . .” “Morning, morning, only not today, so all lazy people say.”

6.  Gnädige Frau. . .: “Madam.”

7.  Es ist unerhört: “This is outrageous.”

8.  Mon enfant . . . le dîner: “My child, you had better put on another dress for dinner.”

9.  Like Tatyana: Tatyana is the heroine of Evgeny Onegin, a novel in verse by Alexander Pushkin (1799–1837). She speaks these words near the end of the book (Chapter Eight, stanza XLVII), confessing that she still loves Onegin as she dismisses him from her life.

10.  On n’entre pas . . . ne convient pas: “One does not come into a room like that . . . It isn’t proper.”

11.  Vera, allez . . . monsieur: “Vera, go on ahead with the gentleman.”