DIKOY. But why on earth do you come pestering me with every sort of idiocy? It's possible, don't you see, that I don't want to talk to you. You ought first to ascertain whether I am disposed to listen to you or not, you dolt. What am I to you? … am I your equal, eh? Damn the fellow! A mighty clever idea he's hit upon! And then up he must come and straightway start holding forth upon it.
KULIGIN. If I were about my own business, I should be to blame certainly. But I am speaking in the public interest, your worship. And it's no great matter spending about a pound on a public object! More than that would not be needed, sir.
DIKOY.
I daresay you'd like to pocket the money; who knows anything of you?
KULIGIN. Seeing that I want to give my services for nothing, your worship, how could I pocket anything? And everyone knows me here; no one can say any harm of me.
DIKOY.
They may know you, for all I care, but I don't want to know you.
KULIGIN.
Why insult an honest man, sir?
DIKOY. Am I to account to you for what I say or do? Let me tell you I allow no one to criticise my actions—no, not folks of far more consequence than you. I shall think of you as I choose to think of you. Others may say you're an honest man, but I look upon you as a brigand, and that's all about it. You seem anxious to hear my opinion, so here it is! I say you're a brigand, and nothing else! Do you want to have the law of me, hey? Very well then, let me tell you you're a worm. If I choose, I spare you; if I choose, I can trample you under foot!
KULIGIN. So be it, Saviol Prokofitch! I am only a poor man, sir, it costs little to be rude to me. But let me remind you, your honour, virtue is honourable even in rags!
DIKOY.
None of your insolence now! Mind that!
KULIGIN. I am not being insolent to you in any way, sir, and I merely addressed you because I thought you might have a mind to do something for the town sometime. You have a great deal of power, your worship, if only you had the wish to do some good. Now, for instance, we've storms so often, and yet we don't put up lightning conductors.
DIKOY (haughtily).
It's all vanity!
KULIGIN.
How can it be vanity when experiments have been made.
DIKOY.
What sort of lightning conductors are you talking about?
KULIGIN.
Steel ones.
DIKOY (wrathfully).
Well, and what then?
KULIGIN.
Steel rods.
DIKOY (getting more and more furious). I hear they're steel rods, you viper, but what of it? Granted they're steel rods! Well, what of it?
KULIGIN.
Nothing.
DIKOY.
And what is the cause of a storm to your notions, hey? Come, speak up!
KULIGIN.
Electricity.
DIKOY (stamping). 'Lectricity he says! Ah, a brigand you are and no mistake! a storm is sent as a chastisement to make us feel our sins, and you want with rods and tackle of one sort and another, God forgive you, to ward it off! What, are you a Tartar or what? Are you a Tartar? Speak up! A Tartar, hey?
KULIGIN.
Saviol Prokofitch, your honour, Derzhavin said:
In body, I languish in the dust,
In mind, I command the tempest.
DIKOY. For such words you ought to be led off to the police captain, he'd give it to you! Just listen, worthy citizens, what the fellow is saying!
KULIGIN. There's no help for it, I must submit! But when I have made my fortune, then you'll see how I'll talk!
[With a wave of his hand goes out.
DIKOY. What! are you going to steal a fortune? Stop him! The false scoundrel! How ever is one to treat such people! I don't know. (Turning to the crowd) And you, damned rascals, you're enough to make anyone swear! Here I'd no wish to lose my temper, and he must needs go and put me out, as if it were on purpose. Curse the fellow! (angrily) Has the rain given over, eh?
FIRST.
I fancy it has.
DIKOY.
You fancy! go and see, you fool. Tell me, you fancy, indeed!
FIRST (going outside the arches).
It has left off!
[Dikoy goes out and all follow him. The scene is empty for a little while. Varvara runs quickly in under the arcade and, hiding herself, peeps out.
SCENE III
VARVARA and later BORIS.
VARVARA.
I believe it's he! (Boris advances from the background of the scene.)
Sss-sss! (Boris looks round.) Come here. (She beckons, Boris goes up to
her.) What are we to do with Katerina? For mercy's sake tell me!
BORIS.
Why, what is it?
VARVARA. It's terrible, that's all. Her husband has come back, do you know that? We didn't expect him, but he's here.
BORIS.
No, I didn't know it.
VARVARA.
She's simply beside herself.
BORIS. It seems as if I had only lived for these ten short days that he has been away. And now not to see her!
VARVARA. Oh, I've no patience with you! I've something to tell you! She's shaking all over, as if she were in a fever. She's so pale, she wanders about the house, as though she were looking for something. Her eyes are wild, she's like a mad thing! She began crying long ago in the morning, she simply sobs. Merciful Heavens, what am I to do with her?
BORIS.
But perhaps this will pass off.
VARVARA. I doubt it. She daren't raise her eyes to her husband. Mamma's begun to notice it, and she follows her about and keeps a suspicious eye upon her. She looks daggers at her; and that makes her worse than ever. It makes one wretched to see her. And I'm afraid too.
BORIS.
What are you afraid of?
VARVARA. You don't know her. She's a strange creature. One never knows what to expect from her! She will do things …
BORIS. My God! What's to be done? You must talk to her thoroughly. Can't you manage to soothe her?
VARVARA.
I've tried. She doesn't even hear. Better leave her alone.
BORIS.
Well, what do you suppose she may do?
VARVARA. Why, simply this: fling herself down at her husband's feet, and tell him everything. That's what I'm afraid of.
BORIS (with horror).
Could she possibly!
VARVARA.
She may do anything.
BORIS.