登陆注册
5590600000002

第2章 ACT I(2)

BORKIN.No,seriously,shan't I marry Martha and halve the money with you?But no,why should I propose it?How can you understand?[Angrily]You say to me:"Stop talking nonsense!"You are a good man and a clever one,but you haven't any red blood in your veins or any--well,enthusiasm.Why,if you wanted to,you and I could cut a dash together that would shame the devil himself.If you were a normal man instead of a morbid hypochondriac we would have a million in a year.For instance,if I had twenty-three hundred roubles now I could make twenty thousand in two weeks.You don't believe me?You think it is all nonsense?No,it isn't nonsense.Give me twenty-three hundred roubles and let me try.Ofsianoff is selling a strip of land across the river for that price.If we buy this,both banks will be ours,and we shall have the right to build a dam across the river.Isn't that so?We can say that we intend to build a mill,and when the people on the river below us hear that we mean to dam the river they will,of course,object violently and we shall say:If you don't want a dam here you will have to pay to get us away.Do you see the result?The factory would give us five thousand roubles,Korolkoff three thousand,the monastery five thousand more--IVANOFF.All that is simply idiotic,Misha.If you don't want me to lose my temper you must keep your schemes to yourself.

BORKIN.[Sits down at the table]Of course!I knew how it would be!You never will act for yourself,and you tie my hands so that I am helpless.

Enter SHABELSKI and LVOFF.

SHABELSKI.The only difference between lawyers and doctors is that lawyers simply rob you,whereas doctors both rob you and kill you.I am not referring to any one present.[Sits down on the bench]They are all frauds and swindlers.Perhaps in Arcadia you might find an exception to the general rule and yet--I have treated thousands of sick people myself in my life,and I have never met a doctor who did not seem to me to be an unmistakable scoundrel.

BORKIN.[To IVANOFF]Yes,you tie my hands and never do anything for yourself,and that is why you have no money.

SHABELSKI.As I said before,I am not referring to any one here at present;there may be exceptions though,after all--[He yawns.]

IVANOFF.[Shuts his book]What have you to tell me,doctor?

LVOFF.[Looks toward the window]Exactly what I said this morning:she must go to the Crimea at once.[Walks up and down.]

SHABELSKI.[Bursts out laughing]To the Crimea!Why don't you and I set up as doctors,Misha?Then,if some Madame Angot or Ophelia finds the world tiresome and begins to cough and be consumptive,all we shall have to do will be to write out a preion according to the laws of medicine:that is,first,we shall order her a young doctor,and then a journey to the Crimea.There some fascinating young Tartar--IVANOFF.[Interrupting]Oh,don't be coarse![To LVOFF]It takes money to go to the Crimea,and even if I could afford it,you know she has refused to go.

LVOFF.Yes,she has.[A pause.]

BORKIN.Look here,doctor,is Anna really so ill that she absolutely must go to the Crimea?

LVOFF.[Looking toward the window]Yes,she has consumption.

BORKIN.Whew!How sad!I have seen in her face for some time that she could not last much longer.

LVOFF.Can't you speak quietly?She can hear everything you say.

[A pause.]

BORKIN.[Sighing]The life of man is like a flower,blooming so gaily in a field.Then,along comes a goat,he eats it,and the flower is gone!

SHABELSKI.Oh,nonsense,nonsense.[Yawning]Everything is a fraud and a swindle.[A pause.]

BORKIN.Gentlemen,I have been trying to tell Nicholas how he can make some money,and have submitted a brilliant plan to him,but my seed,as usual,has fallen on barren soil.Look what a sight he is now:dull,cross,bored,peevish--SHABELSKI.[Gets up and stretches himself]You are always inventing schemes for everybody,you clever fellow,and telling them how to live;can't you tell me something?Give me some good advice,you ingenious young man.Show me a good move to make.

BORKIN.[Getting up]I am going to have a swim.Goodbye,gentlemen.[To Shabelski]There are at least twenty good moves you could make.If I were you I should have twenty thousand roubles in a week.

[He goes out;SHABELSKI follows him.]

SHABELSKI.How would you do it?Come,explain.

BORKIN.There is nothing to explain,it is so simple.[Coming back]Nicholas,give me a rouble.

IVANOFF silently hands him the money BORKIN.Thanks.Shabelski,you still hold some trump cards.

SHABELSKI follows him out.

SHABELSKI.Well,what are they?

BORKIN.If I were you I should have thirty thousand roubles and more in a week.[They go out together.]

IVANOFF.[After a pause]Useless people,useless talk,and the necessity of answering stupid questions,have wearied me so,doctor,that I am ill.I have become so irritable and bitter that I don't know myself.My head aches for days at a time.I hear a ringing in my ears,I can't sleep,and yet there is no escape from it all,absolutely none.

LVOFF.Ivanoff,I have something serious to speak to you about.

IVANOFF.What is it ?

LVOFF.It is about your wife.She refuses to go to the Crimea alone,but she would go with you.

IVANOFF.[Thoughtfully]It would cost a great deal for us both to go,and besides,I could not get leave to be away for so long.Ihave had one holiday already this year.

LVOFF.Very well,let us admit that.Now to proceed.The best cure for consumption is absolute peace of mind,and your wife has none whatever.She is forever excited by your behaviour to her.

Forgive me,I am excited and am going to speak frankly.Your treatment of her is killing her.[A pause]Ivanoff,let me believe better things of you.

同类推荐
  • 文殊师利所说不思议佛境界经

    文殊师利所说不思议佛境界经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大威怒乌刍涩摩仪轨

    大威怒乌刍涩摩仪轨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • DRACULA

    DRACULA

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大唐西域记

    大唐西域记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 苦吟

    苦吟

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 安然一笑暖晨光

    安然一笑暖晨光

    她,集智慧与美貌与一身的职业杀手,在一次任务中遭到算计,为了救情同手足的兄弟与敌人同归于尽。本以为自己气数已尽,却不料自己的灵魂穿越到了沈府三小姐身上。沈府在当时可算得上是京城数一数二的大户人家,不知是巧合还是注定,这位三小姐沈晨竟与她同名同姓,只可惜是一个娇弱、没有地位的庶出。等待她的不是享不尽的荣华富贵,而是无休止的遭人暗算和斗争。她凭借着自己过人的头脑和现代所拥有的智慧,化险为夷,不仅使自家的事业发扬光大,还遇到了一生一世一双人的那个他。他为了她,放弃皇位,与她浪迹天涯。在看似幸福的背后,又有谁知道她是走过怎样艰辛的路?【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 孩子不可以

    孩子不可以

    这是一本有关儿童安全的小百科全书内容涵盖生活的各个方面针对现代社会有关儿童安全方面的各种隐患从实际生活入手……
  • 灼世风云录

    灼世风云录

    当天下共主不再尊贵,当各方诸侯摩拳擦掌,历史的画笔沾染着阵阵腥风血雨,徐徐地描绘出一副乱世画卷。拥有独特血脉的少年,手持名刃,历经各种变故和尘世沧桑之后,悄然成长。
  • 神武剑皇

    神武剑皇

    紫极元身,拥有之人受尽上天眷顾,让漫天神魔为之嫉妒。可惜世上没有免费的午餐,要铸造此等神躯,必须有人甘愿牺牲,用自己身体为鼎,以自己千秋万世绵绵无尽的痛苦为代价,才能替他人铸就。转伦剑,受尽诸天神魔诅咒的不祥之剑,有着毁天灭地的威力,可将永恒不死的神魔送入轮回。但因为剑上承载的神魔诅咒实在太重,拥有之人都会受尽无数苦难,死于非命,且死状凄惨。问天何极?问地何寿?一曲古老苍凉的问天阙歌,自混沌初开,天地间的无尽黑暗中生出第一缕光明以来就已存在,可惜,却无人能解其中奥秘三者同时归一,会铸造何等令天地星辰崩猝的传奇。
  • 女配重生:废材王爷心上宠

    女配重生:废材王爷心上宠

    上一世,花兮身为名家大族的嫡系长女,却活的浑浑噩噩,双眼被情爱两字所蒙蔽。失去一切时,恍然醒悟已然迟了。而这一切不过是因为她是书里面的女配,所以她做什么都是错,做什么都是为男主铺路。最后甚至连她的家人都不得好死。这辈子,她要这天再也遮不住她眼,这地再也挡不住她心!
  • 太上老君玄妙枕中内德神咒经

    太上老君玄妙枕中内德神咒经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 光芒纪4·星芒

    光芒纪4·星芒

    叶深深在服装设计上屡创奇迹,在时尚界打出了巨大的名气,更在关键时刻力挽狂澜,以“中国力量”拯救了巴斯蒂安品牌,巴斯蒂安深受感动,帮助叶深深创办“深叶”。在事业上大获成功的叶深深,也逐渐感动了顾父,争取到了自己与顾成殊的爱情。一批国外品牌为狙击叶深深的品牌在欧洲市场扎根,使得叶深深四面楚歌。顾成殊和叶深深不屈不挠,向对方展开还击。在远赴美国拿到了破历史纪录的全球最佳设计师大奖之后,终于成功扭转了局势。此时叶深深受邀为众多首脑设计出席大会的衣服,然而郁霏与坏人勾结,破坏了服装,危急时刻,叶深深与朋友成功地赶在最后一秒将完美的成衣交出,拯救了叶深深的设计师之路,更维护了国家形象,展现了中国风采。
  • 海洋:海洋的深潜计划

    海洋:海洋的深潜计划

    我们看到海洋表面平平坦坦,那么海底是不是平的呢?其实海底并不是那么平坦的。长期以来,人们为了探测海洋到底有多深,花费了不少心思。在1920年以前,人们用绳子系上重锤探测海洋的深度。这种古老的方法用来探测浅海还可以,探测深海就不实用了。后来人们学会利用回声探测才对海底有了比较全面的了解。
  • 鬼王的金牌宠妃

    鬼王的金牌宠妃

    一朝穿越,竟成了古代版的灰姑娘,不但被妹妹抢了未婚夫,还被父亲推出去——笑话!从来只有她宰人,何时轮到他们嚣张了!打她?行!一针让你再也抬不起右手!骂她?成!一脚把你踹下冰湖喂鲤鱼!暗杀?好!让你们看不到明天的太阳!没问题!她可是黑白通吃的“混世魔女”,她倒要看看,他们俩到底谁更嗜血!谁更狠!嫁入王府,她才知道这鬼王竟与外界传闻完全不同。不但身中奇毒,日日服药,而且每逢月圆之夜都要承受蚀骨锥心之痛。那男子羸弱模样,竟让她渐渐放下防备,心生怜惜。她发誓,谁让他如此,她要千倍,不,万倍地偿还给对方!只是,这男人似乎,和表面看到的不太一样…———————————————————————————————【片段欣赏一】“王,靖王爷纠缠王妃——”“阉了。”“上官少爷送情书给王妃——”“砍了。”“皇贵妃刁难王妃——”“废了。”“魔域抢我们的地盘——”“找出他们的主子,男的,灭了;女的,送军营。”“王,魔域的主子是王妃…”“噢?让路,把地盘送给王妃!”“是…”“告诉王妃,我的就是她的——”“这…”“我的人都是她的,更何况身外之物——”“呃…”“之前王妃不是看上了无极宫么,端了给王妃送去!”“噗…”“问问王妃还喜欢什么,要皇位,本王也夺了!”“轰——”某侍卫栽倒,口吐白沫,浑身抽搐。【片段欣赏二】“小姐,有人出重金要姑爷项上人头。”红罗帐,帘外,黑衣人恭敬站着,帘里,女子亲昵地依偎在男人怀中。“多少钱?”女子轻笑。“五千两黄金。”“真便宜…爷,要不你给我一万,这事儿就罢了——”女子的纤纤玉指在男人身上点燃一串串火苗。“如果我说不——”男人握住女子柔荑,放在唇边轻啄。“无情,发出‘追命符’,杀鬼王者赏黄金万两,外加‘年度最佳杀手奖’。”“七儿可是要谋杀亲夫?!”“你敢!”新人新文,多谢支持!
  • 纵横诸天的武者

    纵横诸天的武者

    纵横诸天万界,追求武之真谛!现代青年雷虎无意中穿入诸天万界,追求武道成为最强的故事!