Page:Plays by Anton Tchekoff (1916).djvu/143

ACT III

guilty. Think of any punishment you want to inflict on me; I can stand anything, but don’t, oh, don’t ask questions!

. [Angrily] So that is the sort of man you are? Now I understand you, and can see how degraded, how dishonourable you are! Do you remember that you came to me once and lied to me about your love? I believed you, and left my mother, my father, and my faith to follow you. Yes, you lied to me of goodness and honour, of your noble aspirations and I believed every word

. I have never lied to you, Annie.

. I have lived with you five years now, and I am tired and ill, but I have always loved you and have never left you fora moment. You have been my idol, and what have you done? All this time you have been deceiving me in the most dastardly way

. Annie, don’t say what isn’t so. I have made mistakes, but I have never told a lie in my life. You dare not accuse me of that!

. It is all clear to me now. You married me because you expected my mother and father to forgive me and give you my money; that is what you expected.

. Good Lord, Annie! If I must suffer like this, I must have the patience to bear it.

[He begins to weep.

. Be quiet! When you found that I wasn’t bringing you any money, you tried another game. Now I remember and understand everything. [She begins to cry] You have never loved me or been faithful to me—never!

. Sarah! That is a lie! Say what you want, but don’t insult me with a lie!

. You dishonest, degraded man! You owe money to Lebedieff, and now, to escape paying your debts, you are trying to turn the head of his daughter and betray her as you have betrayed me. Can you deny it?