Page:Plays by Anton Tchekoff (1916).djvu/209

ACT III

carriage is at the door. It is time to start, honoured madam, the train leaves at two-five. Would you be kind enough, madam, to remember to inquire for me where Suzdaltzeff the actor is now? Is he still alive, I wonder? Is he well? He and I have had many a jolly time together. He was inimitable in “The Stolen Mail.” A tragedian called Izmailoff was in the same company, I remember, who was also quite remarkable. Don’t hurry, madam, you still have five minutes. They were both of them conspirators once, in the same melodrama, and one night when in the course of the play they were suddenly discovered, instead of saying “We have been trapped!” Izmailoff cried out: “We have been rapped!” [He laughs] Rapped!

While he has been talking has been busy with the trunks, and the maid has brought  ''her hat, coat, parasol, and gloves. The cook looks hesitatingly through the door on the right, and finally comes into the room''. comes in. comes in.

. [Presenting with a little basket] Here are some plums for the journey. They are very sweet ones. You may want to nibble something good on the way.

. You are very kind, Paulina.

. Good-bye, my dearie. If things have not been quite as you could have wished, please forgive us.

[She weeps.

. It has been delightful, delightful. You mustn’t cry.

''comes in through the door on the left, dressed in a long coat with a cape, and carrying his hat and cane. He crosses the room''.

. Come, sister, it is time to start, unless you want to miss the train. I am going to get into the carriage.

[He goes out.