Page:Plays by Anton Tchekoff (1916).djvu/43

ACT II . Are you alone here? No women about?

[Sings with his arms akimbo.

The thunderstorm woke me. It was a heavy shower. What time is it?

. The devil only knows.

. I thought I heard Helena’s voice.

. She was here a moment ago.

. What a beautiful woman! [Looking at the medicine bottles on the table] Medicine, is it? What a variety we have; prescriptions from Moscow, from Kharkoff, from Tula! Why, he has been pestering all the towns of Russia with his gout! Is he ill, or simply shamming?

. He is really ill.

. What is the matter with you to-night? You seem sad. Is it because you are sorry for the professor?

. Leave me alone.

. Or in love with the professor’s wife?

. She is my friend.

. Already?

. What do you mean by “already”?

. A woman can only become a man’s friend after having first been his acquaintance and then his beloved—then she becomes his friend.

. What vulgar philosophy!

. What do you mean? Yes, I must confess I am getting vulgar, but then, you see, I am drunk. I usually only drink like this once a month. At such times my audacity and temerity know no bounds. I feel capable of anything. I attempt the most difficult operations and do them magnificently. The most brilliant plans for the future take