The Lower Depths

MIEDVIEDIEFF [conciliatory] Yes – it’s your own affair – though I’m not exactly a sergeant – yet —

BUBNOFF. I jump two!

MIEDVIEDIEFF. Damn – play!

LUKA. And the Lord will look at you gently and tenderly and He’ll say: “I know this Anna!” Then He’ll say: “Take Anna into Paradise. Let her have peace. I know. Her life on earth was hard. She is very weary. Let Anna rest in peace!”

ANNA [choking] Grandfather – if it were only so – if there were only rest and peace.

LUKA. There won’t be anything else! Trust me! Die in joy and not in grief. Death is to us like a mother to small children.

ANNA. But – perhaps – perhaps I get well.. ?

LUKA [laughing] Why – ? Just to suffer more?

ANNA. But – just to live a little longer.. just a little longer! Since there’ll be no suffering hereafter, I could bear it a little longer down here.

LUKA. There’ll be nothing in the hereafter.. but only.

PEPEL [rising] Maybe yes – maybe no!

ANNA [frightened] Oh – God!

LUKA. Hey – Adonis!

MIEDVIEDIEFF. Who’s that yelping?

PEPEL [crossing over to him] I! What of it?

MIEDVIEDIEFF. You yelp needlessly – that’s what! People ought to have some dignity!

PEPEL. Block-head! And that’s an uncle for you – ho-ho!

LUKA [to Pepel, in an undertone] Look here – don’t shout – this woman’s dying – her lips are already grey – don’t disturb her!

PEPEL. I’ve respect for you, grand-dad. You’re all right, you are! You lie well, and you spin pleasant yarns. Go on lying, brother – there’s little fun in this world.

BUBNOFF. Is the woman really dying?

LUKA. You think I’m joking?

BUBNOFF. That means she’ll stop coughing. Her cough was very disturbing. I jump two!

MIEDVIEDIEFF. I’d like to murder you!

PEPEL. Abramka!

MIEDVIEDIEFF. I’m not Abramka to you!

PEPEL. Abrashka! Is Natasha ill?

MIEDVIEDIEFF. None of your business!

PEPEL. Come – tell me! Did Vassilisa beat her up very badly?

MIEDVIEDIEFF. That’s none of your business, either! It’s a family affair! Who are you anyway?

PEPEL. Whoever I am, you’ll never see Natashka again if I choose!

MIEDVIEDIEFF [throwing up the game] What’s that? Who are you alluding to? My niece by any chance? You thief!

PEPEL. A thief whom you were never able to catch!

MIEDVIEDIEFF. Wait – I’ll catch you yet – you’ll see – sooner than you think!

PEPEL. If you catch me, God help your whole nest! Do you think I’ll keep quiet before the examining magistrate? Every wolf howls! They’ll ask me: “Who made you steal and showed you where?” “Mishka Kostilyoff and his wife!” “Who was your fence?” “Mishka Kostilyoff and his wife!”

MIEDVIEDIEFF. You lie! No one will believe you!

PEPEL. They’ll believe me all right – because it’s the truth! And I’ll drag you into it, too. Ha! I’ll ruin the lot of you – devils – just watch!

MIEDVIEDIEFF [confused] You lie! You lie! And what harm did I do to you, you mad dog?

PEPEL. And what good did you ever do me?

LUKA. That’s right!

MIEDVIEDIEFF [to Luka] Well – what are you croaking about? Is it any of your business? This is a family matter!

BUBNOFF [to Luka] Leave them alone! What do we care if they twist each other’s tails?

LUKA [peacefully] I meant no harm. All I said was that if a man isn’t good to you, then he’s acting wrong.

MIEDVIEDIEFF [uncomprehending] Now then – we all of us here know each other – but you – who are you? [Frowns and exit]

LUKA. The cavalier is peeved! Oh-ho, brothers, I see your affairs are a bit tangled up!

PEPEL. He’ll run to complain about us to Vassilisa.

BUBNOFF. You’re a fool, Vassily. You’re very bold these days, aren’t you? Watch out! It’s all right to be bold when you go gathering mushrooms, but what good is it here? They’ll break your neck before you know it!

PEPEL. Well – not as fast as all that! You don’t catch us Yaroslavl boys napping! If it’s going to be war, we’ll fight.

LUKA. Look here, boy, you really ought to go away from here —

PEPEL. Where? Please tell me!

LUKA. Go to Siberia!