by Albert Camus
GAGANOV come in.)
STEPAN: Good day, my dear Virginsky. How is
your wife? . . . (VIRGINSKY turns away.) Good,
we're fond of you, you know, very fond of
you!
13 Scene 2
GAGANOV: I was just going by and I came in to see
Varvara Stavrogin. But perhaps I am in your
way?
STEP AN: No, no! Au banquet de famine there is
always room. We were just beginning to discuss
things. I know you are not afraid of a few para-
doxes.
GAGANOV: Aside from the Tsar, Russia, and the
family, everything is open to discussion. (To
SHATOV) Don't you agree?
SHATOV: Everything is open to discussion. But
certainly not with you.
STEP AN (laughing): We must drink to the con-
version of our good friend Gaganov. (He rings
a bell.) That is, if Shatov, irascible Shatov, allows
us to. For our good Shatov is irascible; he boils
over at nothing at all. And if you want to discuss
with him, you have to tie him down first. You
see, he's already leaving. He has taken offense.
Come, come now, my good friend, you know
how fond we are of you.
SHATOV: Then don't insult me.
STEP AN: But who is insulting you? If I did so, I
beg your pardon. I am well aware that we talk
too much. We talk when we ought to act. Act,
act . . . or, in any case, work. For twenty years
now I have been sounding the alarm and urging
people to work. Russia can't arise without ideas.
And we can't have ideas without working. Let's
get down to work, then, and eventually we'll
have an original idea. . . .
(ALEXEY YEGOROVICH, the butler, brings in drinks
and leaves.)
First Part 14
LIPUTIN: Meanwhile, we should suppress the
army and the navy.
GAGANOV: Both at once?
LIPUTIN: Yes, in order to have universal peace!
GAGANOV: But if others don't suppress theirs,
wouldn't they be tempted to invade us? How
can we know?
LIPUTIN: By suppressing ours. That way we shall
know.
STEP AN (quivering with excitement): Ah! Cest
un paradoxe! But there is truth in it. . . .
VIRGINSKY: Liputin goes too far because he de-
spairs of ever seeing our ideas dominate. / think
we should begin at the beginning and get rid of
priests and the family at the same time.
GAGANOV: Gentlemen, I can take any joke what-
ever . . . but to suppress at one and the same
time the army, the navy, the family, the priests�
no, no, no. . . .
STEP AN: There's no harm in talking about it. One
can talk of anything.
GAGANOV: But to suppress everything like that all
at once�no. Ah, no. No ...
LIPUTIN: Come, now. Don't you think Russia
needs reform?
GAGANOV: Yes, probably. Everything isn't perfect
in our country.
LIPUTIN: Then it must be dismembered.
STEP AN and GAGANOV: What?
LIPUTIN: Yes, of course. To reform Russia, it has
to be made into a federation. But before it can
be federated, it has to be dismembered. It's math-
ematically simple.
STEP AN: It deserves reflection.
15 Scene i
GAGANOV: I . . . Oh, no. I won't let anyone lead
me around by the nose. . . .
VIRGINSKY: Reflection calls for time, and abject
poverty can't wait.
LIPUTIN: We must think of the most urgent first.
The most urgent need is for everyone to be able
to eat. Books, art galleries, theaters are for later
on, later on. ... A pair of shoes is worth more
than Shakespeare.
STEP AN: Oh, I can't admit this. No, no, my good
friend, immortal genius shines over all mankind.
Let everyone go barefoot and long live Shake-
speare. ...
SHIGALOV: You don't any of you draw the conclu-
sions. (He leaves.)
LIPUTIN: Allow me�
STEPAN: No, no, I cannot accept that. Nous qui
aimons le peuple�
SHATOV: YOU don't love the masses.
VIRGINSKY: What? I�
SHATOV (rising in anger): You don't love either
Russia or the masses. You have lost contact with
the masses. You talk about them as if they were
a distant tribe with exotic customs that move you
to pity. You have lost track of them, and without
the masses, there is no god. This is why all of you
and all of us, yes, all of us, are so wretchedly cold
and indifferent. We are merely out of step, noth-
ing else. You yourself, Stepan Trofimovich, I
make no exception for you, let it be known, al-
though you taught us all. In fact, I am speaking
especially to you.
(He seizes his cap and rushes toward the door.
But STEPAN TROFIMOVICH calls out to stop him.)
First Part
16
STEP AN: All right, Shatov, since you insist, I am
angry with you. Now let us make it up. (He
holds out his hand, and SHATOV reluctantly shakes
it.) Let's drink to universal reconciliation!
GAGANOV: Let's drink. But I won't let anyone lead
me around by the nose.
(Toast, VARVARA STAVROGIN enters.)
VARVARA: Please don't get up. Drink to the health
of my son, Nicholas, who has just arrived. He
has gone up to change, and I have asked him to
come and say hello to your friends.
STEP AN: How did he seem to you, ma noble amie?
VARVARA: His appearance and good health de-
lighted me. (She looks at them.) Yes, why not
say so? There have been so many rumors re-
cently that I am glad to have a chance to show
what my son is.
GAGANOV: We are delighted to see him, my dear!
VARVARA (looking at SHATOV) : And you, Shatov,
are you happy to see your friend again? (SHATOV
gets up and, as he does so, awkwardly knocks
over a small intarsia table.) Pick up that table,
please. It will be chipped, but there's no use cry-
ing over that. (To the others) What were you
talking about?
STEPAN: Of hope, ma noble amie, and of the lumi-
nous future already visible at the end of our dark
way . . . Oh, we shall be consoled for such suf-
ferings and persecutions. Exile will come to an
end, for dawn is already in sight. . . .
(NICHOLAS STAVROGIN appears upstage and stands
still on the threshold.)
STEPAN: Ah, mon cher enfant!
17 Scene i
(VARVARA makes a move toward STAVROGIN, but
his unemotional manner stops her. She looks at
him with anguish. A few seconds of general em-
barrassment.)
GAGANOV: How are you, my dear Nicholas?
STAVROGIN: I am well, thank you.
steps toward his mother and kisses her hand.
STEPAN TROFIMOVICH goes up to him and em-
braces him. STAVROGIN smiles at STEPAN and re-
sumes his unemotional manner while the others,
except SHATOV, greet him. But his prolonged si-
lence dampens the enthusiasm.)
VARVARA {looking at NICHOLAS) : Dear, dear child,
you are sad, you are bored. That is right.
STEPAN {bringing him a glass): My good Nicho-
las!
VARVARA: GO on, I beg you. We were talking of
the dawn, I believe.
(STAVROGIN lifts his glass as a toast in the direction
of SHATOV, who leaves the room without saying a
word, STAVROGIN sniffs the contents of his glass
and sets it down on the table without drinking
it.)
LIPUTIN {after a moment of general embarrass-
ment) : Good. Did you know that the new gov-
ernor had already arrived?
{In his corner on the left, VIRGINSKY says some-
thing to GAGANOV, who answers:)
GAGANOV: I won't let anyone lead me around by
the nose.
LIPUTIN: It seems that he wants to upset every-
thing. But it would surprise me if he did.
First Part
18
STEP AN: It won't last. Just a touch of administra-
tive intoxication!
(STAVROGIN has gone over to the spot vacated by
SHATOV. Standing very upright with a faraway,
gloomy look on his -face, he is watching GAGA-
NOV.)
VARVARA: What do you mean now?
STEP AN: Why, you know the symptoms, don't
you? For instance, just entrust any old nitwit
with selling tickets behind the window of the
most insignificant station and immediately, when
you go to get a ticket, that nitwit will look at
you as if he were Jupiter, just to show his power.
The nitwit is drunk, you see. He is suffering from
administrative intoxication.
VARVARA: Come to the point, I beg you.
STEP AN: I simply meant . . . However that may
be, I know the new governor somewhat. A very
handsome man, isn't he�about forty years old?
VARVARA: Where did you get the idea that he is a
handsome man? He has pop eyes.
STEP AN: That's true, but . . . Well, in any case,
I accept the opinion of the ladies.
GAGANOV: We can't criticize the new governor
before seeing him at work, can we?
LIPUTIN: And why shouldn't we criticize him?
He's the governor; isn't that enough?
GAGANOV: Allow me�
VIRGINSKY: It's through reasoning like Gaganov's
that Russia is sinking into ignorance. If a horse
were named governor, Gaganov would wait to
see him at work.
GAGANOV: Oh! But, allow rne, you are insulting
19 Scene 1
me, and I won't permit it. I said ... or, rather
... I repeat: I won't let anyone lead me around
by the nose. . . . (STAVROGIN crosses the stage
amid the silence that sets in 'with his first step,
advances like a sleepwalker toward GAGANOV,
slowly raises his arm, seizes GAGANOV'.? nose, and,
gently pulling it, makes GAGANOV step toward the
center of the stage. With anguish in her voice,
VARVARA STAVROGIN shoUtSl "Nicholas!" NICHOLAS
lets go of GAGANOV, steps backward a few steps,
and looks at him, smiling absent-mindedly. After
a second of stupor, general tumult. The others
surround GAGANOV and lead him to a chair, into
which he sinks. NICHOLAS STAVROGIN turns on his
heels and leaves the room, VARVARA STAVROGIN,
hardly knowing what she is doing, takes up a
glass and carries it over to GAGANOV.) He . . .
How could he ... ? Help, help!
VARVARA (to STEP AN TROFIMOVICH ): Oh, my God,
lie's mad, he's mad!
STEP AN (hardly knowing what he is doing either):
No, tres chere, mere thoughtlessness, youth . . .
VARVARA (to GAGANOV): Forgive Nicholas, my
friend, I beg of you.
(STAVROGIN enters. After a brief hesitation he
walks firmly toward GAGANOV, who gets up,
frightened. Then rapidly and with a frown:)
STAVROGIN: Of course you will forgive me! A
sudden whim ... A stupid distraction . . .
STEP AN (stepping up to the other side of STAVROGIN,
who is looking vacantly ahead of him): That's
not an acceptable apology, Nicholas. (With an-
guish) ]e vous en prie, mon enfant. You have a
First Part
20
noble heart, you are well brought up and cul-
tured, and suddenly you seem to us enigmatic�
a dangerous person. At least have pity on your
mother.
STAVROGIN (looking at his mother, then at GAGA-
NOV) : All right. I shall apologize. But I shall do
so secretly to Mr. Gaganov, who will understand
me.
(GAGANOV steps forward hesitantly, STAVROGIN
leans over and seizes GAGANOV'J- ear in his teeth.)
GAGANOV (in pain): Nicholas! Nicholas!
(The others, who haven't yet understood the
situation, look at him.)
GAGANOV (in terror): Nicholas, you are biting my
ear! (Screaming) He's biting my ear! (STAVROGIN
lets go of him and stands staring at him with a
dull look on his face, GAGANOV rushes out,
screaming with fright.) Watch out! Watch out!
VARVARA (going to her son)-. Nicholas, for the
love of God!
(NICHOLAS looks at her, laughs weakly, then col-
lapses on the -floor in a sort of fit.)
BLACKOUT
THE NARRATOR: Gaganov stayed in bed several
weeks. Nicholas Stavrogin likewise. But he even-
tually got up, made his apologies most honorably,
and set out for a rather long trip. The only place
where he stayed for a time was Geneva�not be-
cause of the hectic charm of that city, but be-
cause there he found the Drozdov ladies.
SCENE 2
Varvara St aw o gin's drawing room, VARVARA STAV-
ROGIN and PRASCOVYA DROZDOV are on the stage.
PRASCOVYA: Oh, my dear, I can say that I am
pleased to return Dasha Shatov to you. I have no
criticism to make, for my part, but it seems to me
that if she hadn't been there, there would not
have been that little misunderstanding between
your Nicholas and my Lisa. I assure you that I
know nothing, for Lisa is much too proud, too
obstinate, to have spoken to me. But the fact is
that they are on the outs, that Lisa was humili-
ated, God alone knows why, and that perhaps
your Dasha would have something to say about
it, although . . .
VARVARA: I don't like insinuations, Prascovya. Tell
all you have to tell. Are you trying to imply that
Dasha had an intrigue with Nicholas?
PRASCOVYA: An intrigue, dear�what a word! Be-
sides, I don't want to imply ... I love you too
much . . . How can you imagine . . .
? {She
dries a tear.)
VARVARA: Don't weep. I'm not hurt. Just tell me
what took place.
PRASCOVYA: Why, nothing at all. He is in love
with Lisa, that's certain. I couldn't be mistaken
on that point. Feminine intuition! . . . But you
First Part
22
know Lisa's character. I suppose one might say-
obstinate and scornful�yes, that's it! And Nich-
olas is proud. What pride�oh, he is indeed your
son! Well, he couldn't put up with her little
jokes. And, in return, he bantered.
VARVARA: Bantered?
PRASCOVYA: Yes, that's the word. In any case, Lisa
constantly tried to start a quarrel with Nicholas.
Sometimes when she was aware that he was talk-
ing with Dasha, you couldn't hold her back.
Really, my dear, it was unbearable. The doctors
forbade me to get excited, and, furthermore, I
was so bored on the shores of that lake, and I had
a toothache. Since then I have learned that the
Lake of Geneva predisposes people to toothaches,
and that that's one of its peculiarities. Finally
Nicholas left. In my opinion, they will make up.
VARVARA: Such a slight misunderstanding doesn't
mean a thing. Besides, I know my Dasha too well.
It's utterly absurd. Moreover, I shall get at the
facts of the matter. (She rings.)
PRASCOVYA: No, I assure you . . .
(ALEXEY YEGOROVICH enters.)
VARVARA: Tell Dasha that I am waiting for her.
(ALEXEY YEGOROVICH leaves.)
PRASCOVYA: I was wrong, dear, to speak to you of
Dasha. There was nothing but the most ordinary
conversations between her and Nicholas, and
there was no whispering. At least in my presence.
But I felt Lisa's irritation. And then that lake�
you have no idea! It does calm you, to be sure,
but only because it bores you. Yet, if you know
what I mean, simply by boring you it irritates
23 Scene 2
you. . . . (DASHA enters.) My Dashenka, my lit-
tle one! How I hate giving you up. We shall
miss our good evening conversations in Geneva.
Oh! Geneva! Au revoir, chere! (To DASHA) AU
revoir, ma mignonne, ma cherie, ma colombe.
(She leaves.)
VARVARA: Sit down there, (DASHA sits down.) Em-
broider, (DASHA picks up an embroidery -frame
?from the table.) Tell me about your trip.
DASHA (in a steady, dull voice, somewhat tired):
Oh! I had a good time, and I learned a great deal.
Europe is very instructive�yes, instructive. We
are so far behind them. They�
VARVARA: Forget Europe. You have nothing par-
ticular to tell me?
DASHA (looks at her): No, nothing.
VARVARA: Nothing on your mind, or on your con-
science, or in your heart?
DASHA (with a sort of colorless conviction) : Noth-
ing.
VARVARA: I was sure of it. I never had the slightest
doubt about you. I have treated you as my
daughter, and I am aiding your brother. You
wouldn't do anything that might hurt me, would
you?
DASHA: No, nothing, God bless you.
VARVARA: Listen. I have been thinking about you.
Drop your embroidery and come over near me.
(DASHA moves closer to her.) Do you want to get
married? (DASHA looks at her.) Wait a moment,
don't answer. I am thinking of someone older
than you. But you are a reasonable girl. Besides,
he is still very presentable. I am thinking of
First Part 24
Stepan Trofimovich, who was your professor
and whom you have always esteemed. Well?
(DASHA keeps on looking at her fixedly.) I know,
he is frivolous. He whimpers and he thinks about
himself too much. But he has decided qualities
that you will appreciate, particularly because I
ask it of you. He deserves to be loved because he
is defenseless. Do you understand that? (DASHA
nods affirmatively. Bursting out) I was sure of it;
I was sure of you. As for him, he will love you
because he is obligated! He must adore you!
Listen, Dasha. He will obey you. Unless you are
an idiot, you can force him to. But never push
him to extremes�that is the first rule of conjugal
life. Oh, Dasha, there is no greater happiness than
sacrificing oneself. Besides, you will be doing me
a great favor, and that is the important thing. But
I am not forcing you in any way. It is up to you
to decide. Speak.
DASHA (slowly): If it is absolutely necessary, I
shall do it.
VARVARA: Absolutely? What are you alluding to,
my child? (DASHA lowers her head in silence.)
What you have just said is a stupidity. I am going
to marry you off, to be sure, but not out of
necessity, you understand. The idea just came to
me, that's all. There's nothing to hide, is there?
DASHA: No. I shall do as you wish.
VARVARA: Hence you consent. So let's get to the
details. Right after the ceremony, I shall give you
fifteen thousand rubles. Out of those fifteen
thousand, you will give eight thousand to Stepan