Works of Ivan Turgenev (Illustrated)

by Ivan Turgenev

  He paced, stopped, and conversed with Donna Dolores quite amiably. Then, I think that it was with her consent, he jumped over the fence into the garden. Donna Dolores went into her room. I shut the door of the Madam’s room at once, closed the garden gate, and didn’t say a word to Pepe. Now, you can do as you like, and deal with him as you think best.

  Don Pablo [flashing up and stammering]: And so she . . . [Catches Balthazar’s hand.] My dear, dear friend! C - calm yourself. We’ll think the thing up presently. Margaret, I should like to promote you to colonel, for you certainly were a brave woman; you didn’t lose your head. I love you for that. You shut both of them up! Bravo! Let me embrace you for that. Listen, friends! Let’s talk the matter over modestly, quietly, without any superfluous agitation, as though we were only talking about some trifling household affair.

  Don Balthazar: But for Heaven’s sake

  Don Pablo: Balthazar! In the first place, quiet yourself; secondly, hide your face. You are so pale, and so nervous, that they will guess at once what we are talking about.

  Don Balthazar: They

  Don Pablo: Well, yes. He and she — the Lord knows — maybe they can see us somehow. Tell me, Margaret, are you sure you locked the door? [Margaret nods.] And she wasn’t at all uneasy?

  Margaret: It isn’t the first time that I have locked her in.

  Don Pablo: And he is locked in the garden?

  Margaret: Yes.

  Don Pablo: Tell me, please, my dear Margaret, has Donna Dolores’ room got windows that overlook the yard or the garden? As far as I remember

  Mabgaeet: Overlooking the garden, but they are quite high up.

  Don Pablo: Excellent! That’s capital! They can’t see us.

  Don Balthazar: You - are a little pale, too, Pablo.

  Don Pablo: Is that so. . . . Margaret! Tell Pepe to unchain the dogs immediately. And tell him to get a club and put himself against the gate. Do you hear me? Then, give him some brandy, — strong, good old brandy, and plenty of it. Go. [Margaret starts to go.] Tell me, has Donna Dolores spoken to him? [Margaret nods.] All right. Go. [Margaret goes away.] It makes a fellow feel good to let his blood circulate occasionally, eh? What do you think, my friend? Let’s sit down on this bench here, my dear Balthazar, and talk over a plan of campaign. [They sit down.] How dark it has grown! How jolly it is to sit in the dark and to think, with delight, about revenge!

  Don Balthazar: But, maybe, Donna Dolores isn’t at all guilty.

  Don Pablo: Do you think so?

  Don Balthazar: Possibly, he climbed the fence without her consent.

  Don Pablo: Then why didn’t she call for help? Why didn’t she scream? Why did she converse with a strange man?

  Don Balthazar: She is a traitress.

  Don Pablo: However, we’ll analyze the thing as it ought to be done, my dear Balthazar. We both love justice. And so, to begin with: the enemy cannot get away. That’s a great satisfaction. The whole garden is closed in by a very high fence.

  Don Balthazar: That was your idea, my dear Pablo.

  Don Pablo: Let it be my idea, as you say, my dear Balthazar. How I delighted in driving in every picket! But that isn’t the point now. Our fortress is in capital shape; the enemy is in our hands. It is true, there is one weak spot. The fence near the gate isn’t really high enough, but Pepe and his famous dogs are there. To - morrow, if necessary, I shall order the wall raised, and drive in more pickets.

  Don Balthazar: If it is necessary? It will surely be necessary.

  Don Pablo: Well, we’ll see about that. And so, I repeat, the enemy is in our hands. . . . [Sighs.] Poor, poor fellow! He didn’t know what a trap he was getting into.

  Don Balthazar: What shall we do with him?

  Don Pablo: Don Balthazar d’Esturiz! My dear, it is up to you to suggest that. We shall listen.

  Don Balthazar: i think . . . Get hold of him, and . . . maybe . . . [He makes quite decisive movements with his hands.] — What did he come here to visit me for? — Then we will ask Pepe. . . . You understand me?

  Don Pablo: To bury him somewhere near the crossing?

  Don Balthazar: What are you talking about, — a live man? That is, hardly alive, and yet not dead? Oh, God, save us from that!

  Don Pablo: I understand you, Don Balthazar. Huh, how stupid; you were pleased to think!

  Don Balthazar: And what is your opinion, my esteemed Sangr6?

  Don Pablo: Mine? You will find out, when it is all over. Let me get my lantern — How absurd! My hands are shaking as though I were an old man. My dear Balthazar, have you ever gone hunting for birds; have you ever put out snares; have you ever spread out nets?

  Don Balthazar: I have, i have. Why?

  Don Pablo: Oh, you have! Didn’t you find it quite agreeable to lie there and feign and wait? Didn’t you like to see the birds, — the pretty, merry little birds, — begin to fly together; shun it at first, timidly, then begin to pick up the food and finally get used to it and begin to sing, so beautifully, so carefree? And then, you stretched your hand, pulled the string, and — caught! The net dropped and all the birds were yours. All you had to do was to chop their little heads off. Wasn’t it delightful? Come on, Balthazar! The net is spread out, the birds are getting together. Come on, come on! [Going up to the window, he stops.] Look, Balthazar! What a gloomy aspect your house has! There isn’t a light in any window. All is quiet and the door of the balcony is half open. Some suspicious chap might think that a crime was being committed in the house, or about to be committed. . . . But that’s all nonsense! Here are living modest, quiet, settled people. [They both enter the house carefully.]

  Scene Two. The garden.

  Discovered: Don Rafael.

  Don Rafael [done]: What a piece of deviltry! I wanted to go into the house from the yard — the door was closed! Then I wanted to go into the garden and from there into the house. That would have been easy, for the wall is very smooth and the windows high. ... I wanted to get away, but I couldn’t. The whole garden is surrounded by a devilishly high fence and there isn’t a tree within ten feet of it. The most awful precautions have been taken. The yard is closed and so is the gate. Now what does it all mean? [Goes up to the gate carefully.] The dogs are unchained. That’s bad. I wonder if my amiable Senora isn’t having a little fun with me. No, I don’t think so. She is too innocent and too foolish for that. I must confess, though, that I am in a pretty disagreeable position. It is dark and cold, — brrrrrr! My friends, I am afraid, will get tired of waiting for me. [Stamping his foot.] The devil take the whole thing! Will I have to pass the whole night under these foolish looking trees? No, I don’t think so. She knows that I am here, and I am not going to despair. Women are weak and the devil is strong. Perhaps, she . . . maybe she has fallen in love with me. She wouldn’t be the first one that has. [Walks back and forth and sings: “Sweet love will never come . . .” Then vexed, grumbles to himself.]

  [One window opens. Donna Dolores appears in it.]

  Donna Dolores: Sst, s - s - t!

  Don Rafael: Aha!

  Donna Dolores [whispering]: Senor, Senor!

  Don Rafael [oZso whispering]: Is that you, my beautiful Senora? At last . . .

  Donna Dolores [wringing her hands]: Oh, good Heavens! What have you done? What have you done? I have been locked in my room. I am sure that Margaret overheard us and told my husband. I am ruined.

  Don Rafael: They’ve locked you in? How strange! They’ve locked me in, too.

  Donna Dolores: What? They’ve locked you in, too? My God! We are discovered!

  Don Rafael: For God’s sake, don’t faint away. We must get together and think of some way of getting ont of this wretched situation.

  Donna Dolores: Save yourself. Go away as quickly as you can.

  Don Rafael: How shall I go away? I am not a bird. I can’t fly over a nine - foot high stockade. Has your husband returned?

  Donna Dolores: I don’t know. It is all quiet in the house. Oh, what a gloom, what a gloom!

  Don Ra
fael: Not long ago, you complained about the monotony of your life. Now you are getting some pretty strong sensations!

  Donna Dolores: Shame on you, sir! Shame on you! If I were a man, you would never dare laugh at me.

  Don Rafael [aside]: How beautiful she is! [Aloud.] Don’t get mad at me. [Gets down on his knees.] Look, I am on my knees, and I beg your pardon.

  Donna Dolores: Oh, nonsense! Get up. I’ve got something else to think about now.

  Don Rafael: My dear, my beautiful Senora! I will prove to you that I do not deserve your disdain. Do you want me to? I will proclaim myself a thief. You start to scream and call for help. Someone will come to your rescue; you tell them that you saw a strange man in the garden; they will catch me and — I’ll try to get away from them.

  Donna Dolores: But they will kill you!

  Don Rafael: They won’t kill me. I may not be able to avoid all unpleasantDess, but — what can we do? [Passton - ately.~ I am willing to sacrifice all for you!

  Donna Dolores [thoughtfully]: No, no, — not for anything in the world.

  Don Rafael [to himself]: Jove! I must confess, I was shaking. I thought that she would scream for help.

  Donna Dolores: Oh, good Heavens! What will come out of all this? Hide yourself. I’ll ring and call Margaret. (Rafael hides himself.] No one is coming. That’s terrible. He’ll ruin me.

  Don Rafael: Senora!

  Donna Dolores: Well?

  Don Rafael: Decide quickly, because it seems to me that I hear someone opening the gate.

  Donna Dolores: I can’t have you declared a thief!

  Don Rafael: You can’t?

  Donna Dolores: No.

  Don Rafael: Well, you don’t have to do that. They will take me for a thief anyway.

  Donna Dolores: No, but I am afraid for you.

  Don Rafael: Don’t trouble yourself. I’ll say that I was out for a walk and got into your garden.

  Donna Dolores: They wouldn’t believe that.

  Don Rafael: Wouldn’t I be telling the truth?

  Donna Dolores [looking around timorously]: Oh, good gracious! I think that the very walls are listening to us.

  [Don Pablo carefully looks out from behind a tree.]

  Don Rafael: Oh, Senora, if I were in your place . . .

  Donna Dolores [despairingly]: What can I do?

  Don Rafael: You can let me come into the house.

  Donna Dolores: How?

  Don Rafael: Just so — Take a shawl or a towel, — whatever you like, — tie one end to the window and the other . . .

  Donna Dolores: No, not for anything in the world.

  Don Rafael: Oh, you needn’t think that I’ll break my neck. I am used to performing such stunts. [Donna Dolores goes away from, the window a little.] Listen: I swear upon my honoi that if you will let me into the house, I will sit down in a corner and be as quiet as a big schoolboy.

  Donna Dolores: I think that you despise me, sir. Don Bafael: For goodness’ sake, I confess, I am afraid of Pepe and his dogs. [Don Pablo hides himself again.]

  Donna Dolores: You are afraid? You are a great knight!

  Don Rafael: Knights are not supposed to be unafraid of dogs.

  Donna Dolores: This silence is terrible. Don Balthazar must be home. Why doesn’t he come to me? What does this secrecy mean?

  Don Rafael: Don’t get nervous over it, please. The gate was closed because it was late. It isn’t the first time for you to be locked in, and your husband must have been delayed somewhere. Listen to my proposition; truly, it is a good one. If I don’t succeed in hiding myself somewhere in your house until to - morrow morning, then in an emergency I can jump into the garden

  Donna Dolores [quickly]: Hide yourself. Somebody i8 opening my door. [She leaves the window.] [Rafael hides himself.] Margaret’s Voice: Good evening, good evening, Senora. Pardon me, please. I locked you in because I had to go away for about half an hour. Don’t be mad at me. Donna Dolores’ Voice: Has Don Balthazar returned? Margaret’s Voice: Not yet, but he will return soon. He has gone to our neighbor’s, the judge, and will surely stay there until midnight, playing chess. [They appear in the window.]

  Margaret: Senora! You were sitting at the window again! You will catch cold one of these days.

  Donna Dolores: I was looking at the stars.

  Margaret: At the stars? Oh, what won’t young people do! And you don’t sleep nights. I have no more strength left. My head aches, my back aches and my eyes, — I can hardly keep them open.

  Donna Dolores: Well, Margaret, then go and rest yourself.

  Margaret: How can I leave you all to yourself?

  Donna Dolores: That’s nothing, that’s nothing. I’ll go to bed soon, myself. Go! Go, poor woman. I am really sorry for you.

  Margaret: Well, good - bye, my angel.

  Donna Dolores: Good - bye. [She embraces her, goes away with her, and presently reappears.] Senor! Senor! [Don Rafael comes out carefully.] Listen: can I positively depend upon you? Are you really an honest man?

  Don Rafael: Senora! I swear

  Donna Dolores: Don’t swear. Oh, if I could only look into your eyes! I would know then, exactly, the kind of a man you are.

  Don Rafael [to himself]: You would, eh?

  Donna Dolores: But tell me, tell me that you are incapable of offending a woman.

  Don Rafael: Never!

  Donna Dolores: Senor! Look! See what I have in my hand

  Don Rafael [looking]: A key!

  Donna Dolores: A key, to the door that leads to the street.

  Don Rafael: Is that possible? How did you get that priceless key?

  Donna Dolores: How did I get it? I took it from Margaret’s waist - band.

  Don Rafael: Bra . . . Bravo! [To himself.] Oh, women, women! That, I didn’t expect, I confess.

  Donna Dolores: Still, you can’t get to the street.

  Don Rafael: Why, Senora?

  Donna Dolores: Because, you must first get into the house.

  Don Rafael [pleadingly]: Senora!

  Donna Dolores: Listen: do me a favor, and go out by the same way you came.

  Don Rafael: Please, tell me, how long since your dogs have been fed? They are barking furiously. Hungry dogs and a drunken gardener — I beg to be excused.

  Donna Dolores: Oh, good Heavens! What shall I do then?

  Don Rafael: What do you mean, by what shall you do? All women are alike. They like to bother themselves about nothing and invite all sorts of unheard of unpleasantnesses and hardships for themselves. While your husband is still out, and Margaret is asleep, let me into the house.

  Donna Dolores [hesitatingly]: How shall I let you in?

  Don Rafael: Oh, Senora! I see that you want to torment me.

  Donna Dolores: You won’t remain in my room, in my house?

  Don Rafael: I will get out at once.

  Donna Dolores: And you won’t say a word to me?

  Don Rafael: Not a syllable. I won’t even thank you.

  Donna Dolores: Well, so be it. I am resolved.

  Don Eafael [to himself]: At last!

  Donna Dolores [tying a shawl to the window - sill]: Oh, God! What doesn’t necessity force one to do!

  Don Eafael [climbing]: You . . . are right . . . what doesn’t . . . necess . . . ity . . .

  Scene Three: Donna Dolores’ room. Discovered: Donna Dolores sitting in one corner; Don Rafael in another.

  Donna Dolores: And you don’t want to go away?

  Don Rafael fsighing]: Oh, Lord!

  Donna Dolores: You are a dishonorable man.

  Don Rafael: Quiet! They can hear us.

  Donna Dolores: Do you want to ruin me? I am telling you that my husband will be in immediately . . . presently . . . He will kill me. Have pity on me. Moreover, Margaret may discover the loss of the key. Here you have it. Take it and go out quickly, at once. [Throws the key at his feet.]

  Don Rafael [unwillingly getting up and picking up the key]: There is nothing to be done. I obey. But let me first come a little neare
r to you. You have put out the candle on account of precaution. Very well. I can’t see you. Perhaps I am talking to you for the last time, — and you tell me to get out without even having looked at you! Don’t forget that, up to now, I have talked to you at a respectful distance.