Works of Ivan Turgenev (Illustrated) (432 page)

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 Rafael: 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.