talks to me, I get so tired! What does it mean, dear father? I am afraid.
Lebedieff. My darling, my only child, do as your old father advises you; give him up!
Sasha. [Frightened] Oh! How can you say that?
Lebedieff. Yes, do it, little Sasha! It will make a scandal, all the tongues in the country will be wagging about it, but it is better to live down a scandal than to ruin one’s life.
Sasha. Don’t say that, father. Oh, don’t. I refuse to listen! I must crush such gloomy thoughts. He is good and unhappy and misunderstood. I shall love him and learn to understand him. I shall set him on his feet again. I shall do my duty. That is settled.
Lebedieff. This is not your duty, but a delusion———
Sasha. We have said enough. I have confessed things to you that I have not dared to admit even to myself. Don’t speak about this to any one. Let us forget it.
Lebedieff. I am hopelessly puzzled, and either my mind is going from old age or else you have all grown very clever, but I’ll be hanged if I understand this business at all.
Enter Shabelski.
Shabelski. Confound you all and myself, too! This is maddening!
Lebedieff. What do you want?
Shabelski Seriously, I must really do something horrid and rascally, so that not only I but everybody else will be disgusted by it. I certainly shall find something to do, upon my word I shall! I have already told Borkin to announce that I am to be married. [He laughs] Everybody is a scoundrel and I must be one too!
Lebedieff. I am tired of you, Matthew. Look here, man, you talk in such a way that, excuse my saying so, you will soon find yourself in a lunatic asylum!
