The Lower Depths. Максим Горький

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СКАЧАТЬ Bubnoff! Got a conscience?

      BUBNOFF. What? A conscience?

      PEPEL. Exactly!

      BUBNOFF. What do I need a conscience for? I’m not rich.

      PEPEL. Just what I said: honor and conscience are for the rich – right! And Kleshtch is upbraiding us because we haven’t any!

      BUBNOFF. Why – did he want to borrow some of it?

      PEPEL. No – he has plenty of his own.

      BUBNOFF. Oh – are you selling it? You won’t sell much around here. But if you had some old boxes, I’d buy them – on credit.

      PEPEL [didactically] You’re a jackass, Andrushka! On the subject of conscience you ought to hear Satine – or the Baron.

      KLESHTCH. I’ve nothing to talk to them about!

      PEPEL. They have more brains than you – even if they’re drunkards.

      BUBNOFF. He who can be drunk and wise at the same time is doubly blessed.

      PEPEL. Satine says every man expects his neighbor to have a conscience, but – you see – it isn’t to any one’s advantage to have one – that’s a fact.

      [Natasha enters, followed by Luka who carries a stick in his hand, a bundle on his back, a kettle and a teapot slung from his belt.]

      LUKA. How are you, honest folks?

      PEPEL [twisting his mustache] Aha – Natasha!

      BUBNOFF [to Luka] I was honest – up to spring before last.

      NATASHA. Here’s a new lodger.

      LUKA. Oh, it’s all the same to me. Crooks – I don’t mind them, either. For my part there’s no bad flea – they’re all black – and they all jump – .. Well, dearie, show me where I can stow myself.

      NATASHA [pointing to kitchen door] Go in there, grand-dad.

      LUKA. Thanks, girlie! One place is like another – as long as an old fellow keeps warm, he keeps happy.

      PEPEL. What an amusing old codger you brought in, Natasha!

      NATASHA. A hanged sight more interesting than you!.. Andrei, your wife’s in the kitchen with us – come and fetch her after a while.

      KLESHTCH. All right – I will.

      NATASHA. And be a little more kind to her – you know she won’t last much longer.

      KLESHTCH. I know.

      NATASHA. Knowing won’t do any good – it’s terrible – dying – don’t you understand?

      PEPEL. Well – look at me – I’m not afraid.

      NATASHA. Oh – you’re a wonder, aren’t you?

      BUBNOFF [whistling] Oh – this thread’s rotten.

      PEPEL. Honestly, I’m not afraid! I’m ready to die right now. Knife me to the heart – and I’ll die without making a sound.. even gladly – from such a pure hand.

      NATASHA [going out] Spin that yarn for some one else!

      BUBNOFF. Oh – that thread is rotten – rotten —

      NATASHA [at hallway door] Don’t forget your wife, Andrei!

      KLESHTCH. All right.

      PEPEL. She’s a wonderful girl!

      BUBNOFF. She’s all right.

      PEPEL. What makes her so curt with me? Anyway – she’ll come to no good here.

      BUBNOFF. Through you – sure!

      PEPEL. Why through me? I feel sorry for her.

      BUBNOFF. As the wolf for the lamb!

      PEPEL. You lie! I feel very sorry for her.. very.. very sorry! She has a tough life here – I can see that.

      KLESHTCH. Just wait till Vassilisa catches you talking to her!

      BUBNOFF. Vassilisa? She won’t give up so easily what belongs to her – she’s a cruel woman!

      PEPEL [stretching himself on the bunk] You two prophets can go to hell!

      KLESHTCH. Just wait – you’ll see!

      LUKA [singing in the kitchen] “In the dark of the night the way is black.”

      KLESHTCH. Another one who yelps!

      PEPEL. It’s dreary! Why do I feel so dreary? You live – and everything seems all right. But suddenly a cold chill goes through you – and then everything gets dreary.

      BUBNOFF. Dreary? Hm-hm —

      PEPEL. Yes – yes —

      LUKA [sings] “The way is black.”

      PEPEL. Old fellow! Hey there!

      LUKA [looking from kitchen door] You call me?

      PEPEL. Yes. Don’t sing!

      LUKA [coming in] You don’t like it?

      PEPEL. When people sing well I like it —

      LUKA. In other words – I don’t sing well?

      PEPEL. Evidently!

      LUKA. Well, well – and I thought I sang well. That’s always the way: a man imagines there’s one thing he can do well, and suddenly he finds out that other people don’t think so.

      PEPEL [laughs] That’s right.

      BUBNOFF. First you say you feel dreary – and then you laugh!

      PEPEL. None of your business, raven!

      LUKA. Who do they say feels dreary?

      PEPEL. I do.

      [The Baron enters.]

      LUKA. Well, well – out there in the kitchen there’s a girl reading and crying! That’s so! Her eyes are wet with tears.. I say to her: “What’s the matter, darling?” And she says: “It’s so sad!” “What’s so sad?” say I. “The book!” says she. – And that’s how people spend their time. Just because they’re bored.

      THE BARON. She’s a fool!

      PEPEL. Have you had tea, Baron?

      THE BARON. Yes. Go on!

      PEPEL. Well – want me to open a bottle?

      THE BARON. Of course. Go on!

      PEPEL. Drop on all fours, and bark like a dog!

      THE СКАЧАТЬ