L'Assommoir: A Play in Five Acts. Emile Zola

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СКАЧАТЬ like a gentleman and promenade with women in silk skirts.

      LANTIER (furious)

      Gervaise!

      GERVAISE

      You haven’t found me quite swank enough since I put all my dresses in pawn at Mont de Piété! Heavens, Lantier, I don’t want to mention it to you, I would have kept on waiting. But I know where you spent the night. I saw you go into the Grand Balcony with Virginia. Ah, you pick ’em good! She’s right to take on the airs of a princess, that one!

      (Lantier rises and, controlling the desire to beat her, seizes her and shakes her violently. She falls into a chair.)

      LANTIER

      Gervaise, you don’t know what you just did. You will see!

      GERVAISE

      Ah! You hurt me! (she weeps silently; then, after a moment of silence, she rises, makes a package of linen without saying anything)

      LANTIER

      What are you doing? Where are you going? (Gervaise does not reply) I’m asking you where you are going?

      GERVAISE

      You can see plainly. I’m going to wash, that’s all.

      LANTIER

      That’s good. Say, Gervaise, do you have any money?

      GERVAISE

      Where do you think I would have stolen money? You know very well that they loaned me three francs day before yesterday against my black skirt. We’ve lunched twice on it. No, no doubt, I don’t have any money. I’ve got four sou left for the wash. As for me, I don’t make money like certain women.

      LANTIER (after having looked everywhere, unhooks a trousers and a shawl)

      Here, take that to pawn.

      GERVAISE

      That’s all we’ve got left.

      LANTIER

      Don’t worry. (seeing that Gervaise remains motionless) And pretend you don’t know where the pawn shop is.

      GERVAISE

      Oh! Yes! I’ve been down that road often enough during the last month. It’s only two steps, in the house on the side. I’ll be back right away. You haven’t kissed me.

      LANTIER

      Stupidities. (kisses her) Don’t linger.

      GERVAISE (aside)

      Perhaps I’m mistaken after all. (she leaves)

      LANTIER (alone)

      Come on, come on—mustn’t hesitate any more, got to end this existence! We got together because we agreed. When you no longer agree, got to part and that’s all there is to it. (turns toward suitcase and starts to pack)

      COUPEAU (entering excitedly)

      Madame Gervaise—they told me you met (noticing Lantier) Ah, you are there! That’s nice! I’ve been chasing after you for an hour.

      LANTIER (turning)

      After me. Why’s that?

      COUPEAU (seeing Lantier pack his trunk)

      What’s that you’re doing?

      LANTIER

      Nothing. Straightening up my linen.

      COUPEAU

      Then, you’ve seen your wife?

      LANTIER

      No doubt, I’ve seen her.

      COUPEAU

      She was very sad, very worried.

      LANTIER

      Ah! She told you.

      COUPEAU

      You want to know what I say, Lantier? It’s not right for you to hurt Gervaise who loves you so much.

      LANTIER

      Look here, you! Are you going to bore me with your moralizing? Meddle with what concerns you.

      (Gervaise enters without seeing Coupeau)

      GERVAISE

      Here’s all they gave me. Four francs. I tried to get five for it. There was no way.

      LANTIER (abruptly)

      That’s good. Put that on the chimney.

      COUPEAU (aside)

      They’re at it!

      GERVAISE (noticing Coupeau)

      Ah, Mr. Coupeau, I didn’t see you. (to Lantier) While I’m at the washhouse you will go find something for lunch.

      LANTIER

      Yes! Yes!

      GERVAISE (heading towards the trunk)

      I’m going to take your linen.

      LANTIER

      No. It’s not necessary.

      GERVAISE

      But, it really still needs—

      LANTIER (snatching the linen from her and hurling it in the trunk)

      Damnation! Obey me for once! If I tell you to leave it alone!

      COUPEAU (trying to calm him)

      Lantier!

      LANTIER

      It’s not about Lantier! She must obey!

      GERVAISE (uneasy)

      Why don’t you want me to take your linen as I usually do?

      LANTIER (embarrassed)

      Why? Why? You are going to say everywhere that you’re busy with me. Well, that bores me! Do your business, I will do mine. Go to the wash!

      GERVAISE

      That’s good. (aside) He’s got bad ideas for certain. (she leaves, making a sign of goodbye to Coupeau)

      (Hardly has Gervaise closed the door than Lantier finishes packing the truck)

      LANTIER

      At last! That’s СКАЧАТЬ