The Russian Masters: Works by Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Tolstoy, Pushkin, Gogol, Turgenev and More. Максим Горький

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      SPERANSKY

      The crowd is in a state of great agitation, Miss Olympiada. They broke the old gate opening on the other side of the woods and rushed in. The Father Superior came out and asked them to behave. They shout so you can't hear anything at all. Many are rolling on the ground in convulsions. I suppose they are sick. It's very strange, quite unusual in fact.

      LIPA

      Will they carry Him out soon? I must go. (Rises)

      SPERANSKY

      They say it'll be soon now. One wagon with cripples in it was upset—cripples without hands or feet. They are lying on the ground crying. It's all so strange.

      FRIAR

      What? Did you see it yourself?

       [Kondraty appears on the road coming from the monastery. He is walking in the company of two pilgrims, who are listening attentively to him. Catching sight of Savva, Kondraty says something to his companions, who remain standing where they are while he goes up to Savva.

      SAVVA

      Aha!

      KONDRATY (clean, spruce, beaming)

      Good morning, Miss Olympiada. Good morning to you too, Mr. Savva

       Tropinin.

      SAVVA

      Good morning, good morning. You have come after all? You were not afraid?

      KONDRATY (calmly)

      Why should I be afraid? You won't kill me, I suppose, and if you should, it would be sweet to die at your hands.

      SAVVA

      What bravery! And how clean you are! You are positively painful to look at. You didn't make quite so smart an appearance when you lay wallowing in the puddle. You were a little the worse for the mud, and so on.

      KONDRATY (shrugging his shoulders and speaking with dignity) It's no use recalling that incident now. It's quite out of place. Mr. Tropinin, it's time for you to have done with your spite and malice, high time.

      SAVVA

      Well?

      KONDRATY

      That's all. There is no "well" about it. You have had your shot. Be satisfied.

      SAVVA

      Are congratulations upon the miracle in order?

      KONDRATY

      Yes, Mr. Tropinin, upon the miracle—the miracle, indeed. (He weeps with a bland air, wiping his face with his handkerchief) God granted that I should live to see the day.

      SAVVA (rising and advancing a step toward the monk; peremptorily) Enough now! Stop your hocus-pocus. You have played your trick. Now stop, or I'll knock all that jugglery out of you. Do you hear?

      FRIAR

      Mr. Savva, good Mr. Savva, please don't.

      KONDRATY (drawing back a little)

      Not so loud, not so loud. We are not in the forest where you can kill rich merchants and get away with it. There are people here.

      SAVVA (lowering his voice)

      Well, tell me all about it. Come on.

      KONDRATY

      What's the use of going away? I can tell you everything right here. I have no secrets. It's you who have secrets. I am all here.

      SAVVA

      You'll lie if you tell it here.

      KONDRATY (heatedly, with tears)

      Shame, Mr. Tropinin! Shame! Shame! Why do you insult me? Is it because you saw me lying in the puddle? It's a sin, a shame!

      SAVVA (perplexed)

      What's the matter with you?

      KONDRATY

      Do you think I am going to lie on a day like this? Miss Olympiada, you at least ought to know—Good God! Good God! Why, Christ has just arisen! Do you understand?

       [The crowd increases. Some cast glances at the group with the two monks before they pass on.

      LIPA (excitedly)

      Father Kondraty—

      KONDRATY (beating his breast)

      Do you understand? I have lived all my life like a scoundrel, so why, why did God do this with me? Do you understand, Miss Olympiada? Do you understand? Eh?

      SAVVA (perplexed)

      Talk sense. Stop blubbering.

      KONDRATY (waving his hand)

      I am not angry with you. I bear you no grudge. Who are you that I should bear any resentment against you?

      SAVVA

      Talk sense.

      KONDRATY

      I'll tell Miss Olympiada. I won't speak to you. You knew me as a drunkard, Miss Olympiada, a mean, worthless creature. Now listen. (To Speransky) And you, young man, may listen also. It will teach you a lesson. It will show you how God works His will unseen.

      LIPA

      I see, Father Kondraty. Forgive me.

      KONDRATY

      God will forgive you. Who am I to forgive you? So that's the way it was, Miss Olympiada. I followed your advice and went to the Father Superior with the infernal machine. It was indeed an infernal machine! And I told him everything, just the way I felt, with a perfect candor and purity of heart.

      SPERANSKY (guessing)

      Is that how it happened? What a remarkable event!

      FRIAR (quietly)

      Keep quiet. What are you butting in for?

      KONDRATY

      Ye-es. The Father Superior turned pale. "You scamp," he said, "do you know with whom you have had dealings?" "I do," I said, trembling all over. Well, they called together the whole brotherhood and discussed the matter in secret. And then the Father Superior said to me: "It's this way, Kondraty," he said. "God has chosen you as the instrument of His sacred will. Yes. (Weeps) God has chosen you as the instrument—"

      LIPA

      Well? Go on.

      KONDRATY

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