The Contemporary (Sovremennik)

Alexandra Semyonovna. God be with you... How bitter you are...

A bell rings.

Alexey Petrovich. Hark, one of your guests is already arriving... What a nuisance, I did not manage to leave in time: I will have to encounter them... Where is my cap?

Mikhailo Ivanych Drozdov enters the living room quickly, dressed foppishly, in new tan-colored gloves and patent leather boots; he is perfumed and his hair is curled.

Mikhailo Ivanych. Ah, ma belle cousine my beautiful cousin... He takes Alexandra Semyonovna’s hand and kisses it tenderly several times. And where is the faithful husband?

Alexey Petrovich coming out of the neighboring room with his cap in his hands. The faithful husband is leaving to leave the beautiful cousin at liberty with his charming cousin...

Mikhailo Ivanych somewhat flustered. But I arrived earlier on purpose so that we could chat together, the three of us.

Alexey Petrovich. You know, beautiful cousin, that I do not know how to chat, that I am, as my wife justly observes, a bit of a grump... Your business is to fly carefree about Moscow, to flirt, to conquer and captivate hearts, in a word, to pluck the roses of life, while our business is to sniff archive dust... How could I possibly chat with you!.. Here is my wife, votre belle et charmante cousine your beautiful and charming cousin... refresh her with your fragrance, only, for God’s sake (with irony), have pity on me, do not turn her head... And allow me to retreat to my den... He bows and walks toward the doors.

Mikhailo Ivanych following him. Phew, how poisonous he is!... Always bile and sarcasm on his tongue... One would think he is genuinely angry... If that is the case, just for spite, I will flirt with the cousin all evening...

Alexey Petrovich from the other room. Sasha, have pity on your poor husband... Do not get carried away with these amours, or I shall douse him in ink—the only revenge permitted to a poor official... He leaves; everyone laughs.

Mikhailo Ivanych. Listen, cousin: are you truly still in love with your husband?..

Alexandra Semyonovna. Even if it were so... What is it to you, dear cousin?..