ARTIMIEV. The best way is to write them a letter. If you don't know how I'll do it for you. Just give me their address and afterwards when the ruble notes commence to drop in, how grateful you'll be! FEDYA. Get out! Get out, I say! I haven't told you anything! ARTIMIEV. Oh, yes, you have! Here's my witness! This waiter heard you saying you were a corpse! FEDYA. (beside himself). You damn blackmailing beast---- [Rising. ARTIMIEV. Oh, I'm a beast, am I? We'll see about that! (FEDYA rises to go, ARTIMIEV seizes him.) Police! Police! (FEDYA struggles frantically to escape.) [The POLICE enter and drag him away. CURTAIN SCENE II In the country. A veranda covered by a gay awning; sunlight; flowers; SOPHIA KARENINA, LISA, her little boy and nurse. LISA (standing C. in door. To the little boy, smiling), Who do you think is on his way from the station? MISHA (excitedly). Who? Who? LISA. Papa. MISHA (rapturously). Papa's coming! Papa's coming! [Exits L. through C. door. LISA (contentedly, to SOPHIA KARENINA). How much he loves Victor! As if he were his real father! SOPHIA KARENINA (on sofa L. knitting--back to audience). Tant mieux. Do you think he ever remembers his father? LISA (sighing). I can't tell. Of course I've never said anything to him. What's the use of confusing his little head? Yet sometimes I feel as though I ought. What do you think, Mamma? SOPHIA KARENINA. I think it's a matter of feeling. If you can trust your heart, let it guide you. What extraordinary adjustments death brings about! I confess I used to think very unkindly of Fedya, when he seemed a barrier to all this. (She makes a gesture with her hand.) But now I think of him as that nice boy who was my son's friend, and a man who was capable of sacrificing himself for those he loved. (She knits.) I hope Victor hasn't forgotten to bring me some wool. LISA. Here he comes. (LISA runs to the edge of the veranda.) There's some one with him--a lady in a bonnet! Oh, it's mother! How splendid! I haven't seen her for an age! [Enter ANNA PAVLOVNA up C. ANNA PAVLOVNA (kissing LISA). My darling. (To SOPHIA KARENINA.) How do you do? Victor met me and insisted on my coming down. [Sits bench L. C. beside SOPHIA. SOPHIA KARENINA. This is perfectly charming! [Enter VICTOR and MISHA. ANNA PAVLOVNA. I did want to see Lisa and the boy. So now, if you don't turn me out, I'll stay till the evening train. KARENIN. (L. C., kissing his wife, his mother and the boy). Congratulate me--everybody--I've a bit of luck, I don't have to go to town again for two days. Isn't that wonderful? LISA. (R. C.). Two days! That's glorious! We'll drive over to the Hermitage to-morrow and show it to mother. ANNA PAVLOVNA. (holding the boy). He's so like his father, isn't he? I do hope he hasn't inherited his father's disposition.