ARTÉMYEV. But I want to give it! You are a corpse; but suppose you come to life again? Then they, your wife and that gentleman, who are so happy--they would be bigamists, and at best would be sent to the less distant parts of Siberia. So why should you lack money? FÉDYA. I beg you to leave me alone. ARTÉMYEV. Simply write a letter. I'll write it for you if you like; only give me their address, and you'll be grateful to me. FÉDYA. Be off, I tell you! I have told you nothing! ARTÉMYEV. Yes, you have! Here's my witness. The waiter heard you say you were a corpse. WAITER. I know nothing about it. FÉDYA. You scoundrel! ARTÉMYEV. Am I a scoundrel? Eh, police! I'll give him in charge! Fédya rises to go, but Artémyev holds him. Enter policeman. Curtain. SCENE 2 The ivy-covered verandah of a bungalow in the country. Anna Dmítrievna Karénina. Lisa (pregnant), nurse, and boy. LISA. Now he's on his way from the station. BOY. Who is? LISA. Papa. BOY. Papa's coming from the station? LISA. _C'est étonnant comme il l'aime, tout-à-fait comme son père._[23] [23] It is surprising how he loves him--just as if he were his father. ANNA DMÍTRIEVNA. _Tant mieux! Se souvient-il de son père véritable?_[24] [24] So much the better! Does he remember his real father? LISA [sighs] I never speak to him about it. I say to myself, "Why confuse him?" Sometimes I think I ought to tell him. What is your opinion, _Maman_? ANNA DMÍTRIEVNA. I think it is a matter of feeling, Lisa, and if you obey your feelings your heart will tell you what to say and when to say it. What a wonderful conciliator death is! I confess there was a time when Fédya--whom I had known from a child--was repulsive to me; but now I only remember him as that nice lad, Victor's friend, and as the passionate man who sacrificed himself--illegally and irreligiously, but still sacrificed himself--for those he loved. _On aura beau dire, l'action est belle._[25]... I hope Victor will not forget to bring the wool: I've hardly any left. [Knits]. [25] Say what one likes--it is a fine action. LISA. I hear him coming. The sound of wheels and bells is heard. Lisa rises, and goes to the edge of the veranda. LISA. There's someone with him, a lady in a bonnet--It's Mother! I have not seen her for an age. [Goes to the door]. Enter Karénin and Anna Pávlovna. ANNA PÁVLOVNA [kisses Lisa and Anna Dmítrievna] Victor met me, and has brought me here. ANNA DMÍTRIEVNA. He has done well. ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Yes, certainly. I thought to myself, "When shall I see her again?" and kept putting it off. But now I've come, and if you don't turn me out I will stay till the last train. KARÉNIN [kisses his wife, mother, and the boy] D'you know what a piece of luck! Congratulate me--I have two days' holiday. They'll be able to get on without me to-morrow. LISA. Splendid! Two days! It's long since we had that! We'll drive to the Hermitage, shall we?