Why don't you answer? It will be put down in the depositions that the
accused did not answer these questions, and this may harm you and them
very much. Well then, how was it?
FÉDYA [after a pause] Oh, Mr. Magistrate, how is it you are not ashamed!
Why do you pry into other people's lives? You are glad to have power,
and to show it, you torment not physically but morally--torment people a
thousand times better than yourself!
EXAMINING MAGISTRATE. I beg ...
FÉDYA. You've nothing to beg! I shall say what I think, and you [to
Clerk] write it down! At least for once there will be sensible human
words in a police report! [Raises his voice] There are three people: I,
he, and she. Our relations to one another are complex--a spiritual
struggle such as you know nothing of, a struggle between good and evil
goes on. That struggle ends in a manner which sets them free. They were
all at peace. They were happy, and remembered me with affection. I,
fallen as I was, was glad that I had acted as I ought, and that I, a
good-for-nothing, had gone out of their lives, so as not to stand in the
way of people who were good and who had life before them. And so we were
all living, when suddenly a blackmailing scoundrel appears who wants me
to take part in his rascality, and I send him about his business. Then
he comes to you, to the champion of Justice! The guardian of Morality!
And you, who receive each month a few pounds for doing your dirty work,
put on your uniform, and calmly bully these people--bully people whose
little finger is worth more than your whole body and soul! People who
would not admit you to their anteroom! But you have got so far, and are
pleased ...
EXAMINING MAGISTRATE. I shall have you turned out!
FÉDYA. I'm not afraid of anyone, because I'm a corpse and you can't do
me any harm. No position could be worse than mine! So turn me out!
KARÉNIN. May we go?
EXAMINING MAGISTRATE. Immediately, but first sign your deposition.
FÉDYA. You'd be quite comic, if you weren't so vile!
EXAMINING MAGISTRATE. Take him away! I arrest you.
FÉDYA [to Lisa and Karénin] Forgive me!
KARÉNIN [approaches and holds out his hand] It had to happen!
Lisa passes by. Fédya bows low to her.
Curtain.
SCENE 2
A corridor of the Law Courts. In the background a door with glass
panels, beside which stands an usher. Further to the right another
door through which the accused are led.
Iván Petróvich Alexándrov comes to the first door and wishes to
enter.
USHER. Where are you going? You mustn't! Shoving in like that!
IVÁN PETRÓVICH. Why mustn't I? The law says the proceedings are public.
[Applause is heard from inside the Court].
USHER. Anyhow, you mustn't, and that's all about it.
IVÁN PETRÓVICH. Ignorant fellow! You don't know whom you are speaking
to!
A Young Lawyer in a dress-suit enters from the Court.
YOUNG LAWYER. Are you concerned in this case?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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