FÉDYA. But I'm married, and your choir won't allow it.... MÁSHA. The choir is one thing, one's heart's another! I love those I love, and hate those I hate. FÉDYA. Ah! This is good! Isn't it? MÁSHA. Of course it's good--we've jolly visitors, and are all merry. Enter gipsy man. GIPSY [to Fédya] A gentleman is asking for you. FÉDYA. What gentleman? GIPSY. I don't know.... Well dressed, wears a sable overcoat-- FÉDYA. A swell? Well, ask him in. [Exit Gipsy]. AFRÉMOV. Who has come to see you here? FÉDYA. The devil knows! Who can want me? Enter Karénin. Looks round. FÉDYA. Ah, Victor! I never expected _you_!... Take off your coat!... What wind has blown you here? Come, sit down and listen to "Not at Eve." KARÉNIN. _Je voudrais vous parler sans témoins._[5] [5] I wanted to speak to you alone. FÉDYA. What about? KARÉNIN. _Je viens de chez vous. Votre femme m'a chargé de cette lettre et puis ..._[6] [6] I have come from your home. Your wife has entrusted me with this letter and besides ... FÉDYA [takes letter, reads, frowns, then smiles affectionately] I say, Karénin, of course you know what is in this letter? KARÉNIN. I know ... and I want to say ... FÉDYA. Wait, wait a bit! Please don't imagine that I am drunk and my words irresponsible.... I mean, that I am irresponsible! I am drunk, but in this matter I see quite clearly.... Well, what were you commissioned to say? KARÉNIN. I was commissioned to find you, and to tell you ... that ... she ... is waiting for you. She asks you to forget everything and come back. FÉDYA [listens in silence, gazing into Karénin's eyes] Still, I don't understand why _you_ ... KARÉNIN. Elisabeth Andréyevna sent for me, and asked me ... FÉDYA. So ... KARÉNIN. But I ask you, not so much in your wife's name as from myself.... Come home! FÉDYA. You are a better man than I. (What nonsense! It is easy enough to be better than I) ... I am a scoundrel, and you are a good--yes, a good man.... And that is the very reason why I won't alter my decision.... No! Not on that account either--but simply because I can't and won't.... How could I return? KARÉNIN. Let us go to my rooms now, and I'll tell her that you will return to-morrow. FÉDYA. And to-morrow, what?... I shall still be I, and she--she. [Goes to the table and drinks] It's best to have the tooth out at one go.... Didn't I say that if I broke my word she was to throw me over? Well, I have broken it, and that's the end of it. KARÉNIN. For you, but not for her! FÉDYA. It is extraordinary that _you_ should take pains to prevent our marriage being broken up! KARÉNIN [is about to speak, but Másha comes up] ... FÉDYA [interrupting him] Just hear her sing "The Flax"!... Másha! The gipsies re-enter. MÁSHA [whispers] An ovation, eh? FÉDYA [laughs] An ovation!... "Victor, my Lord! Son of Michael!" ... Gipsies sing a song of greeting and laudation. KARÉNIN [listens in confusion then asks] How much shall I give them?