FÉDYA. Well, give them twenty-five roubles.[7] [7] About £2, 10s. Karénin gives the money. FÉDYA. Splendid! And now, "The Flax!" Gipsies sing. FÉDYA [looks round] Karénin's bunked!... Well, devil take him! Gipsy group breaks up. FÉDYA [sits down by Másha] Do you know who that was? MÁSHA. I heard his name. FÉDYA. He's an excellent fellow! He came to take me home to my wife. She loves a fool like me, and see what I am doing here ...! MÁSHA. Well, and it's wrong! You ought to go back to her.... You ought to pity her. FÉDYA. You think I ought to? Well, I think I ought not. MÁSHA. Of course, if you don't love her you need not. Only love counts. FÉDYA. And how do you know that? MÁSHA. Seems I do! FÉDYA. Well, kiss me then!... Now, let's have "The Flax" once more, and then finish up. Gipsies sing. FÉDYA. Ah, how good it is! If only one hadn't to wake up!... If one could die so! Curtain. ACT II SCENE 1 Two weeks have passed since Act I. Anna Pávlovna and Karénin are discovered sitting in Lisa's dining-room. Enter Sásha. KARÉNIN. Well, what news? SÁSHA. The doctor says there is no danger at present, as long as he does not catch cold. ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Yes, but Lisa is quite worn out. SÁSHA. He says it's false croup, and a very mild attack. [Points to a basket]. What's that? ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Grapes. Victor brought them. KARÉNIN. Won't you have some? SÁSHA. Yes, she likes grapes. She has become terribly nervous. KARÉNIN. Naturally--after not sleeping for two nights, and not eating. SÁSHA. And how about you. KARÉNIN. That's quite another matter. Enter doctor and Lisa. DOCTOR [impressively] Yes, that's it. Change it every half-hour if he's awake, but if he's asleep don't disturb him. You need not paint the throat. The room must be kept at its present temperature ... LISA. But if he again begins to choke? DOCTOR. He probably won't, but if he should, use the spray. And give him the powders: one in the morning and the other at night. I will give you the prescription now. ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Have a cup of tea, doctor? DOCTOR. No thanks.... My patients are expecting me. Sits down to the table. Sásha brings him paper and ink. LISA. So you're sure it is not croup? DOCTOR [smiling] Perfectly certain! KARÉNIN [to Lisa] And now have some tea, or, better still, go and lie down!... Just see what you look like.... LISA. Oh, now I am alive again. Thank you, you are a true friend! [Presses his hand. Sásha moves away angrily] I am so grateful to you, dear friend! At such times one recog ... KARÉNIN. What have I done? There's really no cause at all to thank me. LISA. And who stopped up all night? Who fetched the very best doctor? KARÉNIN. I am already fully rewarded by the fact that Mísha is out of danger; and above all by your kindness.