Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and Other Stories / Леди Макбет Мценского уезда и другие повести. Книга для чтения на английском языке

“Found it in the garden,” she said, “tied up my skirt with it.”

“Ah, yes!” Zinovy Borisych pronounced with particular emphasis. “We’ve also heard a thing or two about your skirts.”

“What is it you’ve heard?”

“All about your nice doings.”

“There are no such doings of mine.”

“Well, we’ll look into that, we’ll look into everything,” Zinovy Borisych replied, moving his empty cup towards his wife.

Katerina Lvovna was silent.

“We’ll bring all these doings of yours to light, Katerina Lvovna,” Zinovy Borisych went on after a long pause, scowling at his wife.

“Your Katerina Lvovna is not so terribly frightened. She’s not much afraid of that,” she replied.

“What? What?” cried Zinovy Borisych, raising his voice.

“Never mind – drop it,” replied his wife.

“Well, you’d better look out! You’re getting a bit too talkative!”

“Why shouldn’t I be talkative?” Katerina Lvovna retorted.

“You’d better watch yourself.”

“There’s no reason for me to watch myself. Wagging tongues wag something to you, and I have to take all kinds of insults on myself! That’s a new one!”

“Not wagging tongues, but certain knowledge about your amours.”

“About what amours?” cried Katerina Lvovna, blushing unfeignedly.

“I know what.”

“If you know, then speak more clearly!”

Zinovy Borisych was silent and again moved the empty cup towards his wife.

“Clearly there’s nothing to talk about,” Katerina Lvovna answered with disdain, defiantly throwing a teaspoon onto her husband’s saucer. “Well, tell me, who have they denounced to you? Who is my lover according to you?”

“You’ll find out, don’t be in such a hurry.”

“Is it Sergei they’ve been yapping about?”

“We’ll find out, we’ll find out, Katerina Lvovna. My power over you no one has taken away and no one can take away… You’ll talk yourself…”

“Ohh, I can’t bear that!” Katerina Lvovna gnashed her teeth and, turning white as a sheet, unexpectedly rushed out the door.

“Well, here he is,” she said a few seconds later, leading Sergei into the room by the sleeve. “Question him and me about what you know. Maybe you’ll find out a lot more than you’d like!”

Zinovy Borisych was at a loss.