The Cherry Orchard / Вишневый сад. Книга для чтения на английском языке

[ToPischin] If the energy which you, in the course of your life, have spent in looking for money to pay interest had been used for something else, then, I believe, after all, you’d be able to turn everything upside down.

Pischin. Nietzsche… a philosopher… a very great, a most celebrated man… a man of enormous brain, says in his books that you can forge bank-notes.

Trofimov. And have you read Nietzsche?

Pischin. Well… Dashenka told me. Now I’m in such a position, I wouldn’t mind forging them… I’ve got to pay 310 roubles the day after tomorrow… I’ve got 130 already… [Feels his pockets, nervously] I’ve lost the money! The money’s gone! [Crying] Where’s the money? [Joyfully] Here it is behind the lining… I even began to perspire.

EnterLubov AndreyevnaandCharlotta Ivanovna.

Lubov. [Humming a Caucasian dance] Why is Leonid away so long? What’s he doing in town? [ToDunyasha] Dunyasha, give the musicians some tea.

Trofimov. Business is off, I suppose.

Lubov. And the musicians needn’t have come, and we needn’t have got up this ball… Well, never mind… [Sits and sings softly.]

Charlotta. [Gives a pack of cards toPischin] Here’s a pack of cards, think of any one card you like.

Pischin. I’ve thought of one.

Charlotta. Now shuffle. All right, now. Give them here, oh my dear Mr. Pischin. Ein, zwei, drei! Now look and you’ll find it in your coat-tail pocket.

Pischin. [Takes a card out of his coat-tail pocket] Eight of spades, quite right! [Surprised] Think of that now!

Charlotta.

[Holds the pack of cards on the palm of her hand. ToTrofimov] Now tell me quickly. What’s the top card?

Trofimov. Well, the queen of spades.

Charlotta. Right! [ToPischin] Well now? What card’s on top?

Pischin. Ace of hearts.

Charlotta. Right! [Claps her hands, the pack of cards vanishes] How lovely the weather is today. [A mysterious woman’s voice answers her, as if from under the floor, “Oh yes, it’s lovely weather, madam.

”] You are so beautiful, you are my ideal. [Voice, “You, madam, please me very much too.”]

Station-master. [Applauds] Madame ventriloquist, bravo!

Pischin. [Surprised] Think of that, now! Delightful, Charlotte Ivanovna… I’m simply in love…

Charlotta. In love? [Shrugging her shoulders] Can you love? Guter Mensch aber schlechter Musikant.