Redemption and Two Other Plays | Page 6

je ne force pas la consigne.
[Crossing to sofa L. He kisses her hand. He is a charming old diplomat of seventy.
SOPHIA KAR��NINA. Ah, you know well que vous ��tes toujours le bien venu.... Tell me, you have received my letter?
PRINCE SERGIUS. I did. Me voil��. (Sits L. on sofa L.) Sophia Kar��nina (working up to distress). Oh, my dear friend, I begin to lose hope. She's bewitched him, positively bewitched him. Il est ensorcel��. I never knew he could be so obstinate, so heartless, and so indifferent to me. He's changed completely since that woman left her husband.
PRINCE SERGIUS. How do matters actually stand?
SOPHIA KAR��NINA. Well, he's made up his mind to marry her at any cost.
PRINCE SERGIUS. And her husband?
SOPHIA KAR��NINA. He agrees to a divorce.
PRINCE SERGIUS. Really?
SOPHIA KAR��NINA. And Victor is willing to put up with all the sordidness, the vulgarity of the divorce court, the lawyers, evidences of guilt ... tout ?a est d��go?tant. I can't understand his sensitive nature not being repelled by it.
PRINCE SERGIUS (smiling). He's in love, and when a man's really in love--
SOPHIA KAR��NINA (interrupting). In our time love could remain pure, coloring one's whole life with a romantic friendship. Such love I understand and value.
PRINCE SERGIUS (sighing). However, the present generation refuses to live on dreams. (He coughs delicately.) La possession de l'ame ne leur suffit plus. So what is the alternative? But tell me more of Victor.
SOPHIA KAR��NINA. There's not very much to say. He seems bewitched, hardly my son. Did you know I'd called upon her? Victor pressed me so it was impossible to refuse. But Dieu merci, I found her out. So I merely left my card, and now she has asked me if I could receive her to-day, and I am expecting her (she glances at her watch) any moment now. I am doing all this to please Victor, but conceive my feelings. I know you always can. Really, really, I need your help.
PRINCE SERGIUS (bowing). Thank you for the honor you do me.
SOPHIA KAR��NINA. You realize this visit decides Victor's fate. I must refuse my consent, or---- But that's impossible.
PRINCE SERGIUS. Have you met her?
SOPHIA KAR��NINA. I've never seen her, but I'm afraid of her. No good woman leaves her husband, especially when there's nothing obviously intolerable about him. Why, I've seen Protosov often with Victor, and found him even quite charming.
PRINCE SERGIUS (murmurs). So I've heard. So I've heard.
SOPHIA KAR��NINA (continuing). She should bear her cross without complaint. And Victor must cease trying to persuade himself that his happiness lies in defying his principles. What I don't understand is how Victor, with his religious views, can think of marrying a divorced woman. I've heard him say over and over again--once quite lately-- that divorce is totally inconsistent with true Christianity. If she's been able to fascinate him to that point, I am afraid of her.--But how stupid of me to talk all the time! Have you spoken to him at all? What does he say? And don't you thoroughly agree with me?
PRINCE SERGIUS. Yes, I've spoken to Victor. I think he really loves her, has grown accustomed to the idea of loving her, pour ainsi dire. (Shaking his head.) I don't believe he could ever now care for another woman.
SOPHIA KAR��NINA (sighing). And Varia Casanzeva would have made him such a charming wife. She's so devoted already.
PRINCE SERGIUS (smiling). I am afraid I hardly see her in the present ... tableau. (Earnestly.) Why not submit to Victor's wish and help him?
SOPHIA KAR��NINA. To marry a divorc��e? And afterwards have him running into his wife's husband? How can you calmly suggest that a mother accept such a situation for her son?
PRINCE SERGIUS. But, ch��re amie, why not approve of the inevitable? And you might console yourself by regarding the dangers he'll avoid by marrying this gentle, lovely woman. After all, suppose he conceived a passion for some one----
[Convey the word "disreputable".
SOPHIA KAR��NINA. How can a good woman leave her husband?
PRINCE SERGIUS. Ah, that's not like you. You're unkind and you're harsh. Her husband is the sort of man--well, he's his own worst enemy. A weakling, a ne'er-do-well--he's spent all his money and hers too. She has a child. Do you think you can condemn her for leaving him? As a matter of fact she didn't leave him, he left her.
SOPHIA KAR��NINA (faintly). Oh what a mud-pen I'm slipping into!
PRINCE SERGIUS (amused). Could your religion aid you?
SOPHIA KAR��NINA (smelling her salts). In this instance, religion would require of me the impossible. C'est plus fort que moi.
PRINCE SERGIUS. F��dya himself--you know what a charming clever creature he is when he's in his senses--he advised her to leave him.
[Enter VICTOR who kisses his mother's hand and greets PRINCE SERGIUS.
KAR��NIN. Ah, Prince Sergius! (Shakes hands with Prince--formally.) Maman, I've come to