Pierre & Anatole

[Pierre]

You promised countess rostova to marry her and were about to elope, is that so?

[Anatole]

Mon cher

I don’t consider myself bound to answer questions put to me in that tone

[Pierre]

My face, already pale

Becomes distorted by fury

I seize you by the collar with my big big hands

And I shake you from side to side

Until your face shows a sufficient degree of terror

When I tell you I must talk to you!

[Anatole]

Come now, this is stupid!

What what, don’t don’t!

[Pierre]

You’re a scoundrel and a blackguard

And I don’t know what deprives me of the pleasure

Of smashing your head in with this!

Did you promise to marry her?

[Anatole]

I didn’t think of it. I never promised, because—

[Pierre]

Have you any letters of hers?

Any letters?

I shan’t be violent, don’t be afraid

First, the letters

Second, tomorrow you must get out of moscow

[Anatole]

But how can I?

[Pierre]

Third

You must never breathe a word of what has happened between you and the countess

Now I know I can’t prevent your doing so

But if you have a spark of conscience—

Pierre paces the room several times in silence

[Anatole]

Anatole sits at a table frowning and biting his lips

[Pierre]

After all, you must understand

That besides your pleasure

There is such a thing as other people

And their happiness and peace

And that you are ruining a whole life

For the sake of amusing yourself!

Amuse yourself with women like my wife

With them you’re within your rights

But to promise a young girl to marry her

To deceive, to kidnap

Don’t you understand that that’s as cruel

As beating an old man or a child?

[Anatole]

Well, I don’t know about that, eh?

I don’t know that and I don’t want to

But you have used such words to me

Scoundrel and so on

Which as a man of honor

I will not allow anyone to use

[Pierre]

Is it satisfaction you want?

[Anatole]

You could at least take back your words, eh?

If you want me to do as you wish?

[Pierre]

Fine, I take them back, I take them back!

And I ask you to forgive me

And if you require money for your journey—

[Anatole]

Anatole smiled

The reflection of that base and cringing smile

Which pierre knew so well in his wife

Revolted him

[Pierre]

Oh, vile and heartless brood!

[Anatole]

Next day anatole left

For petersburg!