The Power of Darkness - Leo Tolstoy (the kiss of deception read online .txt) 📗
- Author: Leo Tolstoy
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at you I see, as the saying has it, “Sickness lives where men live.” You’ve shrivelled, shrivelled, all to nothing, poor dear, now I come to look at you. Seems illness does not add to good looks.
Peter
My last hour has come.
Matryóna
Oh well, Peter Ignátitch, it’s God’s will you know, you’ve had communion, and you’ll have unction, God willing. Your missus is a wise woman, the Lord be thanked; she’ll give you a good burial, and have prayers said for your soul, all most respectable! And my son, he’ll look after things meanwhile.
Peter
There’ll be no one to manage things! She’s not steady. Has her head full of folly—why, I know all about it, I know. And my girl is silly and young. I’ve got the homestead together, and there’s no one to attend to things. One can’t help feeling it. Whimpers.
Matryóna
Why, if it’s money, or something, you can leave orders.
Peter
To Anísya inside the house. Has Nan gone?
Matryóna
Aside. There now, he’s remembered!
Anísya
From inside. She went then and there. Come inside, won’t you? I’ll help you in.
Peter
Let me sit here a bit for the last time. The air’s so stuffy inside. Oh, how bad I feel! Oh, my heart’s burning. … Oh, if death would only come.
Matryóna
If God don’t take a soul, the soul can’t go out. Death and life are in God’s will, Peter Ignátitch. You can’t be sure of death either. Maybe you’ll recover yet. There was a man in our village just like that, at the very point of death …
Peter
No, I feel I shall die today, I feel it. Leans back and shuts his eyes.
Anísya
Enters. Well now, are you coming in or not? You do keep one waiting. Peter! eh, Peter!
Matryóna
Steps aside and beckons to Anísya with her finger. Well?
Anísya
Comes down the porch steps. Not there.
Matryóna
But have you searched everywhere? Under the floor?
Anísya
No, it’s not there either. In the shed perhaps; he was rummaging there yesterday.
Matryóna
Go, search, search for all you’re worth. Go all over everywhere, as if you licked with your tongue! But I see he’ll die this very day, his nails are turning blue and his face looks earthy. Is the samovar ready?
Anísya
Just on the boil.
Nikíta
Comes from the other side, if possible on horseback, up to the gate, and does not see Peter. To Matryóna. How d’you do, mother, is all well at home?
Matryóna
The Lord be thanked, we’re all alive and have a crust to bite.
Nikíta
Well, and how’s master?
Matryóna
Hush, there he sits. Points to porch.
Nikíta
Well, let him sit. What’s it to me?
Peter
Opens his eyes. Nikíta, I say, Nikíta, come here! Nikíta approaches. Anísya and Matryóna whisper together.
Peter
Why have you come back so early?
Nikíta
I’ve finished ploughing.
Peter
Have you done the strip beyond the bridge?
Nikíta
It’s too far to go there.
Peter
Too far? From here it’s still farther. You’ll have to go on purpose now. You might have made one job of it. Anísya, without showing herself, stands and listens.
Matryóna
Approaches. Oh, sonnie, why don’t you take more pains for your master? Your master is ill and depends on you; you should serve him as you would your own father, straining every muscle just as I always tell you to.
Peter
Well then—o-oh! … Get out the seed potatoes, and the women will go and sort them.
Anísya
Aside. No fear, I’m not going. He’s again sending everyone away; he must have the money on him now, and wants to hide it somewhere.
Peter
Else … o-oh! when the time comes for planting, they’ll all be rotten. Oh, I can’t stand it! Rises.
Matryóna
Runs up into the porch and holds Peter up. Shall I help you into the hut?
Peter
Help me in. Stops. Nikíta!
Nikíta
Angrily. What now?
Peter
I shan’t see you again … I’ll die today. … Forgive me,3 for Christ’s sake, forgive me if I have ever sinned against you … If I have sinned in word or deed … There’s been all sorts of things. Forgive me!
Nikíta
What’s there to forgive? I’m a sinner myself.
Matryóna
Ah, sonnie, have some feeling.
Peter
Forgive me, for Christ’s sake. Weeps.
Nikíta
Snivels. God will forgive you, Daddy Peter. I have no cause to complain of you. You’ve never done me any wrong. You forgive me; maybe I’ve sinned worse against you. Weeps.
Peter goes in whimpering, Matryóna supporting him.
Anísya
Oh, my poor head! It’s not without some reason he’s hit on that. Approaches Nikíta. Why did you say the money was under the floor? It’s not there.
Nikíta
Does not answer, but cries. I have never had anything bad from him, nothing but good, and what have I gone and done!
Anísya
Enough now! Where’s the money?
Nikíta
Angrily. How should I know? Go and look for it yourself!
Anísya
What’s made you so tender?
Nikíta
I am sorry for him—that sorry. How he cried! Oh dear!
Anísya
Look at him—seized with pity! He has found someone to pity too! He’s been treating you like a dog, and even just now was giving orders to have you turned out of the house. You’d better show me some pity!
Nikíta
What are you to be pitied for?
Anísya
If he dies, and the money’s been hidden away …
Nikíta
No fear, he’ll not hide it …
Anísya
Oh, Nikíta darling! he’s sent for his sister, and wants to give it to her. It will be a bad lookout for us. How are we going to live, if he gives her the money? They’ll turn me out of the house! You try and manage somehow! You said he went to the shed last night.
Nikíta
I saw him coming from there, but where he’s shoved it to, who can tell?
Anísya
Oh, my poor head! I’ll go and have a look there. Nikíta steps aside.
Matryóna
Comes out of the hut and
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