Scene V Enter Chacho.
CHACHO [
coming from left
]. Get this stuff out of the way.
SALOME. What is the matter? What has happened?
CHACHO. What was to happen? We are ruined. [
Behind the scenes are heard threatening voices
:] "Here! Yes! No." [
Then Ossep's voice
:] "Come in, come in."
CHACHO [
to Salome
]. Do you not hear them?
Enter Barssegh through middle door
.
BARSSEGH. This is really splendid! I work for my daily bread, and you illuminate your house on my money.
CHACHO [
to Salome
]. Now you have it.
SALOME [
rising
]. Are you mad? Show him out.
BARSSEGH. I will show you pretty soon who is to be shown out.
SALOME. Alexander, show this man out.
ALEXANDER [
to Barssegh
]. What do you want, sir? How can you indulge in such insolence?
BARSSEGH. That is not your affair, sir! I demand my money. Demand yours also if you can. You will be obliged to wait a long while for it.
CHACHO [
to Barssegh
]. Have you no conscience?
BARSSEGH. I want my money, and nothing more.
Enter Ossep, Gewo, a sheriff and his secretary, Dartscho, and several others.
OSSEP [
opening the door with both hands as he enters
]. Come in! come in! [
The others follow him
.] Play, play and laugh as much as you will over my misfortunes!
CHACHO [
aside
]. Now it is all over with us!
SALOME. Tell me, for God's sake, the meaning of this.
OSSEP. God will judge you and me also. [
To sheriff and others:
] Come, make your inventory, put your seals on everything—the house, the furniture, and on the cards, too.
BARSSEGH. Make an inventory of everything.
[The sheriff lists furniture in the background and puts a ticket on each piece. The guests assemble, frightened, on the left side of the table.
SALOME [
beating her head
]. Good heavens!
MARTHA. This is a disgrace for us as well.
CHACHO [
in a low voice to Martha
]. You at least should be silent.
OSSEP [
pointing to Barssegh
]. He has stripped me of my honor. Now you will honor and esteem him. He will arrange for your parties. Yes, he, the man who takes the shirt from my back and possesses himself of all my property.
ALEXANDER [
aside
]. I have my sister to thank for all this, who dragged me into this house.
OSSEP [
ironically
]. Alexander, look for a dowry elsewhere, for I can no longer give my daughter one.
ALEXANDER [
angry
]. What, you deride me as well! I don't belong to your class, sir!
OSSEP. And has it come to this!
ALEXANDER [
taking his hat
]. I have not acquired my present dignity to lose it through you.
OSSEP. Ha! ha! ha! His dignity!
ALEXANDER [
coming near Nato
]. I have loved you truly, Miss Nato, but I must give you up. I am not to blame for it. Farewell.
[Goes to the door.
[Barssegh laughs for joy.
OSSEP [
approaching Salome, who stands dismayed, takes her by the arm and points to the departing Alexander
]. There goes your official!
NATO [
standing at the left near the sofa
]. Alexander! Alexander! [
Exit Alexander
.] Dear Alexander.
[Sitting down on the sofa, begins to cry.
SALOME [
in a low tone, striking her brow with both hands
]. Why doesn't the earth open and swallow me?
OSSEP [
to Salome
]. Now you are punished, are you not? [
Turning to Barssegh
:] Take it all, now! Satisfy yourself! [
Takes off his coat
.] Take this also! [
Throws it to Barssegh
.] Yes, take it! [
Takes his cap from the table and throws it to Barssegh
.] Make off with this also; I need it no longer.
[Runs to and fro as if distracted.
BARSSEGH [
in a low voice
]. Keep on giving!
[Turns to sheriff and speaks softly to him.
OSSEP [
taking up different articles from card table and throwing them on the floor
]. Take these also! Take these also! [
Taking a lighted candelabra and smashing it on the floor
] Stick that also down your throat!
SEVERAL OF THE GUESTS. The poor fellow is losing his wits.
[Nato crying; her friends comfort her. Salome faints.
CHACHO. Ossep! My dear Ossep!
GEWO [
embracing Ossep
]. Be calm, dear Ossep. You behave like a madman.
OSSEP [
after a pause
]. Gewo, I was mad when I settled in this city. This life is too much for me; it was not for me. I am ruined. I am a beggar. He is to be praised who comes off better than I.
[Exit.
SALOME [
with her hand on her brow sinks down on the sofa, groaning loudly
]. Ah!
GEWO. Poor Ossep!
BARSSEGH [
turns from Dartscho, to whom he has been speaking, to the sheriff
]. What are you gazing around for, sir? Keep on with your writing.
[Sheriff looks at Barssegh in disgust, sits down by card table and writes.
MARTHA [
to the guests
]. We have nothing more to look for here. [
Aside:
] A charming set!
[Goes toward middle door; some ladies follow; others stand offended.
CHACHO [
raising her eyes
]. Would that I had died long ago, so that I had not lived to see this unfortunate day!
CURTAIN.
