The Queen of Spades Page #6

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Don't fidget me, my dear.

I'm quite capable of walking by myself.

I will be waiting for you at the entrance

of the Opera House.

Who's there? Who's there?

It's I, grandmama. Pray don't disturb yourself.

I cannot withstand people creeping about me like this.

How are you, my dear boy?

Liza, make room for the prince.

No, please. I can see well enough from here.

If you don't meet me tonight, I shall kill myself.

And you will be responsible for my death.

Fyodor Pavlovitch, you're making fun of me.

No, I assure you. You've made a conquest.

Who is it, then?

A very charming friend of mine.

Is he in the army?

Yes.

In the engineers?

No, he's in the horse guards with me.

Don't you recall the occasion I brought him

to the countess' house

and we heard you crying on the staircase?

Yes, of course...

Oh, so that's who it is.

But why the engineers, Lizaveta Ivanovna?

Oh, no particular reason.

Come now. You're blushing.

I've just discovered your little secret.

Nothing of the sort. There's no secret at all.

What are you whispering about?

The music, Grandmama.

Well, pull up your chair. You can't see from there.

I do not like that dress, Lizaveta.

A girl of your age should not expose herself like that.

especially when we are together.

Now remember, you must make yourself

as agreeable as possible for the countess.

Flatter her a little.

What, Aunt Katya?

Flatter! Flatter her a little.

Oh, yes, I see.

What sort of thing should I say?

Why, any odd words, my dear boy.

What would you say to some charming young girl?

I don't know, Aunt Katya.

Pay her some compliments.

Be gay and amusing.

Countess Ranevskaya.

Yes.

I have my nephew with me.

He's the grandson of your old friend, Count Dobrinski.

He's been pleading me to present him to you.

Where is he?

Nicky... Nicky!

So you're Dobrinski's grandson.

I should never have known it.

He was the handsomest man in the Imperial Guard.

And I dare say he still is.

I didn't really know my grandpapa, Countess.

I can just remember a great fat man with a purple face

who was always hitting the servants with his stick

and making us all laugh.

It must be fifteen years since he died

but I can still remember his coffin being carried out.

What is the boy saying?

Yes, it was most unfortunate.

Most unfortunate.

Why unfortunate, Aunt Katya.

After all, he was nearly eighty.

What else could you expect at that age?

We shall be seeing you at the ball tomorrow.

Young lout.

Oh, Andrei.

Who's that?

Oh, make room for Prince Narumov.

What's the matter with you tonight?

It's quite all right.

I can see quite well from here.

How hot it is in here. Quite stifling.

Are you feeling unwell?

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