for you to be delivering my funeral oration?
LIPA
Aren't you frightened yet?
SAVVA
Why should I be frightened? At your tricks and jugglery? I am used to the lies and frauds, Lipa. You can't frighten me with them. I still have a lot of stupid confidence left. It will help. It will come in handy the next time.
LIPA
Savva!
FRIAR (bringing the jug of water)
I had the hardest time getting it from her. She was like flint. She said she needed it herself. She was a hard case.
SAVVA
Thank you, boy. (Drinks with avidity) Fine! (Drinks the last drop) That was fine water. Take it back and tell the woman her water was fine and that there is none like it in all the world.
FRIAR (merrily)
All right, I'll tell her. (Goes off)
LIPA (in a whisper)
You are the enemy of the human race.
SAVVA (smacking his lips)
Very well, very well. Just wait. We'll hear what Kondraty has to say.
The blackguard! I'll give it to him!
LIPA (with emphasis, but still in a whisper as before)
You are the enemy of the human race! You are the enemy of the human race!
SAVVA
Louder! No one hears you. It's a spicy bit of information.
LIPA
Go away from here.
[The Friar returns.
SAVVA (looking into the distance with narrowed eyes)
It's nice out there, isn't it, Vassya? Whose woods are they?
Vazykin's? Have I ever been there with you?
FRIAR (gleefully)
Yes, they're Vazykin's. I was there yesterday, Mr. Savva. I caught a whole handful of fireflies, but as I ran—(He grows sorrowful at the memory) My, how they are shouting! What are they up to anyway? Did you say they killed three, Mr. Tropinin? Was that what you said?
SAVVA (coolly)
Yes, three.
FRIAR
What are they pushing and jostling for anyhow? He'll be carried in the procession and they can all see Him.
SAVVA
When will they carry Him?
FRIAR (looking up)
It won't be long now.
LIPA
They'll sing "Christ is Arisen" to-day.
SAVVA (smiling)
Is that so? Didn't I arrange a feast-day for them though?
[Tony and Speransky appear.
FRIAR
Are these fellows here too? For goodness' sake, what do they want? What are they looking for? I don't like it. Mr. Tropinin, come; let's go away from here.
SAVVA
Why?
FRIAR
They are coming this way, Speransky—
SAVVA
Aha! The "Tramp of Death" is approaching.
[Lipa looks at him in astonishment. The Friar presses his hand to his bosom in a state of agitation.
FRIAR (plaintively)
What are you saying? Oh, God! Why did you say that? You mustn't do it.
This is no tramp of death, nothing of the kind.
SAVVA
It's a kind of story he has written—Good morning, good morning. What can I do for you?
SPERANSKY
Mr. Anthony Tropinin is looking for you, Mr. Savva.
SAVVA
What do you want?
TONY (very sadly, hiding a little behind Speransky)
Nothing.
FRIAR (listening attentively and then speaking with passion) What are you running around for then, and whom are you hunting? If you want nothing, do nothing. But you are running around and hunting, hunting. It isn't nice, I tell you!
TONY (after a passing glance at the Friar he fixes his gaze on Savva) Savva.
SAVVA (irritated)
What do you want?
[Tony makes no answer, but hides behind Speransky, looking over his shoulder. In the course of what follows he keeps steadily looking at Savva. His lips and eyebrows twitch, and at times he presses both his hands hard against his mouth.
SPERANSKY
The crowd is in a state of great agitation, Miss Olympiada. They broke the old gate opening on the other side of the woods and rushed in. The Father Superior came out and asked them to behave. They shout so you can't hear anything at all. Many are rolling on the ground in convulsions. I suppose they are sick. It's very strange, quite unusual in fact.
LIPA
Will they carry Him out soon? I must go. (Rises)
SPERANSKY
They say it'll be soon now. One wagon with cripples in it was upset—cripples without hands or feet. They are lying on the ground crying. It's all so strange.
FRIAR
What? Did you see it yourself?
[Kondraty appears on the road coming from the monastery. He is walking in the company of two pilgrims, who are listening attentively to him. Catching sight of Savva, Kondraty says something to his companions, who remain standing where they are while he goes up to Savva.
SAVVA
Aha!
KONDRATY (clean, spruce, beaming)
Good morning, Miss Olympiada. Good morning to you too, Mr. Savva
Tropinin.
SAVVA
Good morning, good morning. You have come after all? You were not afraid?
KONDRATY (calmly)
Why should I be afraid? You won't kill me, I suppose, and if you should, it would be sweet to die at your hands.
SAVVA
What bravery! And how clean you are! You are positively painful to look at. You didn't make quite so smart an appearance when you lay wallowing in the puddle. You were a little the worse for the mud, and so on.
KONDRATY (shrugging his shoulders and speaking with dignity) It's no use recalling that incident now. It's quite out of place. Mr. Tropinin, it's time for you to have done with your spite and malice, high time.
SAVVA
Well?
KONDRATY
That's all. There is no "well" about it. You have had your shot. Be satisfied.
SAVVA
Are congratulations upon the miracle in order?
KONDRATY
Yes, Mr. Tropinin, upon the miracle—the miracle, indeed. (He weeps with a bland air, wiping his face with his handkerchief)