The Queen of Spades Page #4

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Yes. The sewing room is at the top.

Wait for me there.

And the countess' bed chamber, you say,

is on the first floor beyond the drawing room.

Yes. But be quite sure you don't go that way.

I must go back now.

I'm frightened. Please let us wait.

There's nothing to be frightened of.

And please put a candle on your bedroom window

That way I can know if something has gone wrong.

Where's Captain Suvorin?

His Honor will be back in a minute, Your Excellency.

Andrei!

What a surprise.

I want an explanation from you.

What are your relations with Lizaveta Ivanovna Leodovski?

Come now, no play acting, please.

I saw you together at the Opera House last night.

And since when do I have to explain

my actions to you?

What are your intentions towards Lizaveta Ivanovna?

I insist on knowing!

Now what's the reason for this sudden outburst?

Just because you see me with a girl

in the foyer of the Opera House?

You're planning a cold-blooded seduction.

Why else should you meet Lizaveta Ivanovna

so secretly?

Don't interfere with my plans, you...

insolent young puppy.

I'm warning you, Suvorin.

I shall hold you responsible for any ill

that may befall her.

What is Lizaveta doing?

Go and find out!

Oh, not both of you!

Oh, go away, go away, go away!

Who is mother's girl?

Yes. Now take care of Angle...

and see that she doesn't get near Vodka.

Where is Vodka?

Where is the dog?

Fedya!

I could be set on my heels on my own door

for all my servants care.

Skiovka doesn't like the dog, Your Excellency,

It's always crowding her.

Skiovska is a servant!

Lizaveta Ivanovna!

How much longer am I to be kept waiting?

Have you taken leave of your senses, Liza?

Don't stand there!

What have you been doing?

I'm sorry, Ana Fyodorovna.

I forgot my reticule.

I wonder. Do you think I might be excused

from coming to the ball?

Oh, what is it now?

Another of those swooning fits you had

at the opera last night?

And what are those flowers in your hair?

Modesty of demeanor is all that is required of you.

Come now.

They've been waiting for me at the ball

this half hour.

Hurry up!

Don't leave us here all night.

Excuse me, Countess!

I don't want to disturb her.

General Volkoninov, Countess.

What's that?

General Volkoninov.

I know perfectly well who it is, thank you.

There's no occasion to shout at me.

Well, General, I trust you're enjoying good health.

Splendid! Splendid!

And you?

Excellent! Excellent!

Capital.

Prince Narumov, Countess.

Hm?

Oh, Narumov.

And how is my old friend your mother?

She's in excellent health, Countess.

She sends you her regards.

Capital, capital.

I've come to beg the honor of a dance

with Lizaveta Ivanovna, Countess.

That's unfortunate. She's not in very good health.

She's not feeling very well tonight.

Oh, yes I am, Countess.

Will you excuse me?

No, no. That's impossible.

I cannot be left sitting by myself.

I expect Princess Ivashin to join me later.

Perhaps then Lizaveta will be well enough to dance.

Lizaveta Ivanovna, are you doing everything

in your power deliberately to try and provoke me?

All this evening you've been complaining of feeling ill

and faint and begging me to let you go home.

Next instant you're ready to dance about

with the first person who chooses to ask you.

Why did you call me here tonight?

I knew it.

You knew what?

You wouldn't get to dance.

Why?

You don't know my grandmother.

She hates being left alone.

She always gets her own way.

Yes, and she's the most exasperating...

Andrei, she's an old woman and she's afraid of death.

Mind you, she's got far too much courage

ever to show it to anybody.

Lizaveta, is it cold in here?

Cold? No, I don't think so.

Put my shawl around me.

I feel cold.

Vodka! Come back!

Ladies and gentlemen.

Please take your partners for the mazurka.

Lizaveta Ivanovna, I must speak to you after the dance.

Yes, of course. What about?

It's most important. It's about German Suvorin.

But Lizaveta!

I don't wish to discuss it.

I know nothing of your relations with Suvorin.

Please, I beg you. Do not trust him.

He's dangerous.

You presume too much on a

slight acquaintance with me, Prince.

Please, Liza...

Liza, if anything should happen to you,

I'd never forgive myself for failing to warn you.

I'm truly amazed that one officer should try

to defame another as you have done to me.

Good night, Prince.

Vassili, are you there?

The countess is back.

Good night, Countess.

German.

There now.

Now you'll sleep tonight.

You must go to bed.

I cannot sleep. I cannot sleep.

Good night, Ana Fyodorovna.

God be with you.

May the power of the Holy Cross protect you.

Holy Virgin, have mercy on me.

Have mercy on me.

Holy Virgin, have mercy on me.

Have mercy on me.

Holy Virgin

Don't cry out! Don't be alarmed!

Please, don't be alarmed

I don't mean to do you any harm.

I've come to ask a favor of you.

That's all.

A favor.

It will cost you nothing.

But to me it will bring happiness...

for the rest of my life.

I want the secret of the cards.

That's all.

Come. What is it?

The three cards.

The names of the three cards.

Please.

It's no use pretending you don't know

anything about it.

I know you've been given the secret.

And I know who gave it to you.

Please.

Just think those three words aloud.

And I trouble you no more. I go.

What good is the secret to you?

For whom are you keeping it?

For your grandson? He's rich enough.

What would another fortune mean to him?

A waster and a spendthrift.

But I'm not a man of that sort.

I know the value of money.

I could do great things, I tell you.

Great things.

If only I had money.

For the love of God.

If you have any human feeling in your breast

you can't refuse me.

I beg... I beseech you.

I know why you won't speak.

The secret is connected with some kind of a sin.

That's it, isn't it?

But I make a bargain with you.

Tell me your secret and I'll take your sin

upon my soul.

Do you hear me? I mean it!

A bargain. I'll take your sin upon my own soul.

Speak!

Speak to me, you old thing!

Or by God I will make you.

I ask you for the last time.

Aren't you going to tell me the secret of the cards?

Or are you...

No!

German.

Where have you been?

What is it?

Are you ill?

German, what has happened?

I...

I've been to the countess's room.

Did she see you?

Hm-hmm.

She's dead.

What did you say?

She's dead.

I must go to her.

Do you want us to be discovered?

What are we going to do?

German... what are we going to do?

If only you hadn't taken the passage to the left.

I did it deliberately.

Deliberately?

Share a secret.

I wanted that secret.

I don't understand.

But she died...

and took the secret with her.

You wanted her secret?

That was the reason for your rituals...

outside my window.

She cheated me.

Your letters... your wonderful letters...

A fortune was within my grasp.

All lies then.

All lies.

And she refused to speak.

Oh, what have I done?

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