Armenian Literature Part 33

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 G.o.d's sake, the meaning of this.

OSSEP. G.o.d 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 a.s.semble, 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 cla.s.s, 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_.