Without a dowry / Бесприданница. Книга для чтения на английском языке

At last, to top off all their insane antics, they thought up a dramatic performance. They took off their clothes, cut open a pillow, covered themselves with down and began to play savages. At that point the captain, on the insistence of the passengers, put them ashore on a desert island. We go sailing by that island, I look, and somebody calls out, lifting his arms. Immediately I shout, “Stop,” get into a boat myself, and I find the actor Shchastlivtsev. I take him onto our boat and dress him from head to foot in my own clothes since I have extra.

Vozhevatov. And Neputovy stayed on the island?

Paratov. But what good was he to me? Let him get the fresh air. You can judge for yourselves, gentlemen. You know, when you’re traveling it can get awfully boring, you’re glad for any companion.

Knurov. Quite right, of course.

Vozhevatov. That was lucky, a real stroke of luck! Like finding gold!

Knurov. Just one drawback, he’s given to drunkenness.

Paratov. No, gentlemen, he can’t get drunk with me, I’m strict about that. He has no money, and he can’t get anything without my permission. And if he asks me for something, then I make him learn some French conversations from a phrase book I was lucky enough to have. He learns a page first or I won’t give him anything. So he sits down and studies, how hard he tries!

Vozhevatov. How lucky you are, Sergey Sergeyich! I wouldn’t spare anything to have a man like that, but there aren’t any around.

Paratov. Well no, hardly! He went through all the roles and was a prompter, but now he plays in operettas. It doesn’t matter, he’ll pass well enough, he’s amusing.

Vozhevatov. You mean he’s fun?

Paratov. He’s entertaining.

Vozhevatov. And can you play jokes on him?

Paratov. Sure, he’s not touchy. Look, to satisfy you I can let you have him for two or three days.

Vozhevatov. Thank you very much. If I like him, he won’t lose by it.

Knurov. How is it, Sergey Sergeyich, that you don’t feel sorry about selling the Swallow?

Paratov. I don’t know what it means to “feel sorry”: for me, Moky Parmenych, nothing is sacred. If it’s to my advantage, I’ll sell anything, no matter what. But now, gentlemen, I have other business and other considerations. I’m going to marry a very rich young woman, I’ll be getting gold mines for a dowry.

Vozhevatov.