l like
and go anywhere l choose.
Without the finest doubt.
And what visitor did you turn away?
About an hour ago?
lt was.
lt was the general.
l've a great respect for that man.
He is a great man.
But it's better, illustrious prince,
for you not to receive him.
Why?
Too hospitable.
Hospitable?
He assured me just now, all his life
ever since he was an ensign
up to the 11th of June last year
every day he had never
sat down to dinner with less than 200 people
at his table.
He went so far, at last,
they never got up.
So they had dinner and supper and tea
for fifteen hours out of 24 hours.
For thirty years
whithout a break.
Scarcely had the time
to change the tablecloths.
One would get up and go,
another would come.
And on holidays
there would be as many as three hundred.
And on the thousandth anniversary of foundation of Russia
he counted 700 people.
Won't a man like that be
too hospitable
for you and me?
But you was
in excellent terms with him?
Yes. He is intending to live with me.
We are connected by marriage. He is a brother-in-law.
You are a second cousin of his too
on the mother's side.
-Yes? -Yes.
lf you are a cousin,
then you and l must be related too.
We are like brothers and l take it as a joke.
Let us be brothers-in-law. lt's an honor to me.
Even through the 700 people
and the thousand anniversary of Russia
l can see he is a very remarkable man.
l mean it sincerely.
Lebedeff, why are you
standing on tiptoe?
And why do you always approach me
as though you wanted
to whisper a secret in my ear?
l'm abject.
l'm abject. l feel it.
And there is a secret.
A person you know of has just sent word
she would like to have
an appointment with you in secret.
Why in secret?
l'll go and see her myself today.
Not at all.
lt's not what you suppose she is afraid of.
By the way, the monster comes every day
to ask after your health.
Did you know it?
You call him ''monster'' so often.
lt makes me quite suspicious,
Lebedeff.
You can feel no sort of suspicious.
l only wanted to explain that she isn't afraid of him,
but of something very different.
Very different.
Why, of what?
That's the secret.
Whose secret?
Your.
You forbade me yourself to speak of it,
illustrious prince.
She afraid of Aglaya lvanovna.
Lebedeff, l'll give up your villa.
And where are the Gavrila Ardalionovitch and Ptitsins?
- Ptitsins?
-You've enticed them away too?
No. They are coming.
And even general after them.
l'll open all the doors, l'll call all daughters too.
At once, at once.
Good afternoon, prince.
Good afternoon, Nikolai Ardalionovitch.
Lizabetha Prokofievna and her daughters
to you.
- Shall l admit the Ptitsins?
- Of course.
-And Gavrila Ardalionovitch?
- Eh? Of course.
-And the general?
- Listen, let anyone come who likes.
l have not the slightest reason
For hiding and concealing myself.
Good afternoon, prince.
Good afternoon
- How do you feel yourself?
- Thanks, l'm in a good health.
- Glad to see you, prince.
- Thank you.
- Glad to see you too.
- Pleased to see you.
Pleased to see you
- Good day.
-Very glad to see you.
- Hello.
- Good afternoon.
l expected to find you
on death-bed.
As l didn't tell you
that prince is almost well again.
lt was much more interesting
to imagine him
Lying on his death-bed.
Be silent.
- Hello.
- Good afternoon, Lizabetha Prokofievna.
- Good afternoon, prince.
- Good afternoon, Adelaida lvanovna.
Please, welcome.
Good afternoon, Aglaya.
Sit down.
lt's the truth,
Lef Nikolaevitch, l expected
to find you almost a bad.
l exaggerated things so in my fright.
lntroduce.
The prince Scherbatov.
-Very glad.
- Good day.
Have you come to us for long?
The whole summer. And perhaps longer.
You are alone? Not married?
Alone. Not married.
lt seems you are looking
at me with surprise,
Aglaya lvanovna?
l've the honour to introduce myself.
General lvolgin.
l used to carry you in my arms.
You are, sir,