Varvara (to Stepan): Sit down. We have questions to settle before separating definitively. I shall be blunt. Don’t say a word. Let me do the talking.
Stepan: Please let’s not talk about it any ore. I shall go to a home for the aged. Mark my words -- I shall take up my beggar’s staff and bag; I shall leave all your gifts and I’ll start out on foot to end my life as a tutor in the home of some shopkeeper or die of hunger in a ditch. Farewell.
Varvara: I was sure of it. I have known for years that you were simply waiting for the chance to dishonor me. You are capable of dying just so that my house will be slandered.
Stepan: You have always despised me. But I shall end my life like a knight faithful to his lady. From this minute forward, I shall accept nothing more from you and shall honor you in a disinterested way. I know, you have never had any regard for me. Yes, I was your parasite and I was occasionally weak. But to live as a parasite never was the ruling principle of my conduct. It just happened, I don’t know how. I always thought there was something between us over and above eating and drinking, and I never was vulgar. Well, now I’ll take to the road to right my wrongs! It is very late, the autumn is well along, the countryside is thick in fog, the frost of old age covers my way, and in the howling of the wind I can hear the call of the grave. En route, cepedant! Oh, I say farewell to you, my dreams! Vingt ans! Allons!
Varvara: Farewell.
Stepan: Alea jacta est. (He rushes out.)
Varvara: Stepan!
(There enter Virginsky, Liputin, and Peter)
Peter: Things are stirring, things are stirring. That idiot of a governor had an attack of brain fever.
Varvara: Have you seen your father?
Peter: No, but he’s not running any risk. He might be flogged, but that will do him good.
Stavrogin: Nothing. Nothing. It seemed to me that someone was calling me. No… No…. Who would call me?
Stavrogin: I have in fact the misfortune of being related to that man. It is four years now since I married his sister, in Petersburg.
(Varvara lifts up her right arm as if to shield her face and falls in a faint. All rush toward her except Lisa and Stavrogin.) Stavrogin: Now is the time to follow me, Lisa. We shall go to my country house. (Lisa walks toward him. Maurice, who was paying attention to Varvara, rises and rushes toward her.)
Maurice: Lisa!
Lisa: Have pity on me. (She follows Stavrogin.)