Another Man's Wife Page #4

"Another Man's Wife" is a lesser-known short story by Fyodor Dostoevsky, exploring themes of love, infidelity, and the complexities of human relationships. The narrative revolves around a man who becomes infatuated with another man's wife, delving into the emotional turmoil and moral dilemmas that arise from his desires. Dostoevsky's characteristic psychological depth is evident as he examines the conflict between passion and societal norms, ultimately revealing the profound impacts of jealousy and betrayal on the lives of those involved.

• Novel

								


"I can see that. But get away with you."

"No, I'll stay with you; you cannot forbid me; I am mixed up in it, too; I
will come with you...."

"Well, then, keep quiet, keep quiet, hold your tongue...."

They both went up the steps and ascended the stairs to the third storey. It
was rather dark.

"Stay; have you got matches?"

"Matches! What matches?"

"Do you smoke cigars?"

"Oh, yes, I have, I have; here they are, here they are; here, stay...." The
gentleman in raccoon rummaged in a fluster.

"Tfoo, what a senseless ... damnation! I believe this is the door...."

"This, this, this?"

"This, this, this... Why are you bawling? Hush!..."

"My dear sir, overcoming my feelings, I ... you are a reckless fellow, so
there!..."

The light flared up.

"Yes, so it is; here is the brass plate. This is Bobynitsyn's; do you see
Bobynitsyn?"

"I see it, I see it."

"Hu-ush!"

"Why, has it gone out?"

"Yes, it has."

"Should we knock?"

"Yes, we must," responded the gentleman in raccoon.

"Knock, then."

"No, why should I? You begin, you knock!"

"Coward!"

"You are a coward yourself!"

"G-et a-way with you!"

"I almost regret having confided my secret to you; you...."

"I--what about me?"

"You take advantage of my distress; you see that I am upset...."

"But do I care? I think it's ridiculous, that's all about it!"

"Why are you here?"

"Why are you here, too?..."

"Delightful morality!" observed the gentleman in raccoon, with indignation.

"What are you saying about morality? What are you?"

"Well, it's immoral!"

"What?..."

"Why, to your thinking, every deceived husband is a noodle!"

"Why, are you the husband? I thought the husband was on Voznesensky
Bridge? So what is it to you? Why do you meddle?"

"I do believe that you are the lover!..."

"Listen: if you go on like this I shall be forced to think you are a
noodle! That is, do you know who?"

"That is, you mean to say that I am the husband," said the gentleman in
raccoon, stepping back as though he were scalded with boiling water.

"Hush, hold your tongue. Do you hear?..."

"It is she."

"No!"

"Tfoo, how dark it is!"

There was a hush; a sound was audible in Bobynitsyn's flat.

"Why should we quarrel, sir?" whispered the gentleman in raccoon.

"But you took offence yourself, damn it all!"

"But you drove me out of all patience."

"Hold your tongue!"

"You must admit that you are a very young man."

"Hold your tongue!"

"Of course I share your idea, that a husband in such a position is a
noodle."

"Oh, will you hold your tongue? Oh!..."

"But why such savage persecution of the unfortunate husband?..."

"It is she!"

But at that moment the sound ceased.

"Is it she?"

"It is, it is, it is! But why are you--you worrying about it? It is not
your trouble!"

"My dear sir, my dear sir," muttered the gentleman in raccoon, turning
pale and gulping, "I am, of course, greatly agitated ... you can see for
yourself my abject position; but now it's night, of course, but
to-morrow ... though indeed we are not likely to meet to-morrow, though
I am not afraid of meeting you--and besides, it is not I, it is my
friend on the Voznesensky Bridge, it really is he! It is his wife, it is
somebody else's wife. Poor fellow! I assure you, I know him very
intimately; if you will allow me I will tell you all about it. I am a
great friend of his, as you can see for yourself, or I shouldn't be in
such a state about him now--as you see for yourself. Several times I
said to him: 'Why are you getting married, dear boy? You have position,
you have means, you are highly respected. Why risk it all at the caprice
of coquetry? You must see that.' 'No, I am going to be married,' he
said; 'domestic bliss.'... Here's domestic bliss for you! In old days he
deceived other husbands ... now he is drinking the cup ... you must
excuse me, but this explanation was absolutely necessary.... He is an
unfortunate man, and is drinking the cup--now!..." At this point the
gentleman in raccoon gave such a gulp that he seemed to be sobbing in
earnest.

"Ah, damnation take them all! There are plenty of fools. But who are you?"

The young man ground his teeth in anger.

"Well, you must admit after this that I have been gentlemanly and open with
you ... and you take such a tone!"

"No, excuse me ... what is your name?"

"Why do you want to know my name?..."

"Ah!"

"I cannot tell you my name...."

"Do you know Shabrin?" the young man said quickly.

"Shabrin!!!"

"Yes, Shabrin! Ah!!!" (Saying this, the gentleman in the wadded overcoat
mimicked the gentleman in raccoon.) "Do you understand?"

"No, what Shabrin?" answered the gentleman in raccoon, in a fluster. "He's
not Shabrin; he is a very respectable man! I can excuse your discourtesy,
due to the tortures of jealousy."

"He's a scoundrel, a mercenary soul, a rogue that takes bribes, he steals
government money! He'll be had up for it before long!"

"Excuse me," said the gentleman in raccoon, turning pale, "you don't know
him; I see that you don't know him at all."

"No, I don't know him personally, but I know him from others who are in
close touch with him."

"From what others, sir? I am agitated, as you see...."

"A fool! A jealous idiot! He doesn't look after his wife! That's what he
is, if you like to know!"

"Excuse me, young man, you are grievously mistaken...."

"Oh!"

"Oh!"

A sound was heard in Bobynitsyn's flat. A door was opened, voices were
heard.

"Oh, that's not she! I recognise her voice; I understand it all now, this
is not she!" said the gentleman in raccoon, turning as white as a sheet.

"Hush!"

The young man leaned against the wall.

"My dear sir, I am off. It is not she, I am glad to say."

"All right! Be off, then!"

"Why are you staying, then?"

"What's that to you?"

The door opened, and the gentleman in raccoon could not refrain from
dashing headlong downstairs.

A man and a woman walked by the young man, and his heart stood still.... He
heard a familiar feminine voice and then a husky male voice, utterly
unfamiliar.

"Never mind, I will order the sledge," said the husky voice.

"Oh, yes, yes; very well, do...."
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