tion if it proves serious and efficient.
PETER: What, you would be willing to take an
oath of allegiance to the group we are organiz-
ing?
THE SEMINARIAN: That is to say . . . Why not,
if . . .
PETER: Listen, gentlemen. I can understand very
'well that you expect from me explanations and
revelations about the workings of our organiza-
tion. But I cannot give them to you unless I am
sure of you unto death. So let me ask you a ques-
tion. Are you in favor of endless discussions or in
favor of millions of heads? Of course, this is
merely an image. In other words, are you in favor
of wallowing in the swamp or of crossing it at
full speed?
LYAMSHIN (gaily): At full speed, of course, at full
speed! Why wallow?
PETER: Are you therefore in agreement as to the
methods set forth in the tracts I gave you?
THE SEMINARIAN: That is to say . . . Why, of
course . . . But they still have to be specified!
PETER: If you are afraid, there is no point in speci-
fying.
THE SEMINARIAN: No one here is afraid and you
know it. But you are treating us like pawns on a
Second Part
120
chessboard. Explain things to us clearly and we
can consider them with you.
PETER: Are you ready to bind yourself to the or-
ganization by oath?
VIRGINSKY: Certainly, if you ask it of us decently.
PETER (nodding toward SHATOV): Liputin, you
haven't said anything.
LIPUTIN: I am ready to answer that question and
any others. But I should first like to be sure that
there is no stool pigeon here.
(Tumult, LYAMSHIN rushes to the piano.)
PETER (apparently very much alarmed); What?
What do you mean? You alarm me. Is it possible
that there is a spy among us?
(All talk at once.)
LIPUTIN: We would be compromised!
PETER: I'd be more compromised than you. Hence,
you must all answer a question which will decide
whether we are to separate or go on. If one of
you learned that a murder was being prepared
for the good of the cause, would he go and warn
the police? (To THE SEMINARIAN) allow me to
ask you first.
THE SEMINARIAN: Why me first?
PETER: I don't know you so well.
THE SEMINARIAN: Such a question is an insult.
PETER: Be more precise.
THE SEMINARIAN (furious): I would not denounce
the group, of course not.
PETER: And you, Virginsky?
VIRGINSKY: No, a hundred times no!
LIPUTIN: But why is Shatov getting up?
121
Scene 12
(SHATOV has in fact stood up. Tale with wrath, he
stares at PETER VERKHOVENSKY and then strides
toward the door.)
PETER: Your attitude may harm you greatly, Sha-
tov.
SHATOV: At least it may be useful to the spy and
scoundrel that you are. So be satisfied. I shall not
stoop to answering your vicious question.
{He goes out. Tumult. Everyone has got up ex-
cept STAVROGIN. KIRILOV goes slowly back into hit
room, PETER VERKHOVENSKY drinks another glass
of cognac.)
LIPUTIN: Well! The test has done some good.
Now we know.
(STAVROGIN gets up.)
LYAMSHIN: Stavrogin didn't answer either.
VIRGINSKY: Stavrogin, can you answer the ques-
tion?
STAVROGIN: I don't see the need of it.
VIRGINSKY: But we all compromised ourselves and
you didn't!
STAVROGIN: Well, then, you will be compromised
and I won't be.
(Tumult.)
THE SEMINARIAN: But Verkhovensky didn't an-
swer the question either.
STAVROGIN: TO be sure. (He goes out.)
(PETER VERKHOVENSKY rushes after him and then
returns suddenly.)
PETER: Listen. Stavrogin is the delegate. You must
all obey him, and also me, his second, unto death.
Unto death, you understand. And remember that
Second Part
122
Shatov has just clearly taken his stand as a traitor
and that traitors must be punished. Take an oath.
. . . Come now, take an oath. . . .
THE SEMINARIAN: To what?
PETER: Are you men or aren't you? And will you
hesitate before an oath of honor?
VIRGINSKY (somewhat bewildered): But what
must we swear?
PETER: TO punish traitors. Quickly, take an oath.
Take an oath. . . .
(They all raise their hands very slowly, PETER
VERKHOVENSKY rushes outside.)
BLACKOUT
SCENE 13
First in the street and then at Varvara Stavrogin's.
STAVROGIN and PETER VERKHOVENSKY.
PETER {running after STAVROGIN) : Why did you
leave?
STAVROGIN: I had had enough. And your comedy
with Shatov nauseated me. But I'll not let you
get away with it.
PETER: He put the finger on himself.
STAVROGIN (stopping): You are a liar. I have al-
ready told you why you needed Shatov's blood.
He is to serve you to cement your group to-
gether. You just succeeded very cleverly in get-
ting him to leave. You knew that he would refuse
to say "I shall not denounce the group." [And
that he would consider it cowardly to answer
you.]
PETER: All right, all right! But you shouldn't have
left. I need you.
STAVROGIN: I suspect as much, since you want to
push me into having my wife slaughtered. But
why? How can I be useful to you?
PETER: How? Why, in every way. . . . Besides,
you spoke the truth. Be on my side and I shall get
rid of your wife for you. (PETER VERKHOVENSKY
grasps STAVROGIN by the arm. STAVROGIN tears
himself away, seizes him by the hair, and flings
him to the ground.) Oh, you are strong! Stav-
^!8irg�f��IMi!iBi��������i
Second Part 124
rogin, do what I ask of you and tomorrow I shall
bring you Lisa Drozdov. Will you? Answer! Lis-
ten, I'll let you keep Shatov too if you ask me to.
STAVROGIN: So it's true that you have made up
your mind to kill him?
PETER (getting up): How can that matter to you?
Wasn't he mean to you?
STAVROGIN: Shatov is good. You are mean.
PETER: I am. But / didn't slap you.
STAVROGIN: If you raised a hand against me, I'd
kill you on the spot. You know very well that I
can kill.
PETER: I know it. But you won't kill me because
you despise me.
STAVROGIN: You are perspicacious. (He walks
away.)
PETER: Listen! Listen . . .
(PETER gives a signal, FEDKA appears, and together
they follow STAVROGIN. The curtain representing
the street rises to sho
w Varvara Stavrogiw's
drawing room.
DASHA is on the stage. Hearing PETER VERKHO-
VENSKY'S voice, she goes out on the right, STAV-
ROGIN and PETER VERKHOVENSKY enter.)
PETER: Listen . . .
STAVROGIN: You are obstinate. . . . Tell me once
and for all what you expect of me and leave.
PETER: Yes, yes. All right. (He looks at the door
on the side.) just a minute. (He goes toward the
door and opens it carefully.)
STAVROGIN: My mother never listens at doors.
PETER: I'm sure she doesn't. You nobles are far
125 Scene 13
above that. I, on the contrary, listen at doors. Be-
sides, I thought I heard a sound. But that's not
the question. You want to know what I expect of
you? (STAVROGIN is silent.) Well, this is it. . . .
Together we'll rouse Russia and lift her from the
mire.
STAVROGIN: She is heavy.
PETER: Ten more groups like this one and we'll be
powerful.
STAVROGIN: Ten groups of idiots like these!
[PETER: It's idiots who make history. For in-
stance, just look at the governor's wife, Julia
Mikhailovna. She is with us. How incredibly
stupid!
STAVROGIN: YOU are not going to tell me that she
is plotting?
PETER: NO. But her idea is that Russian youth
must be kept from heading toward the abyss�
and by that she means toward revolution. Her
system is simple. The thing to do is to praise rev-
olution, to be on the side of youth, and to show
them that it is quite possible to be a revolutionary
and the governor's wife. Then youth will realize
that this is the best regime, since you can insult it
without danger and even be rewarded for plan-
ning its destruction.
STAVROGIN: YOU must be exaggerating. It isn't pos-
sible to be that stupid.]
PETER: Oh, they are not so stupid; they're just
idealists. Fortunately, / am not an idealist. But I
am not intelligent either. What?
STAVROGIN: I didn't say anything.
Ms
Second Part 126
PETER: TOO bad. I hoped you would say: "Why,
yes, you are intelligent."
the sort.
PETER {with hatred in his voice) ?. You are right;
I am stupid. That's why I need you. My organi-
zation does not have a head.
STAVROGIN: You have Shigalov. {He yawns.)
PETER {with the same hatred in his voice): Don't
make fun of him. Absolute leveling is an excellent
idea�not at all ridiculous. Its one of the elements
of my plan. We shall have to organize it carefully.
People will be forced to spy on one another and
to denounce one another. That way there'll be no
more selfishness! From time to time a few convul-
sions, carefully controlled, just enough to over-
come boredom. [We leaders will take care of
that. For there will be leaders, since there must
be slaves.] Hence total obedience, absolute deper-
sonalization, and every thirty years we shall au-
thorize convulsions, and then everyone will fall
on one another and devour one another.
STAVROGIN {looking at him.): I have wondered
for a long time what you resembled. But I made
the mistake of looking for my comparison in the
animal kingdom. It has just come to me.
PETER {his mind on other things): Yes, yes.
STAVROGIN: You resemble a Jesuit.
PETER: All right, all right. But the Jesuits have the
idea. They discovered the formula. The plot, the
lie, and a single aim! Impossible to live otherwise
in the world. Besides, we shall have to have the
Pope on our side.
127 Scene 13
STAVROGIN: The Pope?
PETER: Yes, but it's very complicated. First the
Pope would have to come to an agreement with
the International. It's too soon for that. That will
come inevitably later on, because it's the same
spirit. Then there will be the Pope at the summit,
we around him, and beneath us the masses gov-
erned by Shigalov's system. But that's an idea for
the future. Meanwhile, work must be divided. So
in the West there will be the Pope, and among us
. . . among us . . . there will be you.
STAVROGIN: Decidedly you are drunk. Get out.
PETER: Stavrogin, you are handsome. Are you
aware that you are handsome, and strong, and
intelligent? No, you don't know it, for you are
also unsophisticated. I do know it, and that's why
you are my idol. I am a nihilist, and nihilists need
idols. [You are the man we need. You never in-
sult anyone and yet everyone hates you. You
treat people as your equals and yet they are afraid
of you. But you are afraid of nothing; you can
sacrifice your own life as easily as anyone else's.
That Is excellent.] Yes, you are the man I need,
and I can't think of any other. You are the leader,
you are the sun. (He suddenly seizes Stavrogifis
hand and kisses it. STAVROGIN repulses him.) Don't
despise me. Shigaiov has found the system, but I
alone have discovered the way of putting it into
practice. I need you. Without you I am nothing.
With you I shall destroy the old Russia and build
the new.
STAVROGIN: What Russia? The Russia of spies?
PETER: When we hold power in our hands, we
Second Part
128
shall be able perhaps to make people more virtu-
ous, if you really insist. But for the moment, to
be sure, we need one or two thoroughly immoral
generations; we need an exceptional, revolting
corruption that will transform man into a filthy,
cowardly, and selfish insect. That's what we
need. And, on the side, we'll give them a touch
of fresh blood so that they'll get a taste for it.
STAVROGIN: I always knew you weren't a socialist.
You're a scoundrel.
PETER: All right, all right. A scoundrel. But let
me explain my plan. We begin the general up-
heaval. Fires, crimes, incessant strikes, everything
a mockery. You see what I mean? Oh, it will be
wonderful! A heavy fog will descend over Rus-
sia. The earth will bewail its former gods. And
then . . . {He pauses.)
STAVROGIN: And then . . .
PETER: We shall bring forth the new Tsar.
(STAVROGIN looks at him and moves slowly away
from him.)
STAVROGIN: I see. An impostor.
PETER: Yes. We'll say that he ? hiding but that he
is about to appear. He exists, but no one has seen
him. Just imagine the force of that idea�"He is
is hiding"! He can be shown perhaps to one out
of a hundred thousand. And the rumor will
spread
over the whole country. "He has been
seen." Will you accept?
STAVROGIN: Accept what?
PETER: Why, being the new Tsar.
STAVROGIN: Ah! So that's your plan!
129 Scene 13
PETER: Yes. Just listen. With you it will be pos-
sible to build up a legend. You will have only to
appear and you will be triumphant. At first, "he
is hiding, he is hiding," and we shall pronounce
mon. If one request out of ten thousand is satis-
fied, all will turn to you. In every village each
peasant will know that somewhere there is a box
in which he can put his request. And throughout
the country the rumor will spread! "A new law
has been passed, a just law." The seas will rise up
and the old wooden hulk will sink. And then we
can think of building in steel. Well? (STAVROGIN
laughs in scorn.) Oh, Stavrogin, don't leave me
alone. Without you I am like Columbus without
America. Can you imagine Columbus without
America? I, in turn, can help you. I'll fix every-
thing for you. Tomorrow I'll bring you Lisa.
You want her; you want Lisa dreadfully, I know.
Just one word and I'll fix up everything.
STAVROGIN (turning toward the window): And
afterward, of course, you will have a hold on
me. . . .
PETER: What does that matter? You will have a
hold on Lisa. She is young and pure. . . .
STAVROGIN (with an odd expression, as if fasci-
nated): She is pure. . . . (PETER VERKHOVEN-
SKY whistles piercingly.) What are you doing?
(FEDKA appears.)
PETER: Here is a friend who can help us. Just say
yes, Stavrogin�a simple yes�and Lisa is yours,
and the world is ours.
Second Part 130
STAVROGIN turns toward FEDKA, who is smiling
calmly. From another room DASHA screams, bursts
in, and throws herself on STAVROGIN.)
DASHA: Oh, Nicholas, I beg you, don't stay with
these men. Go and see Tihon�yes, Tihon, as I
have already told you. Go and see Tihon.
PETER: Tihon? Who is that?
FEDKA: A holy man. Don't say anything bad
about him, you little sneak; I forbid you.
PETER: Why? Did he help you kill someone? Does
he too belong to the Church of Blood?
FEDKA: NO. / kill. But he forgives crime.
BLACKOUT
THE NARRATOR: Personally, I didn't know Tihon.
I simply knew what was said of him in our town.
The humble people attributed great holiness to
him. But the authorities disapproved of his li-
brary, in which works of piety stood side by
side with plays and perhaps even worse.
Offhand, I'd say there was no chance Stav-
rogin would pay him a visit.
SCENE 14
Tihon's cell in the Convent of the Virgin, TIHON
and STAVROGIN are standing.
STAVROGIN: Did my mother tell you I was mad?
TIHON: NO. She didn't talk of you exactly as of a
madman. But she told me of a slap you received
and of a duel. . . . {He sits down with a groan.)
STAVROGIN: Are you ill?
TIHON: I have pains in my legs. And I don't sleep
very well.
STAVROGIN: Do you want me to leave you?
TIHON: NO. Sit down! (STAVROGIN sits down with
his hat in his hand, like a man observing cere-
mony. But he seems to have trouble breathing.)
You too look ill.
STAVROGIN (with the same manner): I am. You
see, I have hallucinations. I often see or feel near
me a sort of creature who is mocking, wicked,
rational, and who takes on different aspects. But
it's always the same creature. He drives me wild.
I shall have to consult a doctor.
TIHON: Yes. Do so.
STAVROGIN: No, it's useless. I know who it is. And
you do too.
TIHON: You mean the Devil?
STAVROGIN: Yes. You believe in him, don't you? A
man of your calling is obliged to believe in him.
Second Part 132
TIHON: Well, I'd say that in your case it is more
probably an ailment.
STAVROGIN: You are skeptical, I see. Do you at
least believe in God?
TIHON: I believe in God.
STAVROGIN: It is written: "If you believe and if
you command the mountain to be removed, you
shall be obeyed." Can you move a mountain?
TIHON: Perhaps. With the help of God.
STAVROGIN: Why "perhaps"? If you believe, you
must say yes.
TIHON: My faith is imperfect.
STAVROGIN: Well, it's a pity. Do you know the
answer that a certain bishop made? With the
knife at his throat, a barbarian asked him if he be-
lieved in God. "Very little, very little," the
bishop replied. That's not worthy, is it?
TIHON: His faith was imperfect.
STAVROGIN (smiling): Yes, yes. But, in my opin-
ion, faith must be perfect or there is no faith.
That's why I'm an atheist.
TIHON: The complete atheist is more respectable
than the man who is indifferent. He is on the last
rung preceding perfect faith.
STAVROGIN: I know it. Do you remember the pas-