To Al. P. Chekhov, July 1884. Zvenigorod.
Ал. П. Чехову, Середина июля 1884 г. Звенигород.
Headnote
Writing to his brother Alexander from Zvenigorod, where he is filling in as a district doctor for the summer, Chekhov attends to a string of family business: a letter to be delivered to the publisher Levenson, their father’s request for advice on a loan to their brother Nikolai, and a joking aside about a comically overwrought letter of Nikolai’s. He gives Voskresensk as his mailing address and signs off in his usual brisk, bantering tone.
Mid-July 1884. Zvenigorod.
Середина июля 1884 г. Звенигород.
Сашаъ!
I am sending a letter for Levenson. I am sorry to be making you, poor fellow, traipse ten times over to those Jews, and I grieve, but I console myself with the thought that I shall be able to settle up with you. Did you send the little book to the editorial offices?
Посылаю письмо для Левенсона. Жалею, что заставляю тебя, беднягу, шляться по 10 раз к этим жидам, скорблю и утешаю себя тем, что сумею с тобою расквитаться. Послал книжку в редакции?
I am sending father’s letter for your guidance. Shameful of Nikolai to make the proud old man borrow money! The trip to Pushkaryov cost Nikolai some 4–5 rubles... That money he would have done better to put toward the debt...
I am living in Zvenigorod and settling into my role.
Живу в Звенигороде и вхожу в свою роль.
I look at myself and feel that we shall not, brothers, live together! I shall have to bolt off into the wilds as a district doctor... A fine business!
Гляжу на себя и чувствую, что не жить нам, братцы, вместе! Придется удрать в дебри в земские эскулапы... Милое дело!
Write to me at Voskresensk. They will forward it to me from there.
Пиши в Воскресенск. Оттуда мне вышлют.
Nikolai is expected in V.
Николая ждут в В.