Sophia Karénina. Ah, you know well que vous êtes toujours le bien venu.... Tell me, you have received my letter?
Prince Sergius. I did. Me voilà. (Sits L. on sofa L.) Sophia Karénina (working up to distress). Oh, my dear friend, I begin to lose hope. She's bewitched him, positively bewitched him. Il est ensorcelé. I never knew he could be so obstinate, so heartless, and so indifferent to me. He's changed completely since that woman left her husband.
Prince Sergius. How do matters actually stand?
Sophia Karénina. Well, he's made up his mind to marry her at any cost.
Prince Sergius. And her husband?
Sophia Karénina. He agrees to a divorce.
Prince Sergius. Really?
Sophia Karénina. And Victor is willing to put up with all the sordidness, the vulgarity of the divorce court, the lawyers, evidences of guilt ... tout ça est dégoûtant. I can't understand his sensitive nature not being repelled by it.
Prince Sergius (smiling). He's in love, and when a man's really in love—
Sophia Karénina (interrupting). In our time love could remain pure, coloring one's whole life with a romantic friendship. Such love I understand and value.