The Argonauts

The story opens inside a glittering mansion owned by a millionaire, where polished marble, mirrored walls, and Oriental curios fill each grand room. Light plays across silk, porcelain, and gilded chandeliers, giving the house a reverent, almost church‑like dignity. Amid this splendor two men—Darvid, a diligent builder, and Kranitski, a relentless gambler—begin to reveal their opposite obsessions with wealth.

Both men confront the same question: what is the proper use of money and labor in a world racing toward modernity? Darvid’s relentless toil builds a solid foundation, yet his neglect of personal pleasures drives him toward madness, while Kranitski’s pursuit of profit leaves him a hollow parasite, dependent on the charity of others. The novel invites listeners to watch these early clashes unfold, offering a vivid portrait of ambition, duty, and the perils of excess.