RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Well, Samson Silych, you must look for a man who knows what conscience is.

BOLSHOV.  But where are you going to find him nowadays?  Everybody’s watching his chance these days to grab you by the collar; and here you want conscience!

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Here’s my idea, Samson Silych, whether you want to listen to me or not:  what sort of a fellow is your clerk?

BOLSHOV.  Which one?  Do you mean Lazar?

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Yes; Lazar Elizarych.

BOLSHOV.  All right, Lazar; make it over to him; he’s a young man with understanding, and he has some capital.

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  What do you want, Samson Silych, a mortgage-deed or a purchase-deed?

BOLSHOV.  Whichever you can get at the lowest interest rate’ll suit me.  But do the thing up brown and I’ll give you such a fee, Sysoy Psoich, as’ll fairly make your hair curl.

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Set your mind at rest, Samson Silych, I know my own business.  But have you talked to Lazar Elizarych about this thing or not?  Samson Silych, I’ll just take a thimbleful. [Drinks.

BOLSHOV.  Not yet.  We’ll talk it over to-day.  He’s a capable lad; only wink at him, and he understands.  And he’ll do the business up so tight that you can’t get in a finger.  Well! we’ll mortgage the house; and then what?

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Then we’ll write out a statement that such and such notes are due, and that we’ll pay twenty-five kopeks on the ruble:  well, then go see the creditors.  If anybody is especially stubborn, you can add a bit, and if a man gets real angry, pay him the whole bill.  You’ll pay him on the condition that he writes that he accepted twenty-five kopeks—­just for appearances, to show the others.  “That’s the way he did,” you see; and the others, seeing the document, will agree.

BOLSHOV.  That’s right, there’s no harm in bargaining:  if they don’t take it at twenty-five kopeks, they’ll take it at half a ruble; but if they won’t take it at half a ruble, they’ll grab for it with both hands at seventy kopeks.  We’ll profit, anyhow.  There, you can say what you please, but I have a marriageable daughter; I want to pass her on, and get rid of her.  And then, my boy, it’ll be time for me to take a rest; I’ll have an easy time lying on my back; and to the devil with all this trading!  But here comes Lazar.

SCENE XI

The same and PODKHALYUZIN, who enters

BOLSHOV.  What do you say, Lazar?  Just come from town?  How are your affairs?

PODKHALYUZIN.  Oh, they’re getting on so-so; thank God, sir!  Good morning, Sysoy Psoich! [Bows.

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  How do you do, my dear Lazar Elizarych! [Bows.