RISPOLOZHENSKY.  You’d deal even in small quantities if you couldn’t get anything else.  Well, it wouldn’t matter so much if I were alone; but, you see, I have a wife and four kiddies.  They all want to eat, the little dears.  One says, “Daddy, give me!” Another says, “Daddy, give me!” And I’m a man who feels strongly for his family.  Here I entered one boy in the high school; he has to have a uniform, and then something else.  And what’s to become of the old shack?—­Why, how much shoe-leather you wear out simply walking from Butirky to the Voskresensky Gates.

PODKHALYUZIN.  That’s right, sir.

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  And why do you make the trip?  You write a little petition for one man, you register somebody else in the citizen class.  Some days you’ll not bring home half a ruble in silver.  I vow, I’m not lying!  Then what’re you going to live on?  Lazar Elizarych, I’ll just take a thimbleful. [Drinks] “So,” I think, “I’ll just drop in on Lazar Elizarych; perhaps he’ll spare me a little change.”

PODKHALYUZIN.  For what sort of knavery, sir?

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  What do you mean by knavery!  Come, that’s a sin, Lazar Elizarych!  Don’t I serve you?  I’m your servant till the grave; command me what you want.  And I fixed up the mortgage for you!

PODKHALYUZIN.  See here, you’ve been paid!  And it’s not your business to keep harping on the same string!

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Just so, Lazar Elizarych, I’ve been paid.  Just so!  Ah, Lazar Elizarych, poverty has crushed me!

PODKHALYUZIN.  Poverty crushed you!  Oh, that happens, sir. [He approaches and sits down by the table] Well, sir, I have a little extra money; I’ve no place to put it.
                      [Lays his pocketbook on the table.

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  What, you, Lazar Elizarych?  Extra money?  I’m afraid you’re joking.

PODKHALYUZIN.  All joking aside, sir.

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Well, if you have a little extra money, why not help a poor man?  God’ll reward you for it.

PODKHALYUZIN.  But d’you need much?

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Give me just three rubles.

PODKHALYUZIN.  Is that all, sir?

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Well, give me five.

PODKHALYUZIN.  Oh, ask more!

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Well, then, if you’ll be so good, give me ten.

PODKHALYUZIN.  Ten, sir!  What, for nothing?

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Indeed not!  I’ll work it off, Lazar Elizarych; we’ll be quits sometime or other.

PODKHALYUZIN.  That’s all talk, sir.  The snail keeps going, and sometime she’ll get there!  But here’s the little business I want to put up to you now:  did Samson Silych promise you much for fixing up this scheme?

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  I’m ashamed to tell you, Lazar Elizarych!  A thousand rubles and an old coon-skin overcoat.  No one will accept less than I, by heavens; just go and inquire prices.

PODKHALYUZIN.  Well, here’s what, Sysoy Psoich; I’ll give you two thousand for that identical business, sir.