RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Oh, Lazar Elizarych, my benefactor!  I and my wife and children’ll be your slaves!

PODKHALYUZIN.  One hundred in silver, spot cash; but the rest later upon the completion of the whole business, sir!

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Now, then, how can one help praying for people like you!  Only a kind of ignorant swine could fail to feel that.  I bow down to your feet, Lazar Elizarych!

PODKHALYUZIN.  Really now, what for, sir?  Only, Sysoy Psoich, don’t run about like a chicken with its head cut off, but go in for accuracy—­straight to the point, and walk the line.  Do you understand, sir?

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  How can I help understanding?  Why, Lazar Elizarych, do you think I’m still a boy?  It’s time I understood!

PODKHALYUZIN.  Yes, but what do you understand?  Here’s the way things are, sir.  Just listen first.  Samson Silych and I came to town, and we brought along the list as was proper.  Then he went to the creditors:  this one didn’t agree, that one didn’t agree; that’s the way, and not a single one will take up the proposition.  That’s the way the affair stands.

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  What’s that you say, Lazar Elizarych?  Oh!  Just think of it, what a gang.

PODKHALYUZIN.  And how are we going to make a good thing out of this business now?  Do you understand me, or not?

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  That is, the insolvency, Lazar Elizarych?

PODKHALYUZIN.  The insolvency will take care of itself; but I mean my own business affairs.

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  He, he, he!—­That is, the house and the shops—­even—­the house—­he, he, he!——­

PODKHALYUZIN.  What’s the matter, sir?

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  No, sir; that’s just my foolishness; I was just joking.

PODKHALYUZIN.  Fine jokes, indeed!  Don’t you joke about that, sir.  The house is nothing; I have such a dream in my head now about that subject, that I must talk it over with you at length.  Just come to my room, sir.  Tishka!

SCENE VI

The same and TISHKA

PODKHALYUZIN.  Put all this in order!  Well, let’s go, Sysoy Psoich!

TISHKA is about to carry away the vodka.

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Wait, wait!  Eh, my boy, what an idiot you are!  If you see that a fellow wants to drink, just wait a bit.  You just wait a bit.  You’re young yet, but you just be polite and condescending.  Lazar Elizarych, I’ll just take a thimbleful.

PODKHALYUZIN.  Help yourself, only hurry up; I’m afraid he’ll come.

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Right away, my dear Lazar Elizarych, right away! [Drinks and smacks his lips] But it would be better to take it with us. [They go out.

TISHKA arranges something or other; from above descend USTINYA NAUMOVNA and FOMINISHNA.  TISHKA goes out.