the daughter has her eye peeled for the title of princess.  And all that through money.  How much worse am I than she?  Yet I have to trot at her heels.  God knows what kind of bringing-up she’s had:  she walks like an elephant crawls on his belly; whether French or piano, it’s a bit here and a bit there, and there’s nothing to it; and when she starts to dance—­I have to stuff a handkerchief in my mouth.

PODKHALYUZIN.  But, look here—­it’d be more proper for her to marry a merchant.

USTINYA NAUMOVNA.  But how’ll I stand with the first suitor, my jewel?  I’ve already assured him that Olimpiada Samsonovna is such a beauty, that she’s the real ticket for him; “and educated,” I said, “in French, and is trained in all sorts of society ways.”  And now what am I going to say to him?

PODKHALYUZIN.  Why, just tell him also:  “Now, she is a beauty, and cultivated in a good many ways; only they’ve lost all their money.”  And he’ll break off himself!

USTINYA NAUMOVNA.  Well, now, that’s so, my jewel!  But, no, wait!  You see I told him that Samson Silych is rolling in money.

PODKHALYUZIN.  See here, you talk too much.  But how do you know how much money Samson Silych has; you haven’t counted it, have you?

USTINYA NAUMOVNA.  Ask anybody you please; every one knows that Samson Silych is the richest sort of merchant.

PODKHALYUZIN.  Yes!  Much you know!  But what’ll happen when, after you’ve engaged a man of standing, Samson Silych won’t give any money?  Afterwards the fellow’ll come up and say, says he:  “I’m no merchant, that you can cheat me out of the dowry!” Furthermore, like a man of standing he’ll file a complaint at court, because a man of standing has his own way everywhere, ma’am; then Samson Silych and I’ll be ruined, and there’ll be no getting out of it for you.  Here, you yourself know you can cheat anybody of our sort out of a dowry, that’ll work; but just try to fool a man of standing, and you’ll not get away with it afterwards.

USTINYA NAUMOVNA.  That’s enough trying to scare me!  You’ve muddled my head completely.

PODKHALYUZIN.  Here, take these hundred rubles in silver as earnest-money, and give us your hand on it, ma’am.

USTINYA NAUMOVNA.  And you say, my jewel, two thousand rubles and a sable cloak?

PODKHALYUZIN.  Exactly so, ma’am.  Be at rest on that score!—­And you’ll put on that sable cloak, Ustinya Naumovna, and you’ll go out walking—­why, anybody will think you’re a general’s wife.

USTINYA NAUMOVNA.  Do you think so?  Well, now, indeed!  When I put on that sable cloak, I’ll look my perkiest, with my hands by my sides; then your bearded friends will stare with their mouths wide open.  They’ll get to sighing so that you couldn’t stop them with a fire engine; the women will all turn up their noses from jealousy.

PODKHALYUZIN.  Just so, ma’am!

USTINYA NAUMOVNA.  Give me the earnest-money!  Here goes!