PODKHALYUZIN.  You know about as much about business as a pig does about pineapples; and what’s more, you take bribes.  Why should I give you anything?

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Why, indeed!—­You yourself promised to!

PODKHALYUZIN.  I myself promised!  Well, I’ve given you money—­you’ve made your profit, and that’ll do; it’s time to turn over a new leaf.

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  What do you mean by “time to turn over a new leaf”?  You still owe me fifteen hundred rubles.

PODKHALYUZIN.  Owe you!  Owe you!  As if you had some document!  And what for?  For your rascality!

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  What do you mean by “rascality”?  For my toil, not for my rascality!

PODKHALYUZIN.  Your toil!

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Well, whatever it may be for, just give me the money, or a note for it.

PODKHALYUZIN.  What, sir!  A note!  Not much, you come again when you’re a little older.

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Do you want to swindle me with my little children?

PODKHALYUZIN.  Swindle, indeed!  Here, take five rubles more, and go to the devil.

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  No, wait!  You’ll not get rid of me with that.

TISHKA enters.

PODKHALYUZIN.  What are you going to do to me?

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  My tongue isn’t bought up yet.

PODKHALYUZIN.  Oh, perhaps you want to lick me, do you?

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  No, not lick you, but to tell the whole thing to all respectable people.

PODKHALYUZIN.  What are you going to talk about, you son of a sea-cook!  And who’s going to believe you?

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Who’s going to believe me?

PODKHALYUZIN.  Yes!  Who’s going to believe you?  Just take a look at yourself!

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Who’s going to believe me?  Who’s going to believe me?  You’ll see!  Yes, you’ll see!  Holy saints, but what can I do?  It’s my death!  He’s swindling me, the robber, swindling me!  No, you wait!  You’ll see!  It’s against the law to swindle!

PODKHALYUZIN.  But what’ll I see?

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Here’s what you’ll see!  You just wait, just wait, just wait!  You think I won’t have the law on you?  You wait!

PODKHALYUZIN.  Wait; yes, wait!—­As it is, I’ve waited long enough.  Quit your bluffing, you don’t scare me.

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  You think no one will believe me?  Won’t believe me?  Well, let ’em insult me!  I—­here’s what I’ll do:  Most honorable public!

PODKHALYUZIN.  What’re you doing?  What’re you doing?  Wake up!

TISHKA.  Shame on you; you’re just running around drunk!

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Wait, wait!—­Most honorable public!  I have a wife, four children—­look at these miserable boots!—­

PODKHALYUZIN.  All lies, gentlemen!  A most dishonorable man, gentlemen!  That’ll do for you, that’ll do!—­You’d better look out for yourself first, and see what you’re up to!

RISPOLOZHENSKY.  Lemme go!  He plundered his father-in-law!  And he’s swindling me.—­A wife, four children, worn-out boots!