MADAM ULANBEKOV.  Send him here! [POTAPYCH goes out] This certainly beats all!

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  You’ll not find anybody more devoted than I, benefactress; only I am unhappy in one respect:  that my disposition displeases you.

Enter GRISHA, his hair tousled and dishevelled.

SCENE III

The same, and GRISHA

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  Where’ve you been?

GRISHA. [Now opens, now closes his eyes, not sure of his tongue, and unsteady on his legs] At the fair, ma’am.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  Just come from it? [GRISHA is silent] Why don’t you talk? [Silence] Am I going to get a word out of you, or not?

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  Answer the mistress.

GRISHA.  What’s that to you?

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  Answer me!  Where have you been all this time?

GRISHA.  I’ve done wrong, ma’am.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  I’m not asking you whether you’ve done wrong or not; I’m asking you where you were!

GRISHA. [Looks at the ceiling with a vacant stare] Why, where should I be?  The idea!  The same place as usual!

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  Well, where’s that?

GRISHA.  I just informed you that I was there all the time, ma’am.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  You’ll drive me out of patience!  Where’s there?

GRISHA.  But, really, ma’am!  Your will in everything, ma’am.  What did I, ma’am....  I’ve done wrong, ma’am.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  Good Lord!  You’re still drunk, I guess.

GRISHA.  Not a bit, ma’am.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  Nonsense!  I can see.

GRISHA.  But, really, ma’am!  One can say anything about a man.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  Bah, you disgraceful scamp!  He still denies it!  This is awful!  This is awful!  Now, speak up, where’ve you been?

GRISHA.  Why, really, ma’am!  I just informed you, ma’am.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  Were you at the fair all night?

GRISHA.  I just informed you so, ma’am.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  How did you dare, when I let you go for only a short time?

GRISHA.  Well, really, ma’am!  I did want to go home, but they wouldn’t let me, ma’am.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  Who wouldn’t let you go?

GRISHA.  My friends wouldn’t, ma’am.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  Who are these friends of yours?

GRISHA.  Why, really, ma’am!  Government office clerks.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  Great heavens!  Clerks!  Do you understand what kind of people they are?

GRISHA.  Who, ma’am, clerks?  Understand what about them, ma’am?

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  And you prowled about with them all night!  It would have been better if you hadn’t told me, nasty scamp that you are!  I know how they act!  They’ll teach you all sorts of things!  What does this mean?  Be-gone!  And don’t you dare show yourself before my eyes!