KARP.  Exactly so.

PROKOFYEVNA.  Is their estate called Zavetnoye?

KARP.  Yes.

PROKOFYEVNA.  So, so.  I recognized him just now.  I used to see him as a youngster.  He often rode to town with his mother, and they would call on me.  Does he live in the country?

KARP.  No, we are most of the time in St. Petersburg; but now we have come to the country to arrange business matters.

PROKOFYEVNA.  So, so.  But is he a good man to deal with?

KARP.  Pretty good.

PROKOFYEVNA.  Well, thank the Lord!  May He reward him!  What business brought you to our town?

KARP.  Oh, those endless legal matters.  Petty business, something to bear witness to; but I suppose he’ll waste five days over it.

PROKOFYEVNA.  It wouldn’t be surprising.  Have you called on the judges?

KARP.  Yes, we called on them all.  Just now they sent us a clerk from court.

PROKOFYEVNA.  They’ll probably do it quicker for you than for us.  If you need anything, knock on the wall, and I’ll come. [Goes out.

BABAYEV and SHISHGALEV enter at the side door.

SCENE II

BABAYEV, SHISHGALEV, and KARP

BABAYEV.  So you say, my dear sir, that it is absolutely impossible?

SHISHGALEV. [Bowing and continually blowing his nose and covering his mouth with his hand] But, believe me, sir, if it were at all possible we should have——­

BABAYEV.  Maybe it is possible?

SHISHGALEV.  Judge for yourself, sir.  Now the court session has ended, it is quite impossible to assemble the members; to-morrow is a holiday—­then comes Saturday and then Sunday.

BABAYEV.  Just think, my dear sir, how you are treating me!

SHISHGALEV.  How am I to blame?  I’m the humblest sort of man.

BABAYEV.  But, my dear sir, what shall I do here for the next four days?  It is dreadful!

SHISHGALEV.  You can look around, sir, and take a glance at our city.

KARP.  What’s the use of looking at it?  What is there to see here?  I suppose you’ll say that St. Petersburg is not as fine a city as yours.

BABAYEV.  Have you any kind of social life?

SHISHGALEV.  I beg pardon, sir?

BABAYEV.  I said, have you any social life, any sort of club, entertainment with music, or parties?

SHISHGALEV.  No, we haven’t.

BABAYEV.  But where do the members of the court and the rest of them spend their time?

SHISHGALEV.  They usually spend it together.

BABAYEV.  How together?

SHISHGALEV.  Every day is assigned.  For instance, to-day they are with the prefect, to-morrow with the judge, day after to-morrow with the attorney; then with the farmer of the spirit tax, and next with the retired police captain—­and so all the week goes by.