BARSSEGH.  I am terribly angry at him.

DARTSCHO.  And I have even more reason to be angry at him; he is altogether too stuck-up.  But what has occurred?

BARSSEGH.  I will show him now who I am.  His whole business is just like a hayrick; a match is enough to set the whole thing ablaze.

DARTSCHO.  I would not be sorry for ten matches!  Tell me what I can do about it?  The rest I know already.

BARSSEGH.  Think of it!  The fellow has snatched away a fine fat morsel from my very mouth.  I had found an excellent husband for my daughter.  For a whole week we carried on negotiations with him and everything was near final settlement when this Ossep came in and bid over us.  On the very same day he betrothed his daughter to the man.

DARTSCHO.  The devil take him for it!

BARSSEGH.  And do you know, also, whose money he is going to use?  It is my money he is going to give him.

DARTSCHO.  That is just it!  That is it!

BARSSEGH.  Things look bad for his pocket.  Now he is going to marry off his daughter and put himself in a tight place.  Go, therefore, and get out an execution against him; otherwise nothing can be squeezed out of him.

DARTSCHO.  We shall see.  I will go at once and demand our money.

BARSSEGH.  I have already sent Micho, but I hardly believe he will give it up so easily.  On that account I sent for you to find out someone who can help us.

DARTSCHO.  I know a lawyer who can manage so that in three hours they will put an attachment on his store.

BARSSEGH.  Go on so forever, dear Dartscho!  Yes, I have long known that you were going to be the right sort of fellow!

DARTSCHO.  The apprentice of a right good master always gets on in the world.

BARSSEGH.  Go quickly then; lose no time.

DARTSCHO.  I will not waste an hour.

BARSSEGH.  Go!  May you succeed!
                    [Exit Dartscho, middle door.

BARSSEGH [alone].  Yes, yes, friend Ossep, now show what you can do!  I
would burn ten candles to have you in my power.
                    [Exit, right, taking the account book.

SCENE VI

Khali.  Salome.

KHALI [entering from the left].  Such a bold creature I never saw before in my life! [Calling through the window:] Come in! come in!  I pray!  Do you hear, Salome?  I am calling you.  Come in here a moment [coming back from the window].  She is coming.  Wait, you insolent thing!  I will give you a setting-out such as no one has ever given you before!

SALOME [dressed in the latest fashion, with a parasol in her hand;
enters at middle door].  Why did you call me?  Good-morning!  How are you?
                    [They shake hands.

KHALI.  Thank you.  Pray sit down. [They both sit down.] So you have betrothed your daughter?