BARSSEGH.  Enough of that!  Tell me whether you have brought the money or not.

OSSEP.  Have I ever kept back from you any of your money?  Why should I do it to-day?

BARSSEGH.  Then give it to me now.

OSSEP.  You said at that time—­

BARSSEGH.  I know nothing of that time.

OSSEP.  What is the matter with you?  You speak as if in a dream.

BARSSEGH.  Whether I speak as in a dream or not, give me the money, and have done with it.

OSSEP [takes a chair and sits down].  You are mistaken, my dear Mr.
Barssegh; you are mistaken.  Sit down, pray.

BARSSEGH [ironically].  Thank you very much.

OSSEP.  You will surely not take back your word?

BARSSEGH.  Hand over the money.

OSSEP.  What has happened to you?  You speak like a madman.

BARSSEGH.  It is all the same to me however I speak.

OSSEP.  When I gave you the 5,000 rubles that time, did not you say that
I was to pay the rest in a month?

BARSSEGH [sitting down].  And if I did say so, what does it amount to? 
I need it now.

OSSEP.  You should have said so at the time and I would not have paid out my money in other ways.  How comes it that you demand it so suddenly?  I am no wizard, I am sure, to procure it from the stars for you.

BARSSEGH.  You may get it wherever you want to.  I need it, and that settles it.

OSSEP.  Just heaven!  Why did you give me a month’s grace and reckon on an additional twelve per cent. for it?

BARSSEGH.  What kind of grace?  Have you anything to show for it?

OSSEP.  Isn’t your word enough?  Why do we need a paper in addition?

BARSSEGH.  I didn’t give you my word.

OSSEP.  What?  You did not give it?  You admitted it just a few minutes ago.

BARSSEGH.  No, I said nothing about it.

OSSEP [standing].  My God! what do I see and hear?  You are a merchant and tread your word under foot.  Shame on you! [Takes him by the arm and leads him to the mirror.] Look! look at your face!  Why do you turn pale?

BARSSEGH.  Let me go!

OSSEP [holding him fast by the sleeve].  How can you be so unscrupulous?  Look!  How pale your lips are!

BARSSEGH.  Let me go! [Freeing himself.] You act exactly as though you were the creditor.

OSSEP.  No, you are the creditor.  I would rather be swallowed up alive by the earth than be such a creditor as you are.  What do you think you will be in my eyes after this?

BARSSEGH.  I tell you, hand out my money or I will lay your note before the court immediately!  I would only like to know where you are going to get the dowry for your daughter.  You will pay over my money to your son-in-law, will you, and give me the go-by?

OSSEP.  Give yourself no trouble!  Even if you should beg me now, I would not keep your money.  To-morrow at this time you shall have it, and then may the faces turn black of those who still look at you.