NATO.  Wouldn’t it cost too much?

ALEXANDER.  What has that to do with it?  Do you think I could deny you any pleasure?  No! no! you shall have everything.

NATO [embracing him]. Cher Alexandre! do you really love me so much?

ALEXANDER.  I cannot tell you at all how much I love you.  Right at our first meeting I fell in love with you!

NATO.  I don’t believe it!  I don’t believe it!  All young men talk so!

ALEXANDER.  Ha! ha! ha!  Do you think I am like them?  With them the tongues have nothing to do with the heart; but my tongue speaks what is here!
                    [Strikes himself on the breast.

NATO [ironically].  I know!  I know!  If I had no dowry you would not marry me.

ALEXANDER.  Nato dear, you wrong me! ma chere!  As if the dowry made any difference! Fi donc!

NATO.  Then you really love me so much?

ALEXANDER.  Very, very much, Nato dear.  You can put me to the test if you will.

NATO.  Do you know, my piano is not fit to use!

ALEXANDER [smoothing his hair—­aside].  Something new again.

NATO.  Buy me a new piano.  To-day I saw one at a store; it cost 500 rubles.

ALEXANDER.  Five hundred rubles!  You cannot buy a decent piano for that!

NATO.  Dear Alexander!

ALEXANDER.  Be patient awhile, Nato dear.  One of my friends brought a piano from abroad that cost 1,000; yes, even 1,500 rubles.

NATO.  My sweetheart; my dear sweetheart! [Kissing him.] I will come right back. [Rises.] I must go and prepare for our reception or mamma will be angry.  Tra-la-la.
                    [Exit at left.

ALEXANDER [alone, springing up].  Ha! ha! ha! soirees, balls at the club, box at the theatre, dresses and ornaments after the latest fashion!  Am I a millionaire?  I would have nothing against it if I had the money to do it.  She acts as though she was going to bring 50,000 rubles dowry into the house.  No, Natalie, that will all come later.  In ten or twenty years, perhaps, I will set up a carriage; but it is not even to be thought of now.  Indeed, I don’t know, where it will lead to if she makes such demands on me every day.  It will lead to quarrels and unpleasantness, and it will be all up with my economizing.  No, indeed, Natalie, it will be no easy thing to satisfy you.  Why did I not think of this sooner?  Let her talk, and demand what she will.  I will do what pleases me.

NATO [enter right; speaks to someone behind the scenes].  I will come at once.  I am coming.  Come, Alexander, let us go into the garden.  Mamma must go upstairs, and the guests will be all alone in the garden.

ALEXANDER.  I am waiting for your father, Nato dear, I have something important to discuss with him.

NATO.  Why, we will soon return, and by that time father will be home.  Do you want to sit here alone?