How is it possible that people should stop buying things altogether? That's impossible! SARAH. That's impossible. PURIKES. It is possible. Suddenly everybody may stop buying things. _All are seized with horror; even Sonka stops weeping, and pale-faced, she surveys the deserted road with her frightened, dark eyes. The sun is burning mercilessly. Anathema appears in the distance, at the turn of the road._ SARAH. A customer! PURIKES. A customer! SONKA. A customer! A customer! _She cries again. Anathema comes nearer to them. Notwithstanding the heat, he wears a black coat of fine cloth, a black silk hat, black gloves; only his necktie is white, lending a solemn air to his costume. He is tall, and, though grey-haired, straight and stately. The face of the accursed one is of a swarthy-grey color; his features are stern and of peculiar beauty. When Anathema takes off his hat, his enormous forehead is revealed, furrowed by wrinkles. His head is unusually large and his greyish black hair is dishevelled. Anathema's neck is wiry and strong, but it is rather thin and long, and in his nervous contortions he carries his head like a heavy weight, giving it the appearance of strange inquisitiveness, restlessness and malignity._ SARAH. Do you want perhaps a glass of soda-water, sir? It is as hot as in Hell, and if you don't drink, you may die of a sunstroke. BEZKRAINY. Real noblemen's cider! PURIKES. Violet soda! My God, violet soda! SARAH. Soda, seltzer! BEZKRAINY. Don't drink her soda-water. From her water rats are dying and roaches stand up on their hind legs. SARAH. Ivan, aren't you ashamed to take away a customer? I am not saying anything about your noblemen's cider, which is fit only for mad dogs to drink. PURIKES. _Joyously._ A customer! A customer! Please don't buy anything from me, you needn't buy anything from me,--all I want is to look at you. Sonka, do you see? A buyer! SONKA. I don't see anything. I can't see. _Anathema lifts his hatband bows to all kindly._ ANATHEMA. Thank you. I will drink a glass of soda-water with pleasure, and perhaps even a glass of your noblemen's cider. But I should like to know where David Leizer's business place is. SARAH. _Surprised._ It is here. Do you want David? I am his wife, Sarah. ANATHEMA. Yes, madam Leizer, I want to see David, David Leizer. SARAH. _Suspiciously._ You have come with bad news: David has no friends that wear clothes of such fine cloth as you wear. If that is so, you had better go away. David is not here, and I will not tell you where he is. ANATHEMA. _Heartily._