SALOME [_from back of stage_]. You're welcome. Come, come, I beg of you. Dear aunt, how can I thank you for taking the trouble to come here! CHACHO [_covered by a tschadra[38] enters from the right of the ante-chamber_]. Good-morning! [_Taking off the tschadra._] Why did you send for me in such haste? [_Gives one end of the tschadra to Salome_. [38] A long veil, covering the head and upper part of the body. SALOME [_taking hold of one end of the tschadra_]. Dear aunt, I am in such a desperate mood that if someone were to pierce my heart not a drop of blood would flow. [_While she is speaking they fold the tschadra_. CHACHO. So it seems that it cannot be managed? SALOME. How could it be managed, dear aunt? They insist upon having 8,000 rubles. Ossep will not give so much. You know what a miser he is! CHACHO. Yes, he is really odd. SALOME. But, dear aunt, God would surely not allow an affair like this to come to nothing for the sake of 2,000 rubles. What, am I to let a man of such social position and such brilliancy escape me? CHACHO. Great heaven, how can anyone be so obstinate! SALOME. That is just why I begged you to come to us. Speak to Ossep about it, and perhaps your words will soften him. CHACHO. I will talk with him; yes, indeed, I will talk to him. We cannot neglect a matter of such importance, my child. [_Lays the tschadra under the tachta covering the ketscha and sits down on it_.] Great heaven, how sore the pavement has made my feet! SALOME [_seating herself on a chair_]. May God reward you, dear aunt! May the Holy Mother be a protectress for your children as you are now for my Nato. CHACHO. Is not Nato my child also? Is she a stranger to me? I am altogether charmed with her beautiful form. But where is the child? Is she not at home? SALOME. Yes, certainly; she is dressing. You understand, dear aunt, how you are to talk to him? Perhaps you will succeed with him. They expect the final answer to-day; this morning the young man's sister was here, and she may be here again any minute. CHACHO. Don't be afraid, dear child. Calm yourself. Where is Ossep? What does he think about it? SALOME. He is busy, but he will be here directly. He says, and insists upon it, that he will allow our daughter to marry no one but a business man. CHACHO. He is right, my child; a good business man is worth much. Yes; is not one who has money in his pockets the best? SALOME. Oh, how you talk! What business man is to be compared with Alexander Marmarow! Is there any business man worthy to untie his shoe-strings? His politeness alone is worth more than ten business men. Lately he honored us with a visit, and I was so fascinated with his manners! and beside he is still young; is handsome; is educated; has a good position and a good salary and will advance every day--everybody says so. Perhaps some day he will be governor.