ALEXANDER. I wonder, Madame Salome, that you should credit such things. I marry Leproink's daughter! I refuse Miss Natalie on her account! forget her beautiful black eyes and her good heart, and run after money! Would not that be shameful in me! I must confess to you freely, dear madame, that my sister's way of doing things is hateful to me. _Fi mauvais genre!_ But let us say no more about it. If only God will help us to a good ending! SALOME. God grant that neither of you may have anything to regret!--[_rising_] I will come back immediately, dear son-in-law; I am only going to see what is keeping Nato. [_Alexander also rises_.] Keep your seat, I beg of you. How ceremonious you are! I will come right back. [_Exit right_. SCENE XII ALEXANDER [_alone._] At last my burning wish is fulfilled! Now I have both a pretty wife and money. Without money a man is not of the least importance. Let him give himself what trouble he may, if he has no money, no one will pay any attention to him. I have made only one mistake in the business. I have been in too much of a hurry. If I had held out a little longer they would have given me 8,000 rubles; now I must be satisfied with 7,000. Still, what was to be done? It would not have gone through otherwise; and for that matter, I may, perhaps, somehow make up for it in other ways. In any case, I stand here on a fat pasture-land where they seem to be pretty rich. The principal thing is that I should make myself popular among them, then I shall have succeeded in getting my fill out of them. Ha, ha, ha! How they worry themselves! Yes, the whole office will be in an uproar to-morrow. [_With affected voice_:] "Have you heard the news? Marmarow is engaged, and has received 7,000 rubles dowry. And such a beautiful girl! Such a lovely creature!" [_Clucking with his tongue and changing his voice_:] "Is it possible!" [_In his own voice_:] Charming, charming, Marmarow! [_Looking at his clothing:_] Chic! A true gentleman am I! Yes, I am getting on. I must now think only of to-morrow and the next day, and how to get on further. The principal thing is for a man to know the value of money, for without money nothing can be undertaken. First, I shall have the interest on my capital; then my salary, and last some hundred rubles beside. That makes 3,000 or 4,000 rubles a year. If I lay aside 1,000 rubles every year, I have in seven or eight years 10,000; in fifteen years double that, and so on. Yes, Monsieur Marmarow, you understand it! Be happy, therefore, and let the others burst with envy. _Salome and Nato enter at the right, Salome holding Nato's hand_. ALEXANDER. Miss Natalie, the whole night long I thought only of you! [_Kisses her hand_.] SALOME. Kiss her on the cheek and give her the engagement ring. ALEXANDER. Oh, you are the sun of my existence! [_Draws a ring from his finger and gives it to Natalie_.] From now on you are mine. Please! [_Kisses her_.]