SALOME. Be happy and may you reach old age together. [_Kisses Alexander; then Nato_.] God bless you, my children. Sit down, I pray you, Alexander [_pointing to the sofa on which Alexander and Nato sit down_]. Your father will soon be here. [_Walks to and fro in joyful excitement_.] ALEXANDER [_looking at Nato_]. Dear Natalie, why are you so silent? Let me hear your sweet voice, I beg of you. NATO. I am speechless, Monsieur Marmarow. ALEXANDER. Monsieur! NATO. Dear Alexander. ALEXANDER [_seizing her hand_]. So! That sounds much sweeter! [_Kisses her hand_.] _Enter Chacho_. SALOME. Come in, dear aunt. CHACHO. Such a thing has never happened to me before! Could you not wait till the man of the house arrived? SALOME. Oh, it is all the same; he will be here soon enough. Give them your blessing, I beg of you. CHACHO. May God bestow all good things upon you. May heaven grant the prayer of me, a sinner. [_Alexander and Nato stand up_.] May you have nothing to regret. May you flourish and prosper and grow old together on the same pillow. [_Ossep comes to the door and stands astonished_.] CHACHO [_continuing_]. God grant that your first may be a boy! Love and respect each other! May the eye of the Czar look down on you with mercy! [_Sees Ossep_.] Let the father now offer you his good wishes. SALOME. Dear Ossep, congratulate your daughter. NATO. Dear papa! [_Goes up to Ossep and kisses his hand. Ossep stands motionless_. ALEXANDER [_seizing Ossep's hand_]. From now on, dear father, count me among your children. [_Turning to Nato offended_:] What is this? SALOME. Don't be impolite, Ossep. CHACHO. What has happened to you, Ossep? ALEXANDER [_to Salome_]. I understand nothing of this. [_To Ossep_:] My father, you seem dissatisfied. OSSEP [_recovering himself_]. I dissatisfied! No--yes--I am dizzy. ALEXANDER [_offering him a chair_]. Sit down, I pray, my father. OSSEP [_to Alexander_]. Do not trouble yourself. It is already passed. SALOME. Can one meet his son-in-law like that? And such a son-in-law, beside! Say something, do. OSSEP. What shall I say, then? You have consummated the betrothal. God grant that all will end well. [_To Alexander_:] Please be seated. ALEXANDER. My father, when do you wish the betrothal to be celebrated? OSSEP. That depends upon you. Do as you wish. ALEXANDER. I will invite twenty persons and bring them with me. My superiors I must invite also; it would not do to omit them. OSSEP. Do as you see fit. ALEXANDER [_to Salome_]. Perhaps he is angry with me. If there is any reason for it, pray tell me now. SALOME. What are you saying? That cannot be! [_They move away a little and speak softly together_. OSSEP [_on the other side of the stage to Chacho_]. You Godforsaken! Could you not wait a moment? CHACHO. What is the matter now? OSSEP. Only God in heaven knows how I stand! Think of it! Santurian has failed. CHACHO. Great heaven!