ALEXANDER [_offering Nato his arm_]. Something must have happened! [_They go off at the left, Salome following_. OSSEP. Righteous God, why dost thou punish me thus? SALOME [_returning to Ossep_]. Do with me as you will, but it could not have been helped. I have promised him 7,000 rubles as dowry, [_Turning to Chacho as she leaves the room_:] Pray come with me, aunt. You come, too, Ossep. [_Exit Salome_. SCENE XIII OSSEP [_much excited_]. What do I hear? Has she spoken the truth? Do you hear? Why do you not answer me? Why are you silent? [_Still more excited_.] It is true, then! Yes, yes, I see that it is true! O God, let lightning strike this unlucky house that we may all die together. I have just lost an important sum and come home to prevent further negotiations. And see there! CHACHO. I am to blame for it. Do not get excited. I will add 1,000 rubles to it, if need be, from the money I have laid by for my burial. OSSEP. From your burial money? Have I already fallen so low that I must ask alms? Keep your money for yourself! I do not want it. Drop that complaint also, for I am still rich, very rich. How can it injure me that Santurian has failed? I stand here firm and unshakable, and have inexhaustible money resources. [_Tearing his hair_.] O God! O God! [_Walks to and fro excitedly_.] Now I will go and wish my son-in-law joy. Yes, I must go so that I shall not make myself ridiculous to him. The man is a government official! [_Exit right, laughing bitterly_. CHACHO. Gracious heaven, be thou our saviour and deliverer. CURTAIN. ACT SECOND SCENE I _A richly furnished sales-room in Barssegh's house_. MICHO. Two, three, four, five, six and this little piece. It does not measure so much! BARSSEGH [_standing up and giving Micho a rap on the nose_]. You have what is lacking there. Measure again. Now you've got what is lacking. I will tear your soul out of your body if you measure so that in seven arschin[44] it comes out one werschok short. [44] Russian measure of length. MICHO [_measuring again_]. O dear, O dear! BARSSEGH. Look out, or I will take that "O dear" out of your ear. Be up and at it now! MICHO. Oh, Mr. Barssegh! [_Measuring._] One, two, three-- BARSSEGH. Stretch it, you blockhead. MICHO [_stretching the cotton_]. Three, four. [_Wipes the perspiration from his brow_.] BARSSEGH. What is the matter with you? You sweat as though you had a mule-pack on your back. MICHO. Five. BARSSEGH. Pull it out more. MICHO. Six and this little piece. It lacks three werschok again. BARSSEGH [_pulling his ears_]. It lacks three werschok? There they are! MICHO. Oh my, oh my! BARSSEGH. You calf; will you ever develop into a man? MICHO. O dear mother! BARSSEGH [_pulling him again by the ear_]. Doesn't it grow longer? MICHO [_crying_]. Dear Mr. Barssegh, dear sir, let me go. BARSSEGH. I want to teach you how to measure.