BARSSEGH. This is really splendid! I work for my daily bread, and you illuminate your house on my money. CHACHO [_to Salome_]. Now you have it. SALOME [_rising_]. Are you mad? Show him out. BARSSEGH. I will show you pretty soon who is to be shown out. SALOME. Alexander, show this man out. ALEXANDER [_to Barssegh_]. What do you want, sir? How can you indulge in such insolence? BARSSEGH. That is not your affair, sir! I demand my money. Demand yours also if you can. You will be obliged to wait a long while for it. CHACHO [_to Barssegh_]. Have you no conscience? BARSSEGH. I want my money, and nothing more. _Enter Ossep, Gewo, a sheriff and his secretary, Dartscho, and several others_. OSSEP [_opening the door with both hands as he enters_]. Come in! come in! [_The others follow him_.] Play, play and laugh as much as you will over my misfortunes! CHACHO [_aside_]. Now it is all over with us! SALOME. Tell me, for God's sake, the meaning of this. OSSEP. God will judge you and me also. [_To sheriff and others:_] Come, make your inventory, put your seals on everything--the house, the furniture, and on the cards, too. BARSSEGH. Make an inventory of everything. [_The sheriff lists furniture in the background and puts a ticket on each piece. The guests assemble, frightened, on the left side of the table_. SALOME [_beating her head_]. Good heavens! MARTHA. This is a disgrace for us as well. CHACHO [_in a low voice to Martha_]. You at least should be silent. OSSEP [_pointing to Barssegh_]. He has stripped me of my honor. Now you will honor and esteem him. He will arrange for your parties. Yes, he, the man who takes the shirt from my back and possesses himself of all my property. ALEXANDER [_aside_]. I have my sister to thank for all this, who dragged me into this house. OSSEP [_ironically_]. Alexander, look for a dowry elsewhere, for I can no longer give my daughter one. ALEXANDER [_angry_]. What, you deride me as well! I don't belong to your class, sir! OSSEP. And has it come to this! ALEXANDER [_taking his hat_]. I have not acquired my present dignity to lose it through you. OSSEP. Ha! ha! ha! His dignity! ALEXANDER [_coming near Nato_]. I have loved you truly, Miss Nato, but I must give you up. I am not to blame for it. Farewell. [_Goes to the door_. [_Barssegh laughs for joy_. OSSEP [_approaching Salome, who stands dismayed, takes her by the arm and points to the departing Alexander_]. There goes your official! NATO [_standing at the left near the sofa_]. Alexander! Alexander! [_Exit Alexander_.] Dear Alexander. [_Sitting down on the sofa, begins to cry_. SALOME [_in a low tone, striking her brow with both hands_]. Why doesn't the earth open and swallow me?