VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH [waving his arm] It's a deuce of a go! [The Peasants bow]. VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH [looking at Porter, to Theodore Ivánitch] Why don't you attend to this fellow from Bourdier? He hasn't come to take lodgings with us, has he? Just look, he is asleep! Eh, what? THEODORE IVÁNITCH. The note he brought has been sent in, and he has been told to wait until Anna Pávlovna comes down. VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH [looks at Peasants and notices the money] And what is this? Money? For whom? Is it for us? [To Theodore Ivánitch] Who are they? THEODORE IVÁNITCH. They are peasants from Koursk. They are buying land. VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. Has it been sold them? THEODORE IVÁNITCH. No, they have not yet come to any agreement. They are too stingy. VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. Eh? Well, we must try and persuade them. [To the Peasants] Here, I say, are you buying land? Eh? FIRST PEASANT. That's just it. We have made an offering as how we should like to acquire the possession of the land. VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. Then you should not be so stingy, you know. Just let me tell you how necessary land is to peasants! Eh, what? It's very necessary, isn't it? FIRST PEASANT. That's just it. The land appears as the very first and foremost necessity to a peasant. That's just it. VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. Then why be so stingy? Just you think what land is! Why, one can sow wheat on it in rows! I tell you, you could get eighty bushels of wheat, at a rouble and a half a bushel--that would be 120 roubles. Eh, what? Or else mint! I tell you, you could collar 400 roubles off an acre by sowing mint! FIRST PEASANT. That's just it. All sorts of producks one could put into action if one had the right understanding. VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. Mint! Decidedly mint! I have learnt about it, you know. It's all printed in books. I can show them you. Eh, what? FIRST PEASANT. That's just it, all concerns are clearer to you through your books. That's learnedness, of course. VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. Then pay up and don't be stingy. [To Theodore Ivánitch] Where's papa? THEODORE IVÁNITCH. He gave orders not to be disturbed just now. VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. Oh, I suppose he's consulting a spirit whether to sell the land or not? Eh, what? THEODORE IVÁNITCH. I can't say. All I know is that he went away undecided about it. VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. What d'you think, Theodore Ivánitch, is he flush of cash? Eh, what? THEODORE IVÁNITCH. I don't know. I hardly think so. But what does it matter to you? You drew a good sum not more than a week ago. VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. But didn't I pay for those dogs? And now, you know, there's our new Society, and Petrístchef has been chosen, and I had borrowed money from Petrístchef and must pay the subscription both for him and for myself. Eh, what? THEODORE IVÁNITCH. And what is this new Society? A Cycling Club? VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. No. Just let me tell you. It is quite a new Society. It is a very serious Society, you know. And who do you think is President? Eh, what?