SECOND PEASANT [examines Tánya] That's all very well, but you're not fit for peasant work. TÁNYA. Who? I? Why, don't you think me strong enough? You should see me lacing up my mistress. There's many a peasant couldn't tug as hard. SECOND PEASANT. Where do you tug her to? TÁNYA. Well, there's a thing made with bone, like--something like a stiff jacket, only up to here! Well, and I pull the strings just as when you saddle a horse--when you ... what d'ye call it? You know, when you spit on your hands! SECOND PEASANT. Tighten the girths, you mean. TÁNYA. Yes, yes, that's it. And you know I mustn't shove against her with my knee. [Laughs]. SECOND PEASANT. Why do you pull her in? TÁNYA. For a reason! SECOND PEASANT. Why, is she doing penance? TÁNYA. No, it's for beauty's sake! FIRST PEASANT. That's to say, you pull in her paunch for appearance' sake. TÁNYA. Sometimes I lace her up so that her eyes are ready to start from her head, and she says, "Tighter," till my hands tingle. And you say I'm not strong! [Peasants laugh and shake their heads]. TÁNYA. But here, I've been jabbering. [Runs away, laughing]. THIRD PEASANT. Ah, the lassie has made us laugh! FIRST PEASANT. She's a tidy one! SECOND PEASANT. She's not bad. Enter Sahátof and Vasíly Leoníditch. Sahátof holds a teaspoon in his hand. VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. Not exactly a dinner, but a _déjeuner dinatoire_. And first-rate it was, I tell you. Ham of sucking-pig, delicious! Roulier feeds one splendidly! I've only just returned. [Sees Peasants] Ah, the peasants are here again! SAHÁTOF. Yes, yes, that's all very well, but we came here to hide this article. Where shall we hide it? VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. Excuse me a moment. [To Servants' Cook] Where are the dogs? SERVANTS' COOK. In the coachman's quarters. You can't keep dogs in the servants' kitchen! VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. Ah, in the coachman's quarters? All right. SAHÁTOF. I am waiting. VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. Excuse me, please. Eh, what? Hide it? I'll tell you what. Let's put it into one of the peasants' pockets. That one. I say, where's your pocket? Eh, what? THIRD PEASANT. What for d'ye want my pocket? You're a good 'un! My pocket! There's money in my pocket! VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. Where's your bag, then? THIRD PEASANT. What for? SERVANTS' COOK. What d'you mean? That's the young master! VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH [laughs. To Sahátof] D'you know why he's so frightened? Shall I tell you? He's got a heap of money. Eh, what? SAHÁTOF. Yes, yes, I see. Well, you talk to them a bit, and I'll put it into that bag without being observed, so that they should not notice and could not point it out to him. Talk to them. VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. All right! [To Peasants] Well then, old fellows, how about the land? Are you buying it? Eh, what? FIRST PEASANT. We have made an offering, so to say, with our whole heart. But there,--the business don't come into action nohow.