TÁNYA. Yes, that's just what I said--spiritalism. Have you heard how well it went off last time, Theodore Ivánitch? [Laughs] There was knocks, and things flew about! THEODORE IVÁNITCH. And how do _you_ know? TÁNYA. Miss Elizabeth told me. Jacob runs in with a tumbler of tea on a tray. JACOB [to the Porter] Good morning! PORTER [disconsolately] Good morning! Jacob knocks at Vasíly Leoníditch's door. Gregory enters. GREGORY. Give it here. JACOB. You didn't bring back all yesterday's tumblers, nor the tray Vasíly Leoníditch had. And it's me that have to answer for them! GREGORY. The tray is full of cigars. JACOB. Well, put them somewhere else. It's me who's answerable for it. GREGORY. I'll bring it back! I'll bring it back! JACOB. Yes, so you say, but it is not where it ought to be. The other day, just as the tea had to be served, it was not to be found. GREGORY. I'll bring it back, I tell you. What a fuss! JACOB. It's easy for you to talk. Here am I serving tea for the third time, and now there's the lunch to get ready. One does nothing but rush about the livelong day. Is there any one in the house who has more to do than me? Yet they are never satisfied with me. GREGORY. Dear me? Who could wish for any one more satisfactory? You're such a fine fellow! TÁNYA. Nobody is good enough for you! You alone ... GREGORY [to Tánya] No one asked your opinion! [Exit]. JACOB. Ah well, I don't mind. Tatyána Márkovna, did the mistress say anything about yesterday? TÁNYA. About the lamp, you mean? JACOB. And how it managed to drop out of my hands, the Lord only knows! Just as I began rubbing it, and was going to take hold of it in another place, out it slips and goes all to pieces. It's just my luck! It's easy for that Gregory Miháylitch to talk--a single man like him! But when one has a family, one has to consider things: they have to be fed. I don't mind work.... So she didn't say anything? The Lord be thanked!... Oh, Theodore Ivánitch, have you one spoon or two? THEODORE IVÁNITCH. One. Only one! [Reads newspaper]. Exit Jacob. Bell rings. Enter Gregory (carrying a tray) and the Doorkeeper. DOORKEEPER [to Gregory] Tell the master some peasants have come from the village. GREGORY [pointing to Theodore Ivánitch] Tell the major-domo here, it's his business. I have no time. [Exit]. TÁNYA. Where are these peasants from? DOORKEEPER. From Koursk, I think. TÁNYA [shrieks with delight] It's them.... It's Simon's father come about the land! I'll go and meet them! [Runs off]. DOORKEEPER. Well, then, what shall I say to them? Shall they come in here? They say they've come about the land--the master knows, they say. THEODORE IVÁNITCH. Yes, they want to purchase some land. All right! But he has a visitor now, so you had better tell them to wait. DOORKEEPER. Where shall they wait? THEODORE IVÁNITCH. Let them wait outside. I'll send for them when the time comes. [Exit Doorkeeper]