Anna Pávlovna comes down with the old Countess, whom she is seeing off. The Countess has false teeth and hair. The First Footman helps the Countess into her outdoor things. ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Oh, most certainly, of course! I am so deeply touched. COUNTESS. If it were not for my illness, I should come oftener to see you. ANNA PÁVLOVNA. You should really consult Peter Petróvitch. He is rough, but nobody can soothe one as he does. He is so clear, so simple. COUNTESS. Oh no, I shall keep to the one I am used to. ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Pray, take care of yourself. COUNTESS. _Merci, mille fois merci._[21] [21] COUNTESS. Thank you (for your hospitality), a thousand thanks. Gregory, dishevelled and excited, jumps out from the servants' quarters. Simon appears behind him in the doorway. SIMON. You'd better leave her alone! GREGORY. You rascal! I'll teach you how to fight, you scamp, you! ANNA PÁVLOVNA. What do you mean? Do you think you are in a public-house? GREGORY. This coarse peasant makes life impossible for me. ANNA PÁVLOVNA [provoked] You've lost your senses. Don't you see? [To Countess] _Merci, mille fois merci. A mardi!_[22] [22] ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Thank you (for coming to see us), a thousand thanks. Till next Tuesday! Exeunt Countess and First Footman. ANNA PÁVLOVNA [to Gregory] What is the meaning of this? GREGORY. Though I do occupy the position of a footman, still I won't allow every peasant to hit me; I have my pride too. ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Why, what has happened? GREGORY. Why, this Simon of yours has got so brave, sitting with the gentlemen, that he wants to fight! ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Why? What for? GREGORY. Heaven only knows! ANNA PÁVLOVNA [to Simon] What is the meaning of it? SIMON. Why does he bother her? ANNA PÁVLOVNA. What has happened? SIMON [smiles] Well, you see, he is always catching hold of Tánya, the lady's-maid, and she won't have it. Well, so I just moved him aside a bit, just so, with my hand. GREGORY. A nice little bit! He's almost caved my ribs in, and has torn my dress-coat, and he says, "The same power as came over me yesterday comes on me again," and he begins to squeeze me. ANNA PÁVLOVNA [to Simon] How dare you fight in my house? THEODORE IVÁNITCH. May I explain it to you, ma'am? I must tell you Simon is not indifferent to Tánya, and is engaged to her. And Gregory--one must admit the truth--does not behave properly, nor honestly, to her. Well, so I suppose Simon got angry with him. GREGORY. Not at all! It is all his spite, because I have discovered their trickery. ANNA PÁVLOVNA. What trickery? GREGORY. Why, at the séance. All those things, last night,--it was not Simon but Tánya who did them! I saw her getting out from under the sofa with my own eyes. ANNA PÁVLOVNA. What is that? From under the sofa?