THIRD PEASANT. Say no more about it! 'Cause as we are much satisfied.... As our parents, let's say, served, let's say, your parents, so we would like the same with all our hearts ... and not just anyhow! [Bows]. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. But what is it about? What do you want? FIRST PEASANT. It's to your honour we've come ... Enter Petrístchef briskly, in fur-lined overcoat. PETRÍSTCHEF. Is Vasíly Leoníditch awake yet? [Seeing Leoníd Fyódoritch, bows, moving only his head]. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. You have come to see my son? PETRÍSTCHEF. I? Yes, just to see Vovo for a moment. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Step in, step in. Petrístchef takes off his overcoat and walks in briskly. Exit. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH [to Peasants] Well, what is it you want? SECOND PEASANT. Please accept our presents! FIRST PEASANT [smiling] That's to say, the peasants' offerings. THIRD PEASANT. Say no more about it; what's the good? We wish you the same as if you were our own father! Say no more about it! LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. All right. Here, Theodore, take these. THEODORE IVÁNITCH [to Peasants] Give them here. [Takes the presents]. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Well, what is the business? FIRST PEASANT. We've come to your honour ... LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. I see you have; but what do you want? FIRST PEASANT. It's about making a move towards completing the sale of the land. It comes to this ... LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Do you mean to buy the land? FIRST PEASANT. That's just it. It comes to this ... I mean the buying of the property of the land. The Commune has given us, let's say, the power of atturning, to enter, let's say, as is lawful, through the Government bank, with a stamp for the lawful amount. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. You mean that you want to buy the land through the land-bank. FIRST PEASANT. That's just it. Just as you offered it to us last year. It comes to this, then, the whole sum in full for the buying of the property of the land is 32,864 roubles. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. That's all right, but how about paying up? FIRST PEASANT. As to the payment, the Commune offers just as it was said last year--to pay in 'stalments, and your receipt of the ready money by lawful regulations, 4000 roubles in full.[2] [2] The present value of the rouble is rather over two shillings and one penny. SECOND PEASANT. Take 4000 now, and wait for the rest of the money. THIRD PEASANT [unwrapping a parcel of money] And about this be quite easy. We should pawn our own selves rather than do such a thing just anyhow say, but in this way, let's say, as it ought to be done. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. But did I not write and tell you that I should not agree to it unless you brought the whole sum? FIRST PEASANT. That's just it. It would be more agreeable, but it is not in our possibilities, I mean. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Well then, the thing can't be done! FIRST PEASANT. The Commune, for example, relied its hopes on that, that you made the offer last year to sell it in easy 'stalments ...