LVOFF tries to answer, but makes an impatient gesture instead, and walks out of the room. SHABELSKI. What a withering look he gave me! LEBEDIEFF. Some fiend must prompt you to say such things! Why did you offend him? SHABELSKI. [Angrily] Why does he tell such lies? Consumption! No hope! She is dying! It is nonsense, I can't abide him! LEBEDIEFF. What makes you think he is lying? SHABELSKI. [Gets up and walks up and down] I can't bear to think that a living person could die like that, suddenly, without any reason at all. Don't let us talk about it! KOSICH runs in panting. KOSICH. Is Ivanoff at home? How do you do? [He shakes hands quickly all round] Is he at home? BORKIN. No, he isn't. KOSICH. [Sits down and jumps up again] In that case I must say goodbye; I must be going. Business, you know. I am absolutely exhausted; run off my feet! LEBEDIEFF. Where did you blow in from? KOSICH. From Barabanoff's. He and I have been playing cards all night; we have only just stopped. I have been absolutely fleeced; that Barabanoff is a demon at cards. [In a tearful voice] Just listen to this: I had a heart and he [He turns to BORKIN, who jumps away from him] led a diamond, and I led a heart, and he led another diamond. Well, he didn't take the trick. [To LEBEDIEFF] We were playing three in clubs. I had the ace and queen, and the ace and ten of spades-- LEBEDIEFF. [Stopping up his ears] Spare me, for heaven's sake, spare me! KOSICH. [To SHABELSKI] Do you understand? I had the ace and queen of clubs, the ace and ten of spades. SHABELSKI. [Pushes him away] Go away, I don't want to listen to you! KOSICH. When suddenly misfortune overtook me. My ace of spades took the first trick-- SHABELSKI. [Snatching up a revolver] Leave the room, or I shall shoot! KOSICH. [Waving his hands] What does this mean? Is this the Australian bush, where no one has any interests in common? Where there is no public spirit, and each man lives for himself alone? However, I must be off. My time is precious. [He shakes hands with LEBEDIEFF] Pass! General laughter. KOSICH goes out. In the doorway he runs into AVDOTIA. AVDOTIA. [Shrieks] Bad luck to you, you nearly knocked me down. ALL. Oh, she is always everywhere at once! AVDOTIA. So this is where you all are? I have been looking for you all over the house. Good-day to you, boys! [She shakes hands with everybody.] LEBEDIEFF. What brings you here? AVDOTIA. Business, my son. [To SHABELSKI] Business connected with your highness. She commanded me to bow. [She bows] And to inquire after your health. She told me to say, the little birdie, that if you did not come to see her this evening she would cry her eyes out. Take him aside, she said, and whisper in his ear. But why should I make a secret of her message? We are not stealing chickens, but arranging an affair of lawful love by mutual consent of both parties. And now, although I never drink, I shall take a drop under these circumstances.