PODKHALYÚZIN. Your health! [_He drinks_] Mamma, won't you have some, ma'am? Please do! AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. Holy saints, what am I to do now? Such is the will of God! O Lord, my God! Ah, my own little dove, you! PODKHALYÚZIN. Ah, mamma, God is merciful; we'll get out of it somehow. Not all at once, ma'am! AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. Lord grant we may! As it is, it makes me pine away simply looking at him. BOLSHÓV. Well, what about it, Lázar? PODKHALYÚZIN. Ten kopeks, if you please, I'll give, sir, as we said. BOLSHÓV. But where am I going to get fifteen more? I can't make 'em out of door-mats. PODKHALYÚZIN. Daddy, I can't raise 'em, sir! God sees that I can't, sir! BOLSHÓV. What's the matter, Lázar? What's the matter? What have you done with the money? PODKHALYÚZIN. Now you just consider: here I'm setting up in business--have fixed up a house. But do have something to eat, daddy! You can have some Madeira if you want it, sir! Mamma, pass daddy something. AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. Eat, Samsón Sílych, dear! Eat! I'll pour out a little punch for you, dear! BOLSHÓV. [_Drinks_] Rescue me, my children, rescue me! PODKHALYÚZIN. Here, daddy, you were pleased to ask what I had done with the money?--How can you ask, sir? Just consider yourself: I'm beginning to do business; of course, without capital it's impossible, sir; there's nothing to begin on. Here, I've bought a house; we've ordered everything that a good house ought to have, horses, and one thing and another. Just consider yourself! One has to think about the children. OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA. Why, daddy, we can't strip ourselves bare! We're none of your common townspeople. PODKHALYÚZIN. Daddy, please consider: to-day, without capital, sir, without capital you can't do much business. OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA. I lived with you until I was twenty years old, daddy, and was a regular stay-at-home. What, would you have me give back the money to you, and go about again in calico-print clothes? BOLSHÓV. What are you saying? What are you saying? Recollect! You see I'm not asking any kindness of you, but my rights. Are you human beings? OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA. Why, of course, daddy, we're human beings; we're not animals. BOLSHÓV. Lázar, you just recollect; you see, I've given away everything to you, fairly wiped my slate clean; here's what I've got left, you see! You see, I took you into my house when you were a little rascal, you heartless scoundrel! I gave you food and drink as if I were your own father, and set you up in the world. But did I ever see any sort of gratitude in you? Did I? Recollect, Lázar, how many times have I noticed that you were light-fingered! What of it? I didn't drive you away as if you were a beast, I didn't tell on you all over town. I made you my head clerk; I gave all my property away to you; and to you, Lázar, I gave even my daughter, with my own hand. If you hadn't received permission from me, you'd never have dared look at her.