AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. Barbarian, you barbarian! Robber that you are! You shan't have my blessing! You'll dry up, money and all; you'll dry up, dying before your time! You robber! Robber that you are! PODKHALYÚZIN. That'll do, mamma; you're angering God. Why are you cursing me when you haven't looked into the business? You can see that daddy has got a bit tipsy, and you start to make a row. OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA. It would be better for you, ma, to keep still! You seem to enjoy sending people to the third hell. I know: you'll catch it for this. It must be for that reason God didn't give you any more children. AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. Keep still yourself, shameless creature! You were enough of a punishment for God to send me! OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA. You think everybody's shameless and that you're the only good person. But you ought to take a good look at yourself: all you can do is fast one day extra every week, and not a day goes by that you don't bark at somebody. AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. Shame on you! Shame on you! Oh! Oh! Oh!--I'll curse you in all the churches! OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA. Curse away if you want to! AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. Yes, that's it! You'll die, and not rot! Yes! OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA. Much I shall! BOLSHÓV. [_Rising_] Well, good-by, children! PODKHALYÚZIN. Why, daddy, sit still! We've got to settle this business somehow or other. BOLSHÓV. Settle what? I see plainly enough that the jig is up. You'll make a mistake if you don't do me up brown! Don't you pay anything for me; let 'em do what they please. Good-by, it's time I was going. PODKHALYÚZIN. Good-by, daddy! God is merciful---you'll get out of this somehow. BOLSHÓV. Good-by, wife. AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. Good-by, Samsón Sílych, dear! When'll they let us come to see you in jail? BOLSHÓV. Don't know. AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. Then I'll inquire, otherwise you'll die there without our seeing you. BOLSHÓV. Good-by, daughter! Good-by, Olimpiáda Samsónovna! Well, now you're going to be rich, and live like a princess. That means assemblies and balls--devil's own amusements! But don't you forget, Olimpiáda Samsónovna, that there are cells with iron bars, and poor prisoners are sitting in them. Don't forget us poor prisoners. [_He goes out with_ AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. PODKHALYÚZIN. Ah! Olimpiáda Samsónovna, ma'am! How awkward, ma'am! I pity your father, by heaven I pity him, ma'am! Hadn't I better go myself and compound with his creditors? Don't you think I'd better, ma'am? Yet he himself will soften them better. Ah! Or shall I go? I'll go, ma'am! Tishka! OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA. Do just as you please--it's your business. PODKHALYÚZIN. Tishka! [TISHKA _enters_] Give me my old coat, the worst one there is. [TISHKA _goes out_] As I am, they'd think I must be rich; and in that case, there'd be no coming to terms. SCENE V _The same_, RISPOLÓZHENSKY _and_ AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA