_The action takes place in a district town in the house of the merchant TORTSÓV during the Christmas holidays_. POVERTY IS NO CRIME ACT I _A small office room; in the rear wall a door; in the corner on the left a bed, on the right a cupboard. In the left wall a window, and beside the window a table. Near the table a chair; near the right wall a desk and a wooden stool. Beside the bed a guitar; on the table and desk are books and papers_. SCENE I MÍTYA _is walking back and forth in the room_. EGÓRUSHKA _is seated on the stool reading_ "Bová Korolévich." EGÓRUSHKA. [_Reads_] "My sovereign father, glorious and brave king, Kiribít Verzoúlovich, I do not possess the courage to marry him now. Because when I was young I was wooed by King Gvidón." MÍTYA. Well, Egórushka, is any one at home? EGÓRUSHKA. [_Putting his finger on the place where he is reading in order not to make a mistake_] Nobody; they've all gone driving. There's only Gordéy Kárpych at home. [_Reads_] "Whereupon Kiribít Verzoúlovich said to his daughter"--[_Again marking the place_]--only he's in such a rage, it's awful! I cleared out--he keeps on cursing. [_Reads_] "Then the beautiful Militrísa Kirbítyevna called her servant Licharda to her." MÍTYA. With whom was he angry? EGÓRUSHKA. With my uncle, with Lyubím KÁRPYCH. On the second day of the holidays Uncle Lyubím KÁRPYCH dined with us; at dinner he got drunk and began to play the fool; it was awfully funny. I always get the giggles. I couldn't stand it, and then I burst out laughing, and they were all looking at me. Uncle Gordéy KÁRPYCH took it as a great insult to himself and very bad manners, and he was furious with him and turned him out. Uncle Lyubím Kárpych made a great row, and out of revenge went and stood with the beggars by the church door. Uncle Gordéy Kárpych said: "He has put me to shame," he said, "in the eyes of the whole town." And now he gets angry with everybody who comes near him, no matter who they are. [_Reads_] "With the intention of advancing toward our town." MÍTYA. [_Looking out of the window_] Here they come, I think. Yes, it's so. Pelagéya Egórovna, Lyubóv Gordéyevna, and guests with them. EGÓRUSHKA. [_Concealing his story in his pocket_] I'll run up-stairs. [_Goes out_. SCENE II MÍTYA alone MÍTYA. Oh, Lord, what misery! Everybody in the streets is having a holiday, and everybody in the houses too, and you have to sit between four walls! I am a stranger to all, no relations, no friends!--And then besides!--O well! I'd better get to work; perhaps this wretchedness will pass off. [_Seats himself at the desk and muses, then begins to sing_. "Her beauty I cannot describe! Dark eyebrows, with languishing eyes." Yes, with languishing eyes. And yesterday when she came from mass, in her sable coat, and her little handkerchief on her head, like this--ah!--I really think such beauty was never seen before! [_Muses, then sings_.