BORTSOV. Marie... is it you? Where do you come from? [MARIA EGOROVNA recognizes BORTSOV, screams and runs off into the centre of the floor. BORTSOV follows] Marie, it is I... I [Laughs loudly] My wife! Marie! Where am I? People, a light! MARIA EGOROVNA. Get away from me! You lie, it isn’t you! It can’t be! [Covers her face with her hands] It’s a lie, it’s all nonsense! BORTSOV. Her voice, her movements.... Marie, it is I! I’ll stop in a moment.... I was drunk.... My head’s going round.... My God! Stop, stop.... I can’t understand anything. [Yells] My wife! [Falls at her feet and sobs. A group collects around the husband and wife.] MARIA EGOROVNA. Stand back! [To the COACHMAN] Denis, let’s go! I can’t stop here any longer! MERIK. [Jumps up and looks her steadily in the face] The portrait! [Grasps her hand] It is she! Eh, people, she’s the gentleman’s wife! MARIA EGOROVNA. Get away, fellow! [Tries to tear her hand away from him] Denis, why do you stand there staring? [DENIS and TIHON run up to her and get hold of MERIK’S arms] This thieves’ kitchen! Let go my hand! I’m not afraid!... Get away from me! MERIK. [Note: Throughout this speech, in the original, Merik uses the familiar second person singular.] Wait a bit, and I’ll let go.... Just let me say one word to you.... One word, so that you may understand.... Just wait.... [Turns to TIHON and DENIS] Get away, you rogues, let go! I shan’t let you go till I’ve had my say! Stop... one moment. [Strikes his forehead with his fist] No, God hasn’t given me the wisdom! I can’t think of the word for you! MARIA EGOROVNA. [Tears away her hand] Get away! Drunkards... let’s go, Denis! [She tries to go out, but MERIK blocks the door.] MERIK. Just throw a glance at him, with only one eye if you like! Or say only just one kind little word to him! God’s own sake! MARIA EGOROVNA. Take away this... fool. MERIK. Then the devil take you, you accursed woman! [He swings his axe. General confusion. Everybody jumps up noisily and with cries of horror. SAVVA stands between MERIK and MARIA EGOROVNA.... DENIS forces MERIK to one side and carries out his mistress. After this all stand as if turned to stone. A prolonged pause. BORTSOV suddenly waves his hands in the air.] BORTSOV. Marie... where are you, Marie! NAZAROVNA. My God, my God! You’ve torn up my your murderers! What an accursed night! MERIK. [Lowering his hand; he still holds the axe] Did I kill her or no? HIGH ROAD TIHON. Thank God, your head is safe.... MERIK. Then I didn’t kill her.... [Totters to his bed] Fate hasn’t sent me to my death because of a stolen axe.... [Falls down and sobs] Woe! Woe is me! Have pity on me, Orthodox people! Curtain. THE PROPOSAL CHARACTERS STEPAN STEPANOVITCH CHUBUKOV, a landowner NATALYA STEPANOVNA, his daughter, twenty-five years old IVAN VASSILEVITCH LOMOV, a neighbour of Chubukov, a large and hearty, but very suspicious landowner The scene is laid at CHUBUKOV’s country-house